"I recently completed a tailoring class, where my husband, who is currently a tailor, trained me extensively in clothes-making. Now, I am eager to purchase a sewing machine to launch my own tailoring shop. My goal is to establish this shop so that both my husband and I can contribute jointly towards achieving our goals in life and providing our family a good life they deserve."

"I am planning to start my own welding shop after gaining expertise in welding from attending welding school. Completing my welding class in April this year has prepared me well for this venture, making the process much easier. To kickstart this business, I aim to save enough money from my livestock business and my aim is to improve my family's living conditions. Since my father's passing, I have been striving to ensure my family lacks nothing."

"Currently, I earn a living by making and selling charcoal. My primary goal is to transition into selling vegetables. I believe this business will improve the quality of life for my children and me. To start the vegetable business, I need $60. I intend to save from my charcoal sales and I will also spend part of my transfer to help me in starting my business. I believe through this venture, I will have a stable flow of income and our lives will improve for good."

"I completed my tailoring studies in 2012 and had a tailoring shop before I got married. After marriage, I moved to my husband's house and stopped operating the shop. Now, I am eager to start my own tailoring shop again. Currently, I work from home with a sewing machine, but having a dedicated shop will help attract more customers. Being easily accessible will increase convenience for clients seeking tailoring services, ultimately reducing my dependency on my husband. I am saving diligently towards this goal and believe that with my savings, I will soon be able to establish my own shop. This venture will not only empower me professionally but also contribute to our household income."

"My goal is to renovate my house, which is currently not in good condition, and add an additional room. I am determined to improve our living conditions for the sake of my family, especially my three children, whom I want to provide with their own space, privacy, and a comfortable environment where they can enjoy their time. Currently, I am part of a merry-go-round group, and when my turn comes to receive my transfer, I will immediately begin the renovation and construction project. This opportunity will allow me to take the necessary steps towards achieving my goal of providing a better home for my family."

"My greatest aspiration is to provide education for my children. Over time, I have worked towards constructing my own house, and now I have successfully built a two-bedroom house with a sitting room. Constructing the metal sheet house brought great joy to my family. To achieve this, I purchased metal sheets monthly and accumulated them, with support from the transfers I received each month, facilitated by GiveDirectly. Currently, my main focus remains on ensuring my children receive a quality education, believing it will secure a bright future for them."

"As a mother of two children, I am focused on purchasing a bed and mattress to improve our living conditions. Currently, we don't have a good mattress, so saving through my merry-go-round group is crucial. Despite my husband's work as a transporter, saving from his salary proved difficult, prompting my decision to save through our merry-go-round instead. Acquiring a bed and mattress will significantly enhance our living standards. It's essential for us, especially when we have guests, as it ensures we won't struggle to accommodate them, saving us from embarrassment."

"I am a motorcycle driver who financed a motorbike on credit. Previously, I worked for someone else, which was challenging because I had to pay the owner $4 daily regardless of my earnings. To improve my situation, I decided to acquire a motorbike on credit. I have made several payments and now have only $580 remaining to clear my debt. Thanks to the transfers I received, I was able to make some payments and I am confident that with my determination and hard work, I will pay off the remaining amount. My goal is to provide my children with a better life, ones done with clearing my debt."

"Two years ago, my house collapsed after heavy rainfall because it was weak and couldn't withstand the weather. Fortunately, I had built a small kitchen separately, which was not affected by the collapse. I moved into the kitchen to save money to build a new house, rather than seeking refuge with neighbors. I work as a mason in the village, but sometimes struggled to find work, making it difficult to save for a new house. On top of that, three of my children had started high school, adding to my expenses. I almost gave up on my dream of building a new house, considering all the other needs that required my attention. However, I'm grateful for the help from GiveDirectly, which has given me hope again. When I received the funds, I used most of it to buy building materials like iron sheets, nails, and poles. I'm currently in the process of building a new house for myself and my children, which will provide us with proper shelter after spending years sleeping in the small kitchen. Additionally, I was able to pay school fees for my six children, amounting to $120, with three in high school and the rest in primary school. I can now relax knowing that I've taken care of my children's education expenses, allowing them to continue their studies without interruptions. Lastly, I also purchased food and household items that we needed."

"My plan for this year is to work hard and complete constructing both my son's house and my own. Having comfortable living spaces is of utmost importance to me, and I plan to use my transfers to purchase the necessary building materials to make this a reality. Once the construction of our new homes is complete, I intend to shift my focus to something that will enable me to generate income in the future. I plan to use part of my transfers to buy chickens and goats, hoping that they will multiply and increase in number and value over time. In the future, I can then sell them to generate income that I can use to support my family's needs, including paying for my children's school fees to enable them to continue their studies without interruption. I am excited about the potential of these plans and am confident that they will positively impact the well-being of my loved ones."