"Being a widow has been a big challenge for me because it comes with a lot of responsibilities. As the head of a family of 4, I am tasked to carry the burden of their misfortunes in life. Since I lack a reliable source of income, I depend on subsistence farming which is currently undependable. This means I am forced to seek help from my son but his support is limited due to the many commitments he has with his family. Hence, I consider financial constraints as my biggest concern."

"Food insecurity! In my household, getting 2 meals in a day is so impossible and this means forfeiting meals on some days. Since I am in a polygamous family, my husband can not fully support us, and getting our very basic needs is a challenge. We majorly depend on our sons' incomes but since they have families, their assistance has been inconsistent. What a miserable life!"

"How Give Directly gives money without any conditions was very helpful to us since every household has got different financial needs and we were able to solve our problems differently."

"I currently work as a motorcycle taxi driver, though I use a rented bike that I must pay for every day. My goal for the coming year is to be able to start a business of selling livestock. I intend to achieve this goal by saving $12 per month from my transfer. I believe that having a steady source of income will significantly improve my life."

"I was hoping this year that the funds would allow me to buy a couple of fun animals like I did last year. I intend on investing in buying more goats, which could in turn assist me financially when I need the money. I currently own three goats, which was made possible with the funds that I receive. I also hope that the funds will assist me in paying tuition for my children because it is quite common for them to get sent back home when we fail to settle the debt. Last but not least, I would be thrilled if by the end of the year I managed to open up a business where I sell groceries so that I could assist my husband in taking care of the family."

"I'd love to open a food kiosk where I could sell things like maize flour, bread, tea bags, sugar, cereals, and milk. I am a farmer of livestock. I keep over 20 goats, 5 bulls, and over 10 hens. When it comes to feeding my family, my livestock has always been useful. I do occasionally sell some of the animals, which helps me to pay the bills and feed my family. The bulls I use to till other people's land also bring in money for me. My primary motivation for starting a business is that the income I receive from raising livestock is insufficient to cover all of my expenses. I will be able to fully support my family and be financially secure as a result of starting this business."

"My priority at the moment is to ensure that I can afford the tuition fees for seven of my kids, especially because they are quite costly and yet I do not make that much money. Therefore, I will use a great deal of what I receive to keep my children in school so that they can pursue their education. I also intend on buying a couple of farm animals, preferably goats and poultry, so that they can come to my aid when I am struggling financially. Nutrition is also definitely on my list because I have a huge family and the drought has brought a lot of hunger back to the village."

"My oldest son, who did well in his final primary exams, will start secondary school in February. I don't make much money from the occasional jobs I work, so my financial situation is currently poor. The rivers are drying up, which is making it difficult for my husband to do his job as a fisherman. My plan is to buy stationery, pay school expenses, and purchase new school uniforms for my son, who will be starting secondary school, with the money from my subsequent transfers over the course of the next three months. He is a diligent young man who is eager to succeed, so I will be happy to see him go to school."