"I vividly remember being occupied with farm work when I received my transfer. Unexpectedly, my phone rang, and upon checking, I discovered that GiveDirectly had sent me money. The overwhelming sense of joy I experienced was beyond words. I was fully aware that this transfer had the power to revolutionize my living conditions, which had previously been unattainable due to financial constraints. Excitedly, we immediately began mapping out how we would allocate the cash transfer."

"I spent $300 of the recent transfer to settle a debt that I had borrowed from a friend. This was important as it allowed me to combine it with the previous transfer, enabling me to purchase a motorcycle. This acquisition was necessary to facilitate my poultry business, where I source poultry from the village and sell them in town. Previously, transportation was a challenge as I had no means of transport, resulting in me having to walk and carry the poultry myself. However, with the motorcycle, transportation became much easier, enabling me to increase my supply and consequently rising my income. I am relieved that the loan has now been fully settled, and I no longer have to use my daily earnings to clear it. With the remaining amount, I decided to invest in maize farming. This involved purchasing essential inputs and covering the labor costs for planting. My primary objective for this investment was to ensure a sustainable source of food for both myself and my younger brother, with whom I share a living arrangement. By cultivating maize, we aim to secure an adequate supply of food, improving our nutritional well-being and reducing the risk of hunger."

"I participate in a savings group with six other people, and I've been saving for six months. We all give at least $5 each month. In July of this year, when I receive my next batch of money, I plan to purchase a goat for breeding. This is something I'm hoping will grow and be useful in an emergency or when I'm facing a financial hardship when I can sell it for a profit. Additionally, it will serve as a reminder of the beneficial things Givedirectly does for us."

"I think GiveDirectly is doing more than good. I never got any assistance that gives the freedom to buy the missing needs, for example, bed, home materials, cow, build house. This is something to appreciate. I don't see what is not being done well at GiveDirectly. The fact of helping people to get out of poverty comfort is very important. Givedirectly shall continue to do so."

"We were hungry and poor and GD helped us in our poverty and we were so happy. Everything that GD has done was good and It should keep doing that"

"As an internally displaced person (IDP) from Arabal, I have been forced to leave my home due to the recurring banditry in our region. Currently, I am residing on borrowed land. However, my long-term plan for the upcoming year and beyond is to purchase my own land in this area and establish a permanent settlement. To achieve this goal, I intend to continue with my farming activities, hoping to generate income that can be saved towards the eventual purchase of land"

"It is said that if you want something, then dare to search for it. I am glad that GiveDirectly has made this a success. In my life, I wanted to own a motorcycle as a means of transport for my children to school as well as to earn the family of seven an income through the taxi business. When I received the transfers, I spent $400 on purchasing a motorcycle, and now it is earning the family $5 a day, which all pays for food for the household. We depend on maize farming to earn income for school fees as well as food for the household, but unfortunately, the climatic conditions have been unproductive, and we have always run into losses. However, we hope this year will be exceptional because the rains prove to be reliable, resulting in a bumper harvest. Last year, I harvested 8 bags, which I sold for $60 a bag, and I hope this year will be positively different."

"Depending on a single source of income is stressful and derailing as well; therefore, there is a need to diversify the sources of income to support the family's needs. Since my family of nine depends on maize farming and sometimes my husband's mason job, I appreciate that the income earned here can be minimal or none at all, hence the need for an additional constant source of income. For the next year, I hope to construct 10 single-room rental houses on our farm at Mtwapa. I will rent out each house for $20 a month and use the income to pay college fees for my children in grades 11 and 12 once they graduate from their secondary education. We hope to use the savings as well as my husband's income to make this a success."

"If it were not for GiveDirectly, I do not know if the community would be thriving this much. I am glad that the unconditional cash transfers have made it possible for the community to respond to their needs by venturing into income-generating activities, thus ensuring financial stability. I am grateful to GiveDirectly because people were not singled out as all were subjected to the same criteria, and now their lives have improved."

"No man wishes to live alone for a lifetime, as one has to seek a hand in marriage. Since I have been living this way for some time now after we separated from my wife, life has not been the same, and therefore I wish to look for a companion. I am glad the transfers came in handy, as I have saved $300 towards my dowry payment now that I have identified a fiancee to marry soon. Because my current family of six is yet to expand, I have to work extra hard as the breadwinner; therefore, I spent $20 on cultivating my 1 acre piece of land, on which I sowed maize, so as to feed my family. Now that the rains are coming, I am hopeful that I will harvest up to 7-8 bags of maize, unlike the past 4 years where we have had no harvest due to unfavorable climatic conditions. For the rest of the transfers, I saved for the school fee payments of my grandchildren."