"As a mother of one, my goal is to expand my shop, where I currently sell items such as flour, oil, sugar, rice, and soap. Previously, I relied solely on farming, which left me without work during dry seasons. Thanks to GiveDirectly and my husband, I was able to start this business, which keeps me busy and increases my income. I plan to save my transfers and the profits from my shop to expand my inventory. I aim to add new products like beans and greens and increase my stock to boost my profits and grow the business."

"I currently have ten goats and ten chickens, a venture I embarked on as soon as I received the GiveDirectly transfers. My plan is to let the goats breed so I can sell them to cover my children's school fees and also trade them for cows. I also care for my neighbor’s chickens and use my skills to tend to my own flock. I am confident that, over time, both my goats and chickens will thrive and multiply. This will provide opportunities to sell some or trade them and help establish a reliable income stream to support my family’s needs. Ensuring my children receive the best education is very important to me, and this will help make that possible."

"I am a father with one child and currently live in a one-room house. As our family grows, I want to expand our living space. My plan is to build a larger two-room house. Whether it will be made of metal sheets or stone will depend on how much money I have available. I joined a merry-go-round to save enough money for this house construction project. As a driver, I believe that with my earnings and the contributions from the merry-go-round, I will be able to reach my goal. I have also started purchasing metal sheets, and I currently have fifteen. I am confident that this new house will provide the comfort and happiness that my family deserves."

"Driven by my passion for turkey rearing, I invested my most recent transfer into this venture, knowing that turkeys are both marketable and profitable. Before GiveDirectly's support, I had the idea but lacked the capital to start. Thanks to their assistance, my dream has become a reality—I now have six adult turkeys and twenty chicks. I've already begun to see the benefits, as selling a few turkeys has provided enough money to support my family and pay school fees. Given the profitability and potential for growth, I am confident that turkey rearing will be a successful endeavor. With school-going children, I am committed to securing their future through this investment. Over the coming year, I plan to reinvest the profits from my turkey project to expand the business. This growth will enable me to earn more income, ensuring I can continue supporting my children's education."

"I used the recent transfer to buy two goats for $10.4, which will be a good source of income in the future as they multiply. I have long wanted to rear goats in my livestock-keeping projects since raising the 10 sheep I had has been a real challenge. Sheep are easily affected to harsh climatic conditions. During droughts, I have to relocate them to my relatives, who live deep in the bush, so they can find food. I am also forced to buy medicines frequently, as they get sick easily with weather changes. Goats, on the other hand, multiply faster, are more resistant to harsh climatic conditions, and can fend for themselves. You just release them in the morning to graze in the bushes, and they return in the evening on their own. Additionally, I bought a sack of maize, beans, and rice for $60, ensuring that we had enough food. Since buying the food, my children have never skipped a meal as they did before, as I previously depended on charcoal burning to fend for them. Charcoal burning does not earn enough income; I would only sell one or two sacks per week at $0.4 each, which is too little for my family of seven. To survive, I used to cook porridge for them in the morning, then go till the evening when we could eat a better meal. Thanks to the transfer, I have seen improvements in their health. I also used $30 to buy good clothes for them to wear during occasions such as church, as their previous ones were very old. I used the remaining amount to buy utensils."

"Before receiving support from GiveDirectly, we were struggling with severe economic and financial difficulties due to extreme poverty. The cash I received allowed me to choose what I wanted to buy, which helped me start a clothing business and purchase better bedding. Without this support, I doubt I would have been able to acquire these assets. In my view, GiveDirectly is doing everything right. Their assistance has had a positive impact on our lives, and I see no need for them to change their approach. Since they started helping us, there has been nothing but improvement."

"GiveDirectly does well by providing unconditional cash transfers, allowing recipients to address their own challenges without external planning or interference. The organization ensures fairness by distributing funds to everyone in the village without discrimination. Additionally, the enrollment process was conducted entirely by GiveDirectly staff, eliminating the risk of corruption. This was achieved by visiting homes individually, offering recipients the opportunity to express themselves freely and without fear. In my opinion, GiveDirectly should continue supporting more people in poor regions using this effective approach."

"I have never experienced receiving financial assistance like what I received from GiveDirectly. Receiving the unconditional transfers was a game changer, not only for me but also for the entire village. One of the greatest things I appreciate about GiveDirectly is that we were given the freedom to plan for ourselves to address and meet our individual needs, which has uplifted our lives. Our lives have improved, and I cannot think of anything that GiveDirectly does not do well."

"My goal for the coming year is to expand my poultry business. Previously, I faced a significant loss when nearly half of my flock was wiped out by Newcastle disease. To prevent this from happening again, I have taken preventative measures and purchased medicines to protect my next stock. I also plan to buy chicken feed to ensure their proper growth. I will be utilizing upcoming transfers to achieve this goal of restocking my flock. Having my own business provides an additional source of income, rather than relying solely on the seasonal work of tilling other people's lands. I am looking forward to a financially stable future for my family and am deeply grateful for the support I have received so far."

"My goal is to build a new house for myself, as I currently live in a small one-room house that was given to me by my son. I want to upgrade to a two-room house and am happy to report that I have already started the process. I have been purchasing construction materials such as iron roofing sheets and building poles using my transfers. I look forward to using my upcoming transfers to buy more materials and cover additional building costs. Having my own home will restore my dignity and provide much-needed peace of mind. I am pleased with my progress so far and am optimistic about achieving even greater things in the future."