"My spouse and I agreed to purchase a motorbike on loan. Although it was second-hand, we bought it for $500. My spouse operates the motorbike, and the earnings he makes, combined with a portion of my transfer, go toward repaying the loan. This business also helps cover our family's basic needs. We also have a hotel business that has become more stable thanks to these transfers, so while I’m still caring for our newborn, my spouse is running it. Our top priority for the coming year is to fully repay this loan. Once my child is old enough for me to bring to the hotel, I plan to focus on expanding the business by adding more stock. I intend to use my transfers to make this possible so that when the transfers eventually end, the business will be able to sustain itself through its profits, supporting both my family’s needs and my own."

"I haven’t fully recovered from my chest pain, which started years ago. As a casual laborer supporting my family, it’s difficult to avoid heavy work, especially since that’s mostly what’s available here in the village. To help solve this challenge, I’ve decided to invest in livestock. My goal is to raise goats at home, which I plan to eventually trade for a dairy cow. The cow will provide a steady income, helping me become more self-reliant. Thanks to these transfers, I’ve started buying goats and already have four. To achieve my dream of owning a cow, I’ll keep buying goats and, as they multiply, trade them for a cow. Cows are expensive, so purchasing one all at once is not easy. Additionally, once I have my cow, I’ll sell some of its offspring when it multiplies and use the earnings to start a small shop. I’m confident that if I can bring these plans to life, I’ll achieve financial stability and be able to support my family with ease."

"First of all, I am deeply grateful for the support. I felt truly supported during a challenging time, as I was affected by severe floods that took away many of my belongings and disrupted my farming. Receiving $450 has been a blessing in helping me rebuild. As a farmer, my work was on hold due to the flooding, but now I’m back to farming on one acre of land. I invested $150 into this venture; since I had already bought kale seeds with the first transfer, this amount covered the cost of land preparation, planting, and repairing my generator. This generator is essential for irrigation, allowing me to manage the crops even if there’s no rain and reducing the risk of crop loss. I am already selling some of this produce and saving the earnings for future farming. My next plan is to grow beans on two acres. After setting up the farm, I focused on school fees for my three children. I used $150 to clear their unpaid fees. One of my children is preparing for the national exams, and now they can do so without the worry of debt. I am very grateful for this, as I value education deeply. With $70, I bought a goat, my first one, which will be helpful in the future, especially for school expenses. Finally, I used the remaining amount to buy food, ensuring my family has this essential supply, especially once the support ends. I didn’t know where to start after the floods, but this support has truly made a difference. I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to rebuild and provide for my family’s needs."

"My plan for this year, and in the years to come, is to invest more in agribusiness, focusing on both crop farming and livestock keeping. By growing this venture, I aim to establish a consistent source of income that will allow me to improve my household’s standard of living. This income will help me cover essential needs like school fees, food, and other immediate household expenses. I intend to use the remaining GiveDirectly transfer to make this dream a reality. Building a meaningful business that can provide stable income fills me with satisfaction and hope. I look forward to the day when I’ll be able to support my family with this venture and continue improving our quality of life."

"Following the floods this year, our main house was completely destroyed, leaving us with only the kitchen, which was also severely damaged but not entirely collapsed. We ended up with nowhere to sleep, and together with my seven children, we had no choice but to go to my mother-in-law's house every evening. She has only one room, and with her two children also staying there, it was incredibly challenging for all of us to squeeze into such a small space. When I received my second transfer of $435, I immediately spent it on buying iron sheets, poles, labor, and transportation of these materials to build a shelter for my family. I constructed a one-room house with iron sheet roofing and walls, and now we no longer need to crowd at my mother-in-law's house every night. I also used $5 to buy shoes for my son, who did not have any, and spent the remaining $10 on some food items that we needed at the time. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for helping us rebuild our lives."

"The biggest difference in my life after receiving the transfer is that my children can now sleep comfortably on a mattress. Before, it was a constant worry for me, knowing they were sleeping on a hard wooden bed with no mattress, which made their nights uncomfortable. While I was able to manage other basic needs, the mattress was something I couldn’t afford, and it caused me a lot of stress. Now, seeing my children happy and resting well at night brings me great relief. They wake up refreshed, and I feel peace knowing they have something comfortable to sleep on. This change has made our home feel much warmer and more complete, and I am grateful every day for this simple yet essential improvement."

"Housing is the challenge I am currently facing in life. I am a mother of one baby boy, and all live in a one-roomed house that has a grass-thatched roof. The roof leaks during the rainy season, and imagine this has been the kind of life for the past four years. When people rejoice in having rain, I spend sleepless nights all through the season. I can not even be visited by relatives since I cannot accommodate them. My husband works in the motor vehicle industry as driver though he does not have a permanent vehicle. Sometimes he takes even two months without any job. This makes it hard for him to build a spacious house for the family."

"I aim to open a shop in the coming year and beyond to fully support my family through the income generated from selling goods. This idea arose from noticing a market gap in our village, where residents often travel long distances to find shops that may not stock what they need. I intend to use the upcoming monthly transfer along with my job savings to establish a large shop that will offer most essential items. I've received guidance from friends in business, and I have a strong passion for managing a shop, which tends to succeed despite challenges. Our area has very few shops, and those that exist have limited selections. As I have three younger siblings and my parents are unemployed and dealing with health issues, all responsibilities rest on my shoulders. Generating extra income from the shop will help alleviate my financial burdens, allowing me to marry and start my own family."

"My first goal is to lease a piece of land using the funds from the third transfer. I want to use this land to plant maize so that, come harvest time, we’ll have a reliable food supply. This will ease the burden on my children, who often feel the pressure to find casual jobs to support the household. With a steady harvest, they can focus on their studies and daily routines without the constant worry about how we’ll put food on the table. Alongside securing the harvest, I also want to make sure that my children are fully settled in school. I aim to pay their school fees on time, giving them the stability they need to thrive academically. By taking care of their tuition, I hope to lift some of the financial strain we've been under, allowing them to focus on learning and preparing for a brighter future. I believe that with these plans in place, our family will grow stronger, and the year ahead will bring us closer to stability and peace."

"My initial goal was to invest in building my house. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I have successfully constructed a comfortable home for my family through these transfers. Looking ahead, my primary objective is to invest in stocking my new shop. I am in the process of building a small kiosk to avoid the challenges of renting a business space. Before these transfers come to an end, I plan to establish a shop. Having this business will provide me with a daily income, allowing me to support my family with greater ease. Our home is conveniently located next to the market, which I believe makes this a smart decision. Moving forward, having a consistent income is essential. To make this happen, I intend to use my monthly transfers to stock the shop, ensuring financial security even after the transfers conclude. I am thankful to GiveDirectly for empowering us financially. Currently, I rely on less stable casual jobs, so making the most of these transfers will significantly transform our lives."