"Growing a lot of food, especially on my land that I will acquire using the transfer I got from GD"

"Since I started receiving unconditional cash transfers from GiveDirectly, the biggest difference in my life has been nothing short of transformative. The retail shop I established with the support of these transfers has become the cornerstone of this change. Now, I can provide for my family without constantly seeking assistance from family and friends, as I did before. The restoration of my self-esteem is immeasurable; I feel like a true provider for my family, a man who can confidently meet their needs. In the past, it was a source of immense stress, struggling to provide even the most basic necessities like food. I often felt like I had let my family down. However, with the profits I now earn from the shop, I can pay all my bills on time without straining or struggling. I'm no longer seen as a struggling member of the community; I've managed to move beyond merely surviving and have become a thriving member of the village. I can't express my gratitude enough to this organization for the incredible impact they've had on my life."

"I allocated $250 from my recent cash transfer to fulfill a long-held dream of starting my own salon. With that money, I purchased everything I needed—hairdryers, various hair products, shampoos, and soaps. Before this, I used to provide mobile salon services, going from house to house, which was both physically taxing and economically challenging. Now, I can proudly say I have my own salon, fully equipped with everything necessary to serve my clients. It's a dream come true, and the independence and stability it brings are beyond rewarding. After securing my salon venture, I made sure to prioritize my children's education. I used $30 to pay the school fees for my two children, one in grade four and the other in grade two. Their education had suffered due to financial constraints, and as a parent, it pained me to see them struggle. With the remaining amount, I invested in iron sheets and poles with the intention of adding an extra room to my house. My family was growing, and the need for more space was evident. Additionally, this expansion would provide better security for my belongings, as some of my properties had to be kept outside due to the limited space, leaving them vulnerable to theft. As a single parent relying on income from my salon business and occasional quarry jobs, these investments represent steps toward a more secure and stable future for my family."

"My future goal is to take my selling business to the next level by building a stall at the marketplace where I sell my products. Currently, not having a stall has made running my business quite inconvenient. I have to carry my stock back and forth from home to the marketplace daily, spending three hours on the road, which is exhausting. Having a stall would reduce this fatigue, allowing me to leave my stock at the market and commute without a heavy load. This will not only ease my hardships but also give me more time to care for my seven young children who depend on me."

"My focus for the upcoming year and beyond is on two things. First, I am determined to complete my beauty and hair-making college program, which I was only able to attend thanks to the cash transfers from GiveDirectly. Upon graduation, I plan to leverage my acquired expertise to establish a salon business in my village. I am particularly enthusiastic about this venture because there is currently no one providing such services in my community. By bridging this gap, I believe I can serve my community and simultaneously generate income to support my family's needs."

"Looking forward, my primary goal is to establish a sustainable source of income and accumulate wealth through livestock rearing. Goats, in particular, pique my interest because they have resilience in the face of harsh weather conditions, which are quite prevalent in our region. The recent cash transfer allowed me to acquire my first goat, and I plan to expand my herd. Over time, as these animals reproduce, and even after the cash transfers end, I envision being able to sell the goats to generate funds. These funds will not only cater to the needs of my four children but also alleviate the financial burden on my husband, who faces challenges in making a decent living through his carpentry job."

"The prospect of acquiring a new bed means a lot to me. Sleeping on a sisal-roped bed has caused me discomfort and fatigue, and I see this as an opportunity to have a decent and comfortable sleeping space. Once I have acquired the bed, I plan to continue saving through the merry-go-round club for the education of my eldest child, who is currently in grade 5. In the next two years, he will be entering junior high school, and I anticipate that the educational expenses at that level will be considerably higher than what we can afford with our current income from casual jobs. Supporting his education is not only crucial for his future success but also a means of easing the financial burden on his father and me as we strive to provide for him and his siblings."

"My primary focus right now is to support the education of my son, Karisa. Two years ago, after he graduated from high school, it was a financial challenge for me to send him to college as I lacked the necessary funds. Initially, when I started receiving the cash transfers, I had to prioritize buying food because our family was constantly facing hunger. It was only when we had a good harvest recently that I began saving for my son's education. I'm happy that Karisa has now joined a plumbing college, and I am committed to supporting his education until he graduates in the next two years. While I would have liked to invest in buying goats and expanding my livestock holdings, my son's education is my top priority."

"My goal moving forward is to continue expanding my livestock holdings, especially with goats. I believe that goats are more resilient to the harsh climatic conditions in our region compared to cattle. As I continue buying these animals, I am confident that even after the cash transfers have ceased, the livestock I've acquired with the funds will provide ongoing financial support for my six children’s education."

"Looking forward, my goal is to acquire two bulls for plowing. Having bulls during the planting season is advantageous because they can cover a larger area than manual weeding with a hoe. This season, I had to hire bulls, which was expensive. I aim to have my bulls for future planting seasons. To accomplish this, I hope to channel most of the cash transfers towards acquiring the animals."