"I WAS AT MY HOUSE LISTENING TO THE RADIO, I FELT SO GOOD AND HAPPY BECAUSE I FELT I HAD BEEN REMEMBERED. TO AVOID MISUSE, I MADE SURE I AVOID EXCITEMENT"

"At the age of 65, engaging in the physical demands of farming has become challenging for me. However, my primary focus has shifted towards goat farming, a more manageable venture at my age. In the coming year and beyond, I plan to continue rearing and increasing my goat herd whenever the opportunity arises. The ease of managing goats, coupled with their quick multiplication, provides a sustainable avenue for me to support my children's education. I anticipate that selling the offspring will generate the necessary funds whenever there is a need, contributing to the financial well-being of my family. This strategic approach aligns with my current capabilities and long-term goals, ensuring a practical and fruitful endeavor in my later years."

"Currently, I am single, and I aspire to start a family in the future. With a focus on securing my family's financial well-being, I have been dedicated to long-term investments that can provide sustained support. The generous support from GiveDirectly has significantly facilitated my ability to undertake additional projects. Upon receiving the second transfer, I allocated $340 to purchase six goats, adding to the nine I already had, bringing the total to 15. This investment is crucial for enhancing milk production and potentially selling offspring in the future, contributing to my family's financial stability. Leveraging the availability of vast grazing land, I also acquired a three-months-incalf sheep at $110, a low-maintenance option that can graze independently. With future plans to expand my flock, I intend to utilize the support from the small savings accumulated through casual labor and other farming activities. The support from GiveDirectly has opened doors for me to build a foundation for a secure and prosperous family life."

"Upon receiving the second transfer, I had specific plans in mind for the $450, aiming to address pressing needs in our family of four. Recognizing the high cost of buying milk regularly, I decided to prioritize purchasing a heifer for $260, hoping to enhance milk production in the future. While the heifer is not yet producing milk, I am optimistic about its service and subsequent contribution to our milk supply alongside the other three cows we have. The challenge of fetching water from distant streams, especially in our old age, prompted us to invest $178 in a plastic water tank and gutters. This setup efficiently collects rainwater from the roof, eliminating the need to spend money on water transportation. Since its installation, we haven't incurred any expenses for water, and we hope it will continue to sustain us even after the rain stops. We wisely used the remaining $12 to purchase foodstuff, which is supporting us while we await the maturity of the crops we planted using the first transfer. Overall, the second transfer from GiveDirectly has significantly improved our living conditions, addressing key challenges in our daily lives."

"Until recently, my primary livelihood depended on subsistence farming, primarily for household consumption. Struggling without a consistent source of income, I decided to venture into poultry farming. The objective behind this was to establish a reliable income stream that would contribute to covering my son's college fees. Through the sale of some chickens at $4 each recently, I successfully raised a substantial amount, enabling my son to enroll in college. My current focus is on expanding this poultry venture. I plan to invest in acquiring more chickens, improving the structures, and ensuring an adequate supply of feed for the poultry. This goal is driven by the belief that cultivating such a project will significantly transform my financial situation. The ability to sell chickens presents an opportunity to generate income consistently, contributing not only to the sustainability of the poultry project but also to the overall improvement of my livelihood."

"As I said I am saving towards going to college. I have saved since being enrolled monthly. I have been in the program two years and my hope is by next year much I will have enough to take me through the first semester as I need $600 to start my first semester and complete it. I will be joining school to study masonry professionally to allow me get into opportunities that now I am unable to go for as I do not have the skills or qualifications but thanks to Givedirectly transfers this dream is not far fetched."

"I want my kids to go through school. It now feels like an impossible task as my husband has no work while my business of selling charcoal is almost non existent. I want my children to have a fighting chance through getting a good education and I want to help them go through school and advance their studies beyond primary school so that they have opportunities us as their parents never had. I also want to invest in animals to help facilitate this dream hence from time to time I plan to invest my transfers of buying animals."

"I have a small business selling a type of tuna locally referred to as "omena", my husband sells bread. These businesses do not make enough to sustain family needs. My main concern at the moment is my house, it is falling apart and I do not have the finances to build a new house. I would like to use Givedirectly transfers to buy iron sheets which are becoming expensive by the day. As at now I have 4 sheets of iron and I need 16 sheets more. I am planning to use my cash transfers to ensure that this new house is completed and am able to move out of this delapitated space."

"I have 3 school going children, one in grade 6, another in grade four and the other in grade two. My husband and I both sell charcoal to make ends meet. This business of selling charcoal has been greatly affected by the drought and then the heavy rainfall. We have an almost nonexistent income with school going children. It is difficult to predict if we will be able to cater for their schooling but we hope through the transfers we can get them through school and also buy a number of chicken that can be sold to make an income to be used to educate my children."

"My oldest cleared primary school and would like to join secondary school. I have no job to earn an income I do casual jobs to make a living. My husband came back home in October and also has no work he is engaged in now. Secondary school is expensive and with no income we are not sure we can facilitate our child's schooling, Our goal is to have her join Secondary school if the money becomes available or wait and join a technical training when we get enough money to facilitate this."