"My spouse and I, along with our three children, currently live in a small one-room house, which doesn’t provide us with enough space. When I began receiving GiveDirectly transfers, I decided to prioritize expanding our home, something we couldn’t do before due to a lack of reliable income. With each transfer, I've been able to purchase an iron sheet every month, and I’m pleased to share that I only need about six more sheets to complete the roofing. We’ve already finished building the walls, so the final step is to complete the roof. In the coming year and beyond, our primary goal is to complete the construction. After that, I plan to invest in a goat-rearing project, which will help provide financial security for us in the future, even after the transfers stop, as goats multiply over time."

"I am an ECDE teacher which I hope to advance even further. I would like to take up a diploma of early childhood development. Getting a diploma is much more expensive than getting a certificate which means I will need more money to even advance myself. My goal is to continue saving in my savings group where I can get loans and pay to the school. I am greatful to have the liquidity to make this plans happen."

"I want to finish school and I believe I will be able to finish my second year thanks to Givedirectly. I have so far cleared my first year school fees and I am looking to move into the second year of study where I am required to have about $700. I am saving in the village savings group to allow me facilitate this. With this money as well as a few animals I am rearing I see myself being able to raise school fees and complete school."

"The constant temporary renovations of our house are quite an expensive and unsustainable way of living and I am now tire of this process. My goal is to build a new house which takes away that strain. I have already started purchasing materials and hope to buy some more material within the next few months so as to allow for construction to start. My hope is that by July next year we will be moving into the new house with my family. I know it will give each of us some dignity to have our own spaces and cut away the crazy repair expenditure."

"I am really excited that all my children that are expected in school are able to go to school unlike before when they were out of school most of the time. I have dedicated a huge portion of my transfers to school them which is working quite okay and I hope to continue with this. I am also working towards buying some animals. Animals are what earn most of our locals an income and I hope to join them soon as I now have a goat and 7 chicken. This will help my children stay in school even after the program ends."

"We have had to face the consequences of having a mud walled house especially due to the harsh weather conditions we face from time to time. I had vowed to get a new house and I have now bought some of the major materials such as such sand, and building stones which are the most expensive materials in construction. I am now aiming to finish my loan so I can take another one to buy cement and iron sheets as well as pay the mason so that the construction work can begin. I am so greatful to Givedirectly for making this happen."

"I am now interning in a salon and spa where I am learning so much. I can see the flow of customers as well as the payments they are making. My goal is to become like my employer. I am now working towards saving for a business. I would want to be able to earn enough to support my brother who is the current only breadwinner. I want things to change in my home that my parents never have to worry about food, hospital visits of even shelter. I am saving my transfers as well as my earnings to achieve this."

"I am the first born of 6 children, my other 5 siblings are school going. My father who is our breadwinner is the one we depend on to get all these through school. I was able to finish my form four but I cannot get into college. My plan is to save enough to get to school. My way of saving is buying animals and feeding them until they multiply which I will in turn sell to allow me get into college and study teaching. I believe this is a profession that can allow me serve my community and make some cash."

"Since GiveDirectly came, I now have a good house, paid school fees, and ventured into farming—all things that seemed impossible without their support. What I like about GiveDirectly is how they follow up to know how the money has been spent and check if there is any fraud concerning the transfers. What I would recommend is for them to enroll other people who haven't been enrolled before and consider coming back to us in the future."

"Upon receiving the last transfer of $450 from GiveDirectly, my family and I were so thankful and happy for the support. My son, who has just been married, was unfortunately not eligible for the program. They had no proper house and were living in a muddy structure that was at risk of being swept away by the constant floods in our area. I decided to spend $300 to help him buy building materials. This amount covered the cost of iron sheets, frames, and labor. Now, he and his wife have a safer home where they can live privately. At the time I received this money, I was sick and needed medical attention but didn’t have the money to pay for it. This help came at the perfect time, and I used $15 to cover my hospital bill, and now I am healthy. The rest of the money was used to buy food, which is a real challenge. Relying on casual labor to put food on the table is not sustainable, but now I have enough food for my family. I am so happy and grateful for this support."