"My goal for this year is to restart my business selling vegetables and omena. It has been unstable for a while due to financial constraints, but I am hopeful that things will get better. Having a business that provides a steady source of income will significantly boost my family's finances. I plan to use my transfers to revive this venture in the near future. I am deeply grateful for the support my family has received so far. Restarting this business will not only improve our financial situation but also provide stability and security. I look forward to a brighter future and the opportunities it will bring for my family."

"I was at home resting in the afternoon at around 3pm when I heard a message beep on my phone. Since I don't know how to read, I asked my son to read the message for me. He told me it was the GiveDirectly transfers, and I was so excited that I immediately told him to keep it a secret. Later, I shared the news with my husband, who stays in Kilifi town, and together we planned how to use the money to pay for our children's school fees."

"Since my husband passed away two years ago, I have shouldered the responsibility of covering our children's school fees, clothing, food, and other essentials. Our house was already in poor condition when he passed, making it difficult to meet all their needs with the limited profits from my charcoal business. With the current increase in prices of essential commodities, the situation has become even more challenging. My children used to be sent home for fee balances, so I decided to allocate all my transfers toward paying their school fees. Renovating my house is my second priority. Once they complete their education, I plan to invest in goat and chicken rearing projects. After establishing these two projects, I will focus on repairing our house. Although the transfers allowed me to replace the roof, our safety is still at risk due to the cracked walls that let in insects. My immediate goal is to rebuild the walls, and I plan to allocate $4 each month for purchasing construction materials. I can't save more than that right now because I have other basic needs to address. This is my goal for the coming year and beyond."

"When I received the unconditional cash transfer, the first thing I did was buy a bed for $85 and a mattress for $65. I had not had a bed for a very long time, and sleeping on the floor was very uncomfortable. With a proper bed, I finally experienced restful nights and felt more energized during the day. Next, I took my three children to school. They had not started school due to financial constraints, so I used $60 for their school fees and $10 to buy their uniforms. It was a moment of immense joy to see them in their new uniforms, ready to learn and grow. To ensure they could attend school without any issues, I spent $80 to fast-track the process of obtaining birth certificates for all four of my children, as these documents were necessary for their enrollment. I spent $40 on household food items, ensuring we had enough to eat and maintain our health. I saved the remainder of the money with the intention of starting a grocery business. This venture would provide a stable income for my family, allowing us to become more self-sufficient and improve our overall quality of life."

"owning tailoring shop, have enough stock for customers to am saving in merry go round-with gd transfers-once established i will bwe able to invest in poultry and had passion"

"I want to express my deep appreciation to GiveDirectly for their financial support. It has greatly helped me become more self-reliant while I am still in college. For the coming year and beyond, I plan to save $20 from each transfer to achieve my goal. I currently do not have a house and sleep at my brother's place, but I know that soon he will want to marry and will need his space. Therefore, I'm setting aside $20 each month to save up for building my house, and I am very optimistic about achieving this goal. Once I accomplish this, I want to start investing in goats. This is a good initiative because goats multiply very quickly and are highly marketable. If they increase to a substantial number, I can sell some to address any financial challenges that may arise."

"For many years, I slept on a traditional bed with mats, and unfortunately, when the bed broke down, I had to sleep on the floor. When I received the cash, I decided to use $130 to buy a new modern bed and mattress. I can hardly believe it, but I now sleep comfortably without waking up in pain, which is a huge improvement from before. It still feels like a dream, as I never thought I would achieve this soon, especially given that I rely on the palm wine business, which isn't very profitable, and my husband, who works for low wages. I also used KES 306 to purchase 24 pieces of iron sheets and poles to build a house for my three teenage sons. They had been cramped in a small space that wasn’t suitable for their needs, and I wanted them to have more privacy. Now, they have the space they need, which has improved their study environment. Additionally, I paid $50 for my son, who is in Form 2, to prevent him from being sent home due to upcoming exams. Apart from that, I bought a goat for $40 to remember this project, and I hope to have more goats soon. This will help me by allowing me to sell some and cover my future needs. With the remaining $24, I bought food to help us through the drought, which has made daily meals a challenge."

"I used to wake up very early, sometimes as early as 4 am, because rats and millipedes would disturb my sleep. But yesterday, I got a bed thanks to the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly, and my first night was nothing short of amazing. I woke up at 8:15 am today because I had a deep night's sleep, something I haven't experienced since the year began. I am incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly for allowing me to finally enjoy a peaceful night's rest."

"In my opinion, GiveDirectly is doing an excellent job by providing financial assistance unconditionally to each deserving household. This approach is brilliant because everyone has unique needs, and our needs are never the same, so unconditional support is the best way to address them. Thanks to this assistance, I was able to send my children to school, as they had been sent home repeatedly due to unpaid fees, and some had been out of school for a while. I don't see any need for GiveDirectly to change their operating methods because they are doing a perfect job. I hope they continue their work of financially helping those in need and blessing others, just as they have blessed me."

"GiveDirectly’s approach is one of the best. What I appreciate most is the direct cash transfers to our phones, which minimizes corruption. Additionally, the education on keeping the money safe and the emphasis on keeping your PIN secret have helped reduce theft cases. The enrollment process was free and fair, with no discrimination. All families, including separated ones like mine, were enrolled. I hope you continue this excellent approach. My only request is that you consider revisiting families who have completed their transfers. If you find anyone still struggling despite using the cash wisely, kindly consider providing additional support."