"This coming year, I am filled with hope and determination to start my grocery business, a venture I have long dreamt about. In our village and the broader community, there are many businesses, but none that supply fresh vegetables consistently. I see this as an opportunity to fill a vital gap and provide a much-needed service. To make this dream a reality, I have already started purchasing construction materials for the grocery structure. It will require 12 pieces of iron sheets for roofing, and I currently have six pieces. Every month, I plan to buy at least two more iron sheets until I have all I need. With each purchase, I am one step closer to fulfilling my dream of running a successful grocery business that benefits not just my family, but everyone in our community."

"Currently, I'm facing a lot of challenges. However, my biggest challenge is the lack of money to sustain my family. Recently when the floods came my small maize farm I was depending on was swept away leaving me hopeless and without food and money to sustain my family. This has left me unsure about the future of my family considering the lack of enough casual work for us to do. This makes it difficult to get food and other needs for my family."

"Currently I'm facing a number of challenges including lack of fees, shortage of food and lack of money to do farming. However, the most pressing challenge I'm facing currently is the lack of money to do irrigation in my farm since only source of money is farming. This has made it difficult to provide both food and school fees for my children"

"My biggest challenge is my poor health. Over the years I have developed chest problems which have made it difficult for me to cater for myself and my family. Sometimes we are forced to go hungry since I'm unable to work since we depend a small business of selling Vegetables it sometimes becomes really difficult since I have to walk long distances. I'm really struggling to provide for my family."

"The staff from GiveDirectly did an incredible job of educating us about the program. They explained everything in great detail, from when we would receive the transfers to how the follow-ups would be conducted. Their communication was clear and thorough, which made me feel confident about the process. Every question I had was answered, and I never felt left in the dark. Reflecting on the entire experience, I can't think of anything I would change about how GiveDirectly handled things. Everything was very well explained, leaving no room for confusion. The transparency and organization of the program ensured that we knew exactly what to expect and when. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I feel more empowered and informed about managing the resources I've received, and I believe this program will continue to benefit many others like me."

"I want to work hard to ensure my son goes to college to study as a machine operator. It has been his dream for as long as I can remember. To make this a reality, I am working hard to make money, saving as much as I can while ensuring we have enough to feed my family. My daughter, who is in Grade 6, will be joining Junior Secondary School next year. I have a cow I bought from the first cash transfers I received and by next year, I will be milking the cow, and I plan to sell the milk to make money to pay for her school fees. I feel a sense of determination and hope and though it won't be easy, I am ready to put in the effort for my children's future. With hard work, I am confident I can accomplish these goals in the coming year."

"I was able to purchase 3 goats using the transfers I received from GiveDirectly. In the coming year and beyond, my plan is to continue allocating a portion of my transfers to buy more goats, hoping that they will multiply and increase in number and value over time. In the future, I envision these goats becoming a great source of income for my family. As my five children transition to higher education, I intend to sell the goats and use the proceeds to cover their school fees. Additionally, the income generated from selling the goats will help me address the various needs of my family. This long-term investment in goats will provide a sustainable solution to support my children's education and ensure the well-being of my family."

"I operate a donut selling business to earn a living for me to support my family's daily needs. However, my current capital is not enough to generate significant revenue from this business, but I still carry on and support it where I can. Currently, my focus is to ensure that my son can complete his college studies by the end of this year. Once he has finished his college education, I will then redirect a portion of my transfers to invest in livestock farming, specifically poultry farming, as well as to my business to boost my capital and increase the revenue to support my family. My aim is to buy chicken using the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly in the hopes that they will multiply and increase in number and value and be a good source of income. In the future, I plan to sell these chickens and use the proceeds to purchase goats, also with the expectation that they will multiply and increase in value, and I will sell them in the future, which will help me support my children's school fees and meet the needs of my family."

"I am hopeful that all my children will successfully complete their education. The support we have received from Givedirectly has played a crucial role in providing education for our children. Additionally, a part of the funds has been utilized to purchase food for our family due to the depletion of our food reserves. Unfortunately, our maize farm has been adversely impacted by the lack of rain. However, if we are able to harvest a significant amount of maize, I plan to allocate the entire transfer towards school fees. Furthermore, I aspire to realize my dream of purchasing some goats as they have the potential to multiply and generate additional income for our family's needs. As an alternative, once they multiply to a substantial number, I intend to exchange them for cows. This is because cows yield a good profit; you can sell one for $500, which is sufficient to enroll a child in secondary school. This is the plan I am focusing on, especially as my elder children are soon joining secondary school."

"I used the money from my transfers to finance my education, and I'm thrilled that it allowed me to successfully complete my course. Now that my business is thriving, I can support my children's education and build a secure future for all of us. At the moment, I'm running a salon business from home. In the upcoming year and beyond, I hope to build my own house on the land that we own. To save money for building materials, I joined a savings group. As we save up for our own space, I'm currently living with my mother. When I received my most recent transfer, I allocated a significant portion to this project to give it a strong push forward"