"I appreciate the way GiveDirectly officers approach us. Your advice is always accurate and reliable, never misleading. Your language is respectful and trustworthy, which has earned our confidence. I have not seen any mistakes in your interactions. Please continue using this effective communication style wherever you go. When you enroll others, we hope you will return to help us again, as we truly value your support."

"With the first transfer, I had started building our house, but it was still incomplete. Using $20 from the second transfer, I was able to finish the construction, providing us with a safe and comfortable home. This was a huge relief, knowing that my family now had a proper roof over our heads. After completing the house, my next priority was to improve our living conditions inside. I used $105 to buy a bed and a mattress, as I had been sleeping on a papyrus reed bed, which was neither comfortable nor good for my health. Additionally, I spent $100 to pay school fees for my four children. Ensuring that they stay in school is crucial for their future, and this money has lifted the burden of worrying about their education expenses. With $90, I purchased household food items, ensuring that we have enough to eat and can maintain a nutritious diet. I also used $50 to buy clothes for my children, who desperately needed them. The remainder of the money has been saved as an emergency fund, providing a safety net for unexpected needs such as additional school fees or food items. This financial cushion gives me peace of mind and a sense of security for our future."

"Now that I finally have a sewing machine, my goal is to save all the profits I make from my tailoring business. I’m determined to keep every penny so that I can eventually rent a shop in a more strategic location, one where I can attract more customers and really grow my business. I know it’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I’m ready for it. I’ll be relying solely on the profits from my tailoring to save the money I need. It's all about discipline and making smart decisions with my earnings.The big dream here is to make sure that by the time my little boy, who’s 1.5 years old now, goes to school, I can provide for all his needs comfortably. It’s so important to me that he has everything he needs as he grows up, and I’m committed to making that happen."

"I used $50 to pay the balance to the mason who was constructing my house, which I had been unable to clear. With another $50, I finally bought a mattress for my 5x6 bed, which had been without one for far too long. This allowed me to give the smaller bed to my children, so they now have their own bed to sleep on comfortably. I then invested $100 in purchasing two goats. These goats are valuable assets that can provide financial support in case of emergencies. To further secure our future, I put aside $200 to start a restaurant business. I identified a rental unit and am currently doing some renovations to make it suitable for the business. Having stayed at home and focused on farming, I felt it was time to venture into my own business for additional income. The remaining $100 was used to buy essential furniture for my house, including sofa sets and tables, which I couldn't afford before. My husband does casual labor to support us, but having a proper home with comfortable furniture makes a huge difference in our daily lives. Overall, the cash transfer has significantly improved our living conditions and provided opportunities for a better future."

"I used the cash transfer wisely to make significant improvements in my life. First, I invested $200 in buying a sewing machine, fulfilling my dream of starting a tailoring business. With my skills in tailoring, I am now able to put my skills into a venture that can earn me money. I then purchased fabric worth $100 to sew school uniforms and African attire, setting the foundation for my business. With another $100, I completed the construction of my house that I had started with previous transfer and used $50 to extend the verandah of that house. The extended area now serves as a space where I sell groceries and meet customers needing clothing repairs or custom-made dresses which I do there. The remaining $100 was crucial in buying food items and paying school fees for my daughter in primary school. As a single mother, these investments have been life-changing. I'm grateful to have built my own home and established a business that not only supports us but also brings me joy and fulfillment."

"We live in a house that is made of palm leaf roofing, and I have always dreamt of having a house made of an iron sheet roof. My plan for the future is to build the house of my dreams. To achieve this, I first need to have food security so that the transfers I use to buy food can be redirected to buying building materials.Therefore, in the next planting season, I plan to put in extra effort in land preparation and farming generally, hoping that the rains will come to allow our farms to yield bountiful harvests. This will enable me to gradually start buying building materials with some of the transfers. I will be very happy and excited to own the house of my dreams. I also plan to use a portion of the transfers to start a kiosk where I will be selling non-perishable goods, which will be our daily source of income for our family's sustenance."

"I used my previous transfers and ventured into turkey farming, and my plan is to continue using my transfers to grow this venture. Currently, I have 22 turkeys, and my hope is that they continue multiplying and grow in number and value so that I may be able to sell them in the future. I have already identified a market for them, and when I sell some of them, I plan to use the proceeds to buy goats. It is my hope that these goats too will multiply and increase in number, and I will trade some of them in the future for milk cows and use the milk for my family's consumption. These cows, too, I hope, will multiply and increase in number so that I may be able to sell some in the future. I want to have a variety of livestock on my farm so that I may sell some and start a kiosk where I will be selling non-perishable goods and have a daily income-generating source for daily sustenance for my family. Thereafter, I plan to build a rental house in the future to have a consistent income-generating project. To build this house, I will use the proceeds I will make from selling some of my livestock. Since we consider livestock our banks, leveraging the transfers to invest in livestock is a proactive step to creating a reliable and growing asset base that can provide for my family's needs even after the transfers come to an end."

"Previously, I had a plan to start a dried fish-selling business, and I did venture into it. However, after a few months, I realized that I was not making much progress with the business, so I had to stop it and take another course. My plan for this year and beyond is to continue saving a portion of my transfers in a merry-go-round group. When I receive the pooled funds, I plan to use them to buy more livestock, especially goats and some chickens. I hope that these animals will increase in number and value so that, in the future, I can trade them for cows, particularly for milk. The milk will be for my household consumption, providing nutrition for my family, and any surplus can be sold. These milk cows will also multiply and increase in number and value. I plan to sell the cows in the future to support my family. This livestock investment strategy is my new focus, as I believe it will be more successful and sustainable than the dried fish business I previously attempted."

"The biggest difference since receiving unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is our new home. Our previous house was just one room with a leaking roof, making life difficult for my wife, our 3-year-old son, and I. We used to stay in town because going back home was challenging due to the house's condition. Now, we have a warm, comfortable house of our own, free from leaks. It's changed everything for us, providing stability and peace of mind that we didn't have before."

"On the 14th of June, at around 3pm, I was heading home from fetching water when my phone beeped. Curious, I stopped to check the message, and to my excitement and gratitude, it was a transfer notification from GiveDirectly. I couldn't believe my luck and felt a rush of joy and thankfulness. Eager to share the news, I continued home and ran into my neighbor. I asked her if she had received the same message, but she said her phone was out of charge and she'd check later. Bursting with happiness, I went to withdraw $10 that evening, which I used to buy food since I had nothing for that day. It was a moment of sheer relief and gratitude."