"In the coming year, my biggest goal is to start a clothes-selling business to create another source of income. I want to specialize in women’s clothes because they have a ready market, and their demand is always high. To achieve this, I plan to save from both the monthly transfers I receive and the income from my charcoal business. Every month, I will set aside a portion of my earnings, bit by bit, until I have enough to buy my first stock. With hard work and determination, I believe I can grow this business, providing more stability for my family. Beyond this year, I hope to expand and make my clothing business a reliable source of income, allowing me to support my household even better."

"In the coming year, my primary goal is to focus on building a safe and secure house for my child and me. I already have some of the materials and I plan to start the construction next month, in October. Living in this old, collapsing house fills me with fear every day, especially when I think of my one and only child. I can’t continue risking our safety. With each step in the construction, I will feel more at ease, knowing that soon we will have a strong roof over our heads."

"My main goal for the coming year and beyond is to purchase more goats and ensure that my two children in secondary school receive the education they deserve. Currently, I am proud to have over 30 goats and 20 chickens, which have greatly assisted in providing for my family. However, I believe that with more goats, I can increase my earnings from selling livestock, providing the stability needed to concentrate on my children’s education. I aim to grow my livestock, and in the future, I envision my family thriving, with my children graduating and having opportunities I never had."

"I was severely impacted by the recent floods which lasted for months and destroyed my house and belongings. I was unable to recover much when the floods hit, and ad to move to a safe place with my family and livestock. Before this disaster, I relied on subsistence farming and selling charcoal for my livelihood. However, due to the floods, I couldn't work on my farm, which was also destroyed along with the crops I had planted. It was a tough time for my family, and I'm grateful to GiveDirectly for providing assistance. As things slowly return to normal, buying food from shops has become expensive, with a 1kg packet of flour costing $0.8. Because of the floods, making and transporting charcoal for sale was impossible, which was my only source of income. This made it difficult for me to afford food. I used a polyester fabric as a temporary shelter before using it to sleep on. Upon receiving my first transfer, my priority was to ensure that my family of four had enough food. I bought a sack of maize for $30, which will last us for almost a month compared to buying packed flour daily. Additionally, I spent $96 on purchasing a bed and a mattress, replacing the fabric I was sleeping on. I also spent $30 on buying new clothes and shoes for my children, as a way to recover from the losses caused by the floods. Finally, I used the remaining amount to buy new household items that were lacking in my household."

"I had initially planned to start a business to ensure a steady income for our family. However, unforeseen circumstances arose, compelling us to reconsider our plans. The land that was passed down to us by our father in law was acquired from a relative with an agreement to make payments. Regrettably, the original promise was not upheld, and our father in law passed away after distributing the land among his three sons, including my husband. Consequently, the landowners approached us to reclaim their property, issuing an ultimatum to either pay or vacate the premises. As a family, we decided to split the amount among the three households and make a collective contribution to settle the dues. Therefore, my husband and I have committed to saving a portion of our monthly income to raise the required $600 to secure our title deed. This decision led me to shift my focus from launching a business to working towards owning this piece of land."

"My greatest wish is to expand my livestock holdings, particularly goats. I firmly believe that livestock farming will bring significant benefits, especially for my children, who are currently attending primary school and will be transitioning to higher levels in the future. To achieve this, I plan to use a portion of my future transfers to buy more goats, hoping that they will multiply and increase in both number and value. This way, I can sell some of them to support my family, especially as my children transition to higher levels of education. By building a robust herd of goats, I envision not only ensuring a stable income but also creating a valuable resource that can help cover their school fees effortlessly. Each goat I acquire represents not just an animal but a step closer to securing a brighter future for my children."

"In the coming years, my plan is to save a portion of my transfers to buy more goats. I hope that these goats will multiply, increasing in both number and value, allowing me to eventually trade some of them for milk-producing cows and sell some of them when in need . This will help me support my grandchildren's education, as their parent is disabled and unable to provide for them. I envision that these cows will produce enough milk to sustain my family, and I can sell some of the milk to cover our daily needs. With these animals, I see a sustainable source of income that will support my children's education and enhance our overall well-being long after this project concludes. I am optimistic that by diligently managing this opportunity, I can create a better future for my family and ensure we have the resources we need to thrive."

"As well as being a fisherman and a mason, I also practice farming when weather conditions allow. My wife works as a full-time farmer, and at present, we are cultivating our small plot of land with the rest of the family. I have ambitions to expand our farming operations in the coming years. Earlier this year, we didn't have to purchase maize flour as we had a bountiful harvest from our farm. I am keen on growing more crops, both for selling and for personal use. I have been contemplating planting banana stems, and maize. Furthermore, I intend to raise the number of goats we have for future financial security. In addition to the small plot of land given to us by my parents, I am working towards saving a portion of my regular income to acquire an additional piece of land, roughly an acre in size, that my wife and I can call our own."

"We are a family of seven people and living in a two-room space is quite challenging. The available space cannot comfortably accommodate all of us, so I had to arrange for my three eldest children to stay with their grandmother since they are grown up now. Moving forward, my main goal is to expand our current living space by adding an extra room in the coming year. This will create a more comfortable living environment for my family. To achieve this goal, I am saving a portion of my $20 monthly transfer in our merry-go-round group. My spouse also saves a portion of his earnings from casual jobs to help us raise the required amount to kickstart this project. Once it's my turn to receive my savings, I plan to use the money to build my dream house. I am truly grateful for the financial support, as without GiveDirectly, I wouldn't have been able to raise such an amount to improve our living conditions. I am optimistic that we will make a significant improvement to our living space before these transfers come to an end. I know that once we achieve this goal, it will make a positive impact on our family's quality of life."

"In the upcoming year and beyond, my main goal is to focus on the education of my two children. I know that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty in our family. I want to ensure they have everything they need to succeed in school, from uniforms to books. I plan to set aside part of my monthly income to cover their school fees and other expenses. I know it won’t be easy, but I am determined to give them the best. As they grow and move to higher levels of education, I will continue to support them, knowing that their success will not only benefit them but also uplift our entire family. This is my priority, and I am ready to work hard to make it happen."