"When GiveDirectly initially arrived in my village and offered financial assistance, it was a huge relief for my household. We readily joined the program as its primary aim was to help us alleviate the poverty we were experiencing. I was facing significant challenges with housing as my current dwelling was in poor condition. The roof was worn, and the recent rains had caused further damage, leaving it leaking and structurally weak. Instead of renovating the old house, I made the decision to construct a new, permanent stone house. While I managed to complete the entire structure, I lacked the financial resources to purchase the remaining materials for the roofing, such as iron sheets, timber, and nails. Upon receiving the transfer, I was able to purchase these materials and cover the labor costs. With the help of the transfer, I am now close to completing my new, spacious, and permanent three-roomed house, which brings me immense gratitude. This achievement would have taken years to accomplish, especially considering that I also have significant financial obligations, such as paying school fees for my four children, one of whom is in university, one in high school, and the others in primary school."

"I used $390 from my recent transfer to purchase building materials to construct a new two-room mud house for my family. Our current house was too small for my eight children, so some of them had to stay with neighbors. To solve this problem, I decided to build a new house and have some of my children live in the old one. I bought 24 pieces of iron sheets, nails, and building poles, and I also paid the mason for his work. I'm relieved that my family won't have to struggle for shelter anymore. I also used some of the money to pay my children's school fees, which totaled $120. They had an outstanding fee balance that I couldn't pay on time, and they were at risk of being suspended. So, I made sure to pay it promptly to avoid any interruption in their education. The remaining amount was spent on buying food for my family, including a bag of maize that will last us a month. This ensures that my family will have enough to eat even when I'm unable to secure my usual casual jobs, which are currently hard to come by."

"I am confident that with consistent hard work, I can transform my life for the better. I am determined to break free from my current circumstances and strive towards a brighter future. My plan is to begin by investing in livestock, starting with chickens and then gradually expanding to goats and eventually cows. By selling the chickens once they've multiplied to a good number, I aim to acquire goats, which will then provide a foundation for obtaining cows. These animals will not only multiply but also provide valuable resources such as milk, and the bulls that I will acquire can be used for farming. Additionally, I have started buying and selling dried fish to further increase my income. Each step of this journey is fueled by my desire to enhance our living standards and build a sustainable future for myself and my family. While I acknowledge that goats can be expensive, I am dedicated to finding a way to make this plan a reality."

"I'm a small-scale farmer. Initially, I considered opening a shop, but it seems like that won't work out as I had hoped. I'm really invested in farming to ensure a good harvest to support my family. Selling my farm produce isn't the best option because I wanted to use the income to open a shop. I've calculated the costs of opening a shop, and it's quite expensive. Now that I have children in school, the little extra income I receive goes toward supporting their education and other household needs. Farming is unpredictable, especially depending on the rains in our area. It's hard to predict whether there will be enough rain or not. Therefore, I've decided to focus on making and selling liquid soap, while also concentrating on farming to ensure we don't lack food.. I also plan to invest in local poultry farming because this project is easy to start and maintain. Once I have a good number of mature chickens, I will sell them to generate income to support my family's needs, such as paying for my children's school fees"

"I currently reside in a two-room house and I am diligently saving within a merry-go-round scheme to purchase new metal sheets. The current ones are old and prone to leaks during heavy rain. My main priority is to create a comfortable home for my family. My husband's job does not bring in sufficient income, and I am dedicated to working hard to ensure that we are able to meet our basic needs without much struggle. Renovating this house would bring me great happiness as its current condition is not ideal, and I feel ashamed when we have visitors. Therefore, I am optimistic that through these savings, I will be able to achieve my dream of improving our living conditions."

"In the upcoming year and beyond, I am really looking forward to investing in livestock rearing, specifically goats. My second priority is paying the school fees for my six children, which is quite challenging. For future planning, I believe that investing in goat rearing is a wise choice because they multiply quickly and are less prone to diseases. Therefore, I have plans to sell some of them once they multiply to a good number, and the income I generate from this will be used to support my children's education. I strongly believe that providing a good education to my children will ensure a bright future for them. This is why I am committed to working hard alongside my children so that one day they will become successful members of the society. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support, which has strengthened our capacity and enabled us to make various investments for our future."

"I paused my tailoring education at college because I was expecting and due for delivery. After a few months, my baby will have grown and weaned. I plan to resume my studies and continue with my course as I initially intended. Now that I am married, I depend on my husband to help cover my college fees, along with a portion of the transfers that I have saved. I also plan to continue saving another portion of the transfers, and with my husband's support, I hope to buy a sewing machine and start my own shop once I complete my course. Additionally, I have been purchasing goats and chickens with my previous transfers, and I am optimistic that they will multiply. This will allow me to sell some of them and invest in my tailoring business venture. My ultimate goal is to achieve financial stability, and I believe this venture will help me reach that aspiration."

"With four children in school and the support of my husband, who has some casual work, my primary goal is to ensure they continue their education. To achieve this, I plan to keep using a portion of my transfers to pay for their school fees, allowing them to focus on their studies without interruptions. Given the current drought and hunger in our region, I also aim to consistently buy food to keep my family fed and prevent us from going hungry until we are blessed with rain and can enjoy good harvests. Once we have a stable food supply, I will redirect my transfers to purchase more chickens to add to the ones I already have. My hope is that these chickens will multiply and increase in number, providing me with the opportunity to sell them in the future to help fund my children's education. I am committed to securing a better future for my family!"

"I have always wanted to venture into livestock farming, and thanks to the support I receive from GiveDirectly I am excited to pursue this interest. In the coming year and beyond, my plan is to invest in a goat-rearing project where I will be using a portion of my transfers from GiveDirectly to buy more goats and add to the six that I already have. I hope that these goats will multiply and increase in number, providing me with a reliable source of support in the future. This will not only help secure my family's welfare but also serve as a lasting reminder of GiveDirectly once the transfers come to an end. As my herd grows, I plan to sell some of the goats to generate income which will be essential for supporting my family's needs, including food and other needs. Additionally, it will help me continue funding my children's education, ensuring they have the opportunities they deserve. I am truly optimistic about this venture and the positive impact it will have on my family's future."

"My main focus is to ensure that my five children receive an education and remain in school without interruptions, giving them the best opportunity to concentrate on their studies. I am incredibly grateful for the transfer assistance I have received from GiveDirectly, which has enabled me to pay for their school fees. Moving forward, I plan to continue using a portion of these transfers to cover their school fees, ensuring they are not sent home for unpaid fees. During the school holidays, when I don’t need to pay any school fees, I intend to use part of the transfers along with what I earn from my charcoal-selling business to buy goats. I hope that these goats will multiply and increase in number and value, providing me with a reliable source of support for my children's welfare and education in the future. This investment is essential for securing a better future for my family."