"After my house collapsed last year, I was forced to move into my son's house, which already accommodated his wife and child. I feel like am depriving them of privacy and my priority right now is to get a decent one-room house for myself. I know for sure that my hustle of burning and selling charcoal will not be sufficient to support this operation. Since it will be made of mud walls and an iron sheet roof, I approximate the construction cost at $300. To get there, I purpose to save at least $10 from each future cash transfer."

"I would love to expand my herd of goats to four by year's end. However, looking at the financial obligations on my shoulders, am uncertain about accomplishing my goal by then. Having no one to rely on for provision, I sometimes take on charcoal burning tasks to raise money. However, I cannot make much because the physical demands overwhelm me. This is why, I want to rear livestock as I could easily sell them to get money for food."

"With the cash aid that I receive from GiveDirectly, I am proud to have started goat farming. As of now, I own 3 goats. This is a reliable source of income that will assist me in supporting my grandchildren’s education, as well as sell them when they multiply to cater to any financial emergencies. The goal that I hope to accomplish in the coming year is to boost my livestock farming by saving some money to buy more goats."

"As of last December, I started to save my money because I plan on opening up and running a business. I plan on selling groceries from the comfort of my home and also different types of fish, which are common delicacies back in the village. This money will enable me to cater to the day-to-day needs of my family. My son also happens to be in school, so I intend on helping my husband with some of the bills in the house by settling his tuition fees because he barely makes enough money doing casual work. Nutrition is also definitely on my priority list, especially considering that the drought has had quite a negative impact on us."

"My goal this year was to focus on vegetables farming so that I can get money to be able to pay school fees for my children. Although I was not luck to get education due to poverty, I still believe that education is a key to success and educating my children means that they will have a better future."

"Life has not been easy for people living in extreme poverty and majority of the family end up in the same vivacious poverty circle. Through GiveDirectly cash transfers, parents are able to take their children in school through investing in meaningful projects and businesses. What GiveDirectly does well is helping people get out of this poverty circle and empower others in future hence creation of empowered generation."

"I am a single mothers of two and I have been Living in my parent's house with my two children. I have not been living the best of my life here because I felt like I was a burden to my parents even though they have never told me so. My desire was to purchase a land but being employed as a salon worker, I was not able to raise enough capital towards the same. When I was enrolled in the program, I had only two goal; to open my own salon business and buy a piece of land. Gratefully, I was able to achieve my first dream and I was able to buy a piece of land with my second transfer. I am happy that I now have my own business earning better income and I have my own piece of land. All this wouldn't have been possible were it not for the transfers and I am so grateful."

"For the longest time, I was employed in a timber cutting firm where I didn't earn enough money to give my family a better life that they deserve. My long time dream was to buy my own timber cutting machine so that I could become self employed and earn a better income but I was not in a position to buy the machine. When I was enrolled in the program, I was so happy because I knew that I was just some few miles from achieving my dream. I saved my first transfer because it was not enough to purchase the machine and with my second transfer, I added $350 and I bought the machine.I spend the balance to buy more stock to a business that my wife operates. I am grateful that I am now self employed,earnings a better income, and I am able to give my family the best that I can. All this would not have been possible were it not for the transfers. I am forever grateful."

"My main focus and goal this year is the expand my farming. This is because, I want to save towards my children school fees so that they will not have hard time once they join tertiary institutions."

"Personally I often have a routine on how I use transfers and the spending of the funds are mostly aligned with what is necessary for my family at the moment. At the moment my biggest priority is to ensure that I settle debts in tuition fees for my son who just recently resumed school. Afterwards I also plan on using a part of the transfers to cater for nourishment for my family especially considering that drought is upon us. Lastly I will spend any money left on purchasing a couple of hens since so far the funds have so far helped me acquire four hens."