"I want to start by thanking GiveDirectly because they’ve helped me transform my life. With their support, I’ve been able to build my business, and I’m so grateful to say it’s growing well. This year, my main focus is to make sure that this growth continues steadily. It’s not just about what we’ve achieved already, but how we can keep moving forward. With the first transfer I received, I was able to buy a motorbike. That motorbike has been a real blessing, as it brings in income that helps cover our household needs. It’s been a big help, and now I can focus on using the profits from the business to reinvest and expand even further. I want to make sure that we keep investing back into the business because I know that once it grows to a certain level, we’ll be making more profits, and life will get easier. One of my biggest hopes is that, in time, my children won’t have to worry about school fees anymore. I want them to always be in school, without interruptions. Education is so important to me, and I know that with hard work, this is something we can achieve. My husband and I will continue working together on the farm and the business. It’s not easy, but if we put in the effort, I’m confident we can maximize profits."

"My primary goal for the coming months and beyond is to ensure that all four of my children studying at Mutulu Primary receive the best education possible. A good education will guarantee them a bright future and benefit their generation as well. The financial support I am receiving will help me achieve this goal of financing their education, as I rely on charcoal jobs to meet my needs, which are not sufficient to cover their school fees. Without this support, it would have been very difficult for me to accomplish this. I am very appreciative of the financial assistance, which is helping me take care of my family, especially in terms of their schooling."

"We have been relieving ourselves in the bushes or sometimes going to our friends' houses because we did not have our own pit latrine. This has been very embarrassing for me, especially when I have visitors or when I want to relieve myself at night. Because of this, I have decided that for the coming months, I will start saving a portion of my monthly cash transfers and my earnings from my casual jobs to build my own pit latrine. By the end of this year, I want to make this dream a reality, and I am confident it will happen because I am tired of the embarrassment. This will also prevent us from relying on my friends' latrines, which has been my goal for a long time."

"Insecurity has continuously been a big challenge for my household. This area experiences attacks from cattle rustlers from time to time. The latest incident occured less than 10 kilometers from my home. We dread nights since we do not know when an attack can happen. Hence we live every day afraid that we might lose our livestock or worse of it be killed."

"My son is now in his second year of secondary education, and I am determined to ensure he completes school without any setbacks. Right now, he is my only investment, as I am relying on him to finish school and improve our situation at home in the years to come. To achieve this, I plan to use the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly to cover his school fees and support him in every way possible, ensuring a bright future for him. Currently, he has been in and out of school, but my goal is to see him settled and achieving good grades. This will be a sign that his future, and that of the next generation, will be brighter and more positive."

"My main aim for this year is to buy new bedding, especially mattresses. The one I have now is worn out and causes me a lot of discomfort and pain every night. My wish is to sleep comfortably and wake up feeling refreshed, without the aches and pains. That’s why I plan to save my upcoming transfers to achieve this goal. I believe that getting good-quality bedding will greatly improve my life and well-being. By focusing on this purchase, I hope to create a better environment for rest, which is important for my health and daily activities. I look forward to the day when I can finally enjoy a peaceful night's sleep and say goodbye to the discomfort I’ve endured for so long."

"Before the year ends, my main goal is to build a new house. I currently have 10 iron sheets but need 24 to complete it. The house I live in now is quite old, and whenever it rains heavily, the roof leaks badly. It has been a constant source of worry for me. To make this happen, I plan to use part of my savings from the chama and any additional funds I can gather. Once I achieve this dream, I won’t have to stress about the safety of my home during harsh weather. I’ll also be able to live comfortably and happily with my family, which has been my dream for a long time."

"I am a father of four children and currently work as a motorcycle driver. Our family lives in a one-room house, and I am determined to better our living conditions by expanding our living space to two rooms, hence providing my family with a better and more comfortable quality of life. By the end of this year, I aim to have started this project, although its completion will depend on the funds I can gather. To achieve this, I have been saving a portion of my transfers in our local savings group, and my plan is to continue saving a portion of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, along with some of the earnings from my motorcycle business. Completing this house will bring me immense joy, as it has been my long-held dream. Once the house is finished, I intend to redirect my transfers into a business where I will buy livestock from rural villages at lower prices. I plan to rear them for a few months and then sell them in the markets for a profit. This venture, combined with my motorcycle business, will help me comfortably provide for my children's well-being and education. I am grateful for this opportunity that GiveDirectly has given me and my family, and I am looking forward to the day where I will gift my family a new house."

"Our biggest challenge at the moment is old age. We are unable to do what we used to do when we were young. This has left us to depend on our livestock which is not enough. Also we depend on our children for providence which is difficult since they also have their families of whom they provide for."

"I started a grocery business over a year ago and have been steadily growing it. On good months, the business brings in around $100. I would never have had the opportunity to make this much money if I had taken a job as a house help, where I would have earned just $5 per month. I have only one parent, my mother, who is a peasant farmer, so the responsibility of helping to care for my three younger siblings is significant. I chose to support her by using part of my earnings to cover their school fees and provide food for the family. My goal is to continue expanding the business to generate more income. I have completed my secondary school education, and I am saving part of my business profits, along with some of my monthly earnings, because I have a strong desire to join college and pursue Early Childhood Education. This is a course I am passionate about, and I am confident that once I complete it, I will secure employment. This will allow me to improve my family's situation and better support my mother in taking care of my younger siblings."