"I decided to use $450 to build a proper chicken coop for my poultry farm. I have been raising 60 chicken, but they used to sleep outside, which put them at risk of theft and exposure to the cold. It was very unsafe, and I knew that I needed to provide them with better shelter to protect them and ensure their productivity. So, I built a modern coop that can house up to 80 chicken, which gives me room to expand as well. The coop is almost complete, and I plan to install lights inside before moving the chicken in. Poultry farming has been really beneficial to me because chicken not only provide food but also a source of income when sold. However, when they slept outside, the cold affected their productivity, and it was a constant worry for me. The new coop will solve this, giving them a safe and warm space to live, which I believe will improve their health and output. With the $100 left from the transfer, I intend to install lights in the coop. This will help with security, as the chickens will be able to see any potential threats at night and raise an alarm if needed. Additionally, the lights will provide warmth during the colder nights, ensuring that the chickens are comfortable and productive. I feel more confident about my poultry farming now, and I’m hopeful for better returns in the future."

"I rely on my tailoring business as my main source of income. By saving diligently, I am preparing to invest in materials that will attract more customers and increase my income. This increase in income will allow me to better provide for my family, especially in paying for my children school fees due to improved financial stability. My greatest joy comes from seeing my children excel and secure a bright future. I am dedicated to improving our living standards by ensuring my family has the necessary basic needs, such as proper clothing and a healthy diet. My spouse, who is a teacher, also supports me, which helps reduce financial stress in our family. I am grateful to Give Directly for the financial support they have provided, as it has given us hope and the ability to continue working hard and providing the best for our families."

"My partner sells second-hand clothes, and I run a coconut business to support our four children. My main goal for the upcoming year and beyond is to ensure that our children are able to attend school without any obstacles. This means being able to pay their school fees on time to avoid the frustration of them being sent home due to outstanding balances. It's important because during this time, some students continue with the syllabus while those at home miss out. I really want to manage our finances wisely by ensuring that I pay my children’s fees on time and provide them with the necessary basics. Additionally, I aim to build a three-room house. Currently, we live in a two-room house that is on the verge of collapsing; its foundation is damaged, and during rains, we are forced to stand on one side until it stops. Therefore, my plan is to gradually save and purchase building materials, such as timber, to construct a larger, more spacious house that will provide us with proper shelter. This is a significant step towards ensuring my family's well-being and security for the future."

"Right now, I am in my third year of secondary school, and I have been saving my transfers for college once I complete my fourth year. After completing this level, I would like to join a driving school college with the hope of acquiring new skills so that in the future I secure a job as a personal driver. To achieve this, my plan is to continue saving a portion of my transfers until I complete secondary school. Once I graduate, if my parents are unable to contribute to my savings and help me enroll in college, I will start a chicken-selling business using my savings. I plan to save the profits from this venture to help fulfill my dream of attending college and eventually securing a job that will allow me to support my family. I have always wanted to be a personal driver, and I am hopeful that my dream of going to college and getting a job will come true, as I have always wanted to lift my family out of poverty and create a better future for us."

"I previously ventured into poultry farming, investing my transfers in chickens. Unfortunately, my venture was devastated by a coccidiosis outbreak, which resulted in the death of almost all my chicken, which was very devastating as I had never imagined that I would incur such a terrible loss. Currently, I have no poultry left, but I am eager to try something new. I want to start raising ducks because I believe they are more disease-resistant and less susceptible to many illnesses, which should help minimize losses. At the moment, I plan to use my transfers to buy food for my family since we currently have none. Once the rains come and we have a good harvest, I will use my transfers to purchase ducks, hoping they will multiply and increase in both number and value. Eventually, I plan to trade the ducks for goats. These goats will also multiply, and I hope to trade them for both male and female cows that can adapt well to the climate changes in our region. With a variety of animals, including ducks, cows, and goats, I aim to create a reliable source of support for my family, especially when this program comes to an end."

"Currently, I do not have a reliable and sustainable source of income that will enable me to comfortably take care of my family, and yet financial stability has always been my goal. At the moment, I burn and sell charcoal, but this is not enough to support my family. Therefore, I plan to expand my business by sourcing more charcoal from local vendors and transporting it to a nearby town where I can sell it at a better price for greater profits. To achieve this, I need around $200. My strategy is to continue saving all my transfers from GiveDirectly, along with some earnings from my hustles in our merry-go-round group. Once I receive the pooled funds, I will use them to expand my business. My ultimate goal is not only to generate enough profit to support my family but also to save for future needs, such as paying school fees and buying food and clothing for my children and myself. This business venture is crucial for securing our future and improving our quality of life."

"Previously, my goal was to build myself a house, and I am happy to say that it is now complete, thanks to the transfers I received from GiveDirectly. Currently, I am focused on building a sustainable future by owning a herd of goats. Buying goats is quite costly, and I cannot afford it, so to achieve this dream, I plan to use a portion of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly to buy chickens, hoping they will multiply so that I can trade them for goats. I am optimistic that these goats will also multiply and increase in both number and value, providing me with a reliable source of support for my family, especially when this program comes to an end. I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me to have a safe place to sleep and for giving me hope for a better future."

"I have always dreamt of being self-employed and running my own vegetable selling business to create a reliable source of income and be independent. To achieve this, I plan to save money from my various hustles and set aside some of my future transfers that I receive from GiveDirectly. Once I accumulate the necessary funds, I will be ready to start the business, and I am optimistic that with consistent efforts in saving my transfers and reinvesting the profits into the business, it will expand and eventually grow into a shop offering a variety of items that will serve our neighborhood. Additionally, I currently have 15 chicken, and I hope they will multiply, increasing in both number and value. In the future, I plan to sell some of them to buy goats. These goats will also multiply and become valuable assets that I can rely on during emergencies. My goal is that by the end of this program, I will have a solid foundation to help support myself and my family."

"Since GiveDirectly came into our lives, I have been filled with hope and determination that our lives will improve for the better. The transfers I have been receiving have significantly enhanced my life and my children's, particularly by enabling me to pay for their school fees. Looking ahead to the coming year and beyond, I plan to secure a better future for my family, and to do this, I intend to continue using a portion of these transfers to cover their school fees while allocating another portion to invest in goats. I believe these goats will multiply and increase in both number and value, becoming a valuable asset that I can rely on to support my family. I am truly grateful for the opportunities that GiveDirectly has provided us and for the promising future that lies ahead."

"The ultimate goal for my family is to ensure that my seven children receive a quality education and successfully transition into higher education levels. Since my husband does not have a reliable source of income, I plan to continue using a portion of my transfers that I receive from GiveDirectly to cover their school fees, ensuring they can stay in school and pursue their studies. In addition to this, I intend to invest for our future financial security. To achieve this, my plan is to use another portion of the transfers to buy some goats. I hope that these goats will multiply, increasing both in number and value, and be a great asset. This way, I will have a sustainable source of income to support my family and fund my children's education, especially as they move on to higher education. My aim is to establish something reliable that I can depend on when this program comes to an end."