"I want to have opened my business"

"My family of three often depends on maize farming to earn a living. Unfortunately, the harsh climatic conditions have made the land unproductive, therefore lowering the yield as well as income for the household. GiveDirectly has marked a turning point for me and my family through the transfers. When I received the transfers, I spent $346 on constructing a 2-room house besides the 1-room house I currently have. I am glad my family now has a spacious and comfortable house. I also spent $24 on barbed wire that I wish to fence my farm with. Additionally, I paid $10 in school fees for my children, $20 on household goods, and saved $50 for emergencies. GiveDirectly did not just provide us with financial assistance; they provided us with the opportunity for a better life, and for that, we are truly elated and grateful."

"I want to have built a house and bought a cow."

"My goal is to establish my own salon and beauty shop following the completion of my pending final examinations in December. Instead of seeking employment, I aspire to use the skills and knowledge I've acquired during my time at the hairdressing and beauty college to create a sustainable source of income to support my family. To achieve this, I am committed to saving a minimum of $20 from my monthly earnings, with the aim of launching my business by the beginning of next year."

"Raising money for educating my seven children has been an uphill task. I depend on farming to raise money to sustain my family, but for the past three years due to unpredictable weather patterns I have not made any income from it. I therefore do casual jobs which is still unreliable and not enough to cater to all the basic needs of my family."

"Financial constraints is the biggest challenge. My husband is the sole breadwinner in our family and is employed on a casual basis at a farm. The money he gets is only enough to cater to food and education for our two children. We do not have any money left for us to invest in other things like farming hence we rely majorly on loans which has left us indebted."

"Looking ahead, my goal for the coming years is to repair the roof of my house. Currently, the roof is made of grass thatches that have deteriorated over time, allowing water to leak in when it rains. With the forecasted heavy rains expected in the next few months, I'm concerned that the roof will not hold up, and the entire house could be damaged. To address this, I plan to use some of the funds from the next transfers to purchase the necessary roofing materials, such as iron sheets, which are stronger and more resistant to rain."

"Our current house is deteriorating rapidly, and I'm worried that it might collapse soon, especially as the roof is almost caving in. My husband has not been able to fund the construction of a new house because he has not gotten many construction jobs lately, so his earnings are unpredictable. Moreover, with three children in primary school and two in college, financing a new house has been challenging, given the expenses for their tuition and food. Fortunately, this planting season provided us with a good maize harvest, which I'm confident will eliminate our food concerns for the next few months. I plan to use this opportunity to support the construction of a new three-room house, made of iron sheets and mud walls. I hope that the cash transfers and the income my husband earns from construction work will be sufficient to complete the house."

"My ultimate goal is to expand my meat-selling business and establish my butcher stall along with a food stand right next to it. To start this venture, I estimate that I will need at least $100 in capital. I'm now more optimistic than ever about accumulating this amount because we recently harvested maize produce that will provide food for my family for the remainder of this year. With the food constraints eliminated, I'm confident that I can save $25 every month over the next four months to reach the required capital for my business expansion."

"Looking ahead to the coming years, I plan to open a shop that sells both new and second-hand clothes, catering to all age groups. I see this as a promising business opportunity, as there are currently no shops in our area offering these products. Many people have to travel to town, which is 20 kilometers away, to purchase these essential items. Establishing this shop will not only provide a valuable service to the community but also offer a source of steady income for my family."