"The most significant change in my life has been the construction of a house on our farm, where we engage in subsistence farming. Our farm was separated from our home by a river, and during floods, we would become stranded with no way to cross back home. This was frustrating and sometimes dangerous. However, with the new house on the farm, we no longer have to worry about being stuck or risking crossing the flooded river. My family feels safer and more settled, and we can focus more on our farming without the constant fear of being stranded. This house has given us a sense of security, something we didn’t have before. We can now stay at the farm and manage our crops without rushing back home, which has greatly improved our lives."

"I am a mother of nine, and my husband and I rely on subsistence farming to take care of our family. Our farm is located across a river from our home, and during the rainy season, the river floods, making it impossible to get back home if we are at the farm. To solve this problem, we decided to build a small house at the farm, so we can have a safe place to sleep if the river floods. We used our recent earnings to make this dream a reality. We spent $148 on building poles and rafters, $102 on iron sheets, and $23 on roofing nails. The contractor charged us $100 for labor, bringing the total cost of the house to $373. Now that the house is complete, we feel safer and more at peace knowing we won’t be stranded anymore. Besides building the house, we had to think of how to deal with the ongoing drought. So, we bought two sacks of maize for $96 to ensure we had enough food at home. I also paid $36 in school fees for my children, knowing how important their education is for our family's future. To further secure our future, I invested $45 in buying five rabbits and a goat. Rabbits have a high demand in our area, so I see this as a good opportunity to grow our income. These earnings have not only improved our living conditions but also strengthened our family's prospects."

"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 was on my farm in the afternoon, clearing the land for early cultivation preparation and planting. While I was busy with my work, I received a message on my phone. Upon checking to confirm receipt, I realized it was my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt happy upon seeing this message, since it meant that I could now pay fees for my children and also build a new, spacious house for the family."

"I owned a plot of land that had been unused for several years. My plan was to develop it by constructing a rental house, possibly a temporary mud house, since it's located near a high school and could easily attract tenants, particularly students. However, I didn't have the funds to kickstart this project as it was quite expensive. I made a decision to save money from my earnings from my masonry job. It would have taken me years to begin this project, but fortunately, receiving the first transfer made it more feasible to start construction. I was able to purchase essential materials such as 20 iron sheets, ten bags of cement, and a truckload of sand. I am currently in the process of making bricks from a mixture of sand and cement, which is a more permanent solution than mud. I plan to build two units and later expand to more units. Once the units are completed and begin to attract tenants, it will provide a steady and long-term source of income for me through rental earnings, supplementing my income from my masonry job."

"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."