"For now, my primary focus is on a significant goal I hope to accomplish by August, which is to build a new house. I plan to allocate my upcoming transfers, my savings, and the goats that I will be owning towards purchasing building poles. Building this house will not only fulfill one of my personal ambitions but will also provide a spacious living area for my seven family members and a comfortable space to host visitors. Achieving this dream will bring me immense pride as a parent, as I have long struggled with the lack of adequate housing. The thought of finally providing my family with a stable and comfortable home brings me a sense of peace that I have been missing. I am determined to see this project through and ensure that my family has a better place to live."

"I have been investing in chicken with the hopes of selling them in the future when needed and trading some for goats. The goats are also intended to multiply, increase in value, and eventually be sold to support my family. I had around 60 chicken, but unfortunately, around 20 of them died due to illness. This setback made me very sad but did not discourage me and I am now happy with the progress that I have made. I therefore plan to buy and raise more chicken using my transfers and with the help of my husband, so that in the future, they can help me take care of my family."

"My plans have always included building a new house for my family, as our current home is aged and leaking, making it uncomfortable to live in. With the help of transfers from GiveDirectly and my savings from other hustles, I have been able to erect the structure, and the construction is in progress. I aim to complete the house within the next month, and I will be very happy once it is finished. After completing the house, I plan to venture into the livestock selling business, starting with goats so that I can support my family. My goal is to save the profits, along with additional transfers, to eventually advance to selling cows. To achieve this, I need a starting capital of $500, which I plan to gather by saving the transfers from GiveDirectly. I am truly hopeful that my dreams will become a reality as this will make me very happy."

"I currently cook with firewood and do not have a separate kitchen. With the ongoing rains, I have to cook inside the same house where we sleep, making it uncomfortable and causing us to suffocate from the smoke, which poses significant health risks. My plan is to build a separate kitchen so that during the rainy season, I have a proper place to cook, avoiding the smoke and potential health hazards. To achieve this, I intend to use some of the transfers, along with other resources, to construct a kitchen. Once this is accomplished, I will be very happy. Following this, I will focus on my initial plan of buying livestock, hoping they will multiply and increase in value. This will help me support my children's education in the future."

"My main goal is to purchase a bull for land cultivation and a female cow for milk production. I've been diligently working towards this by using my transfers each month to acquire goats and chickens, which serve as stepping stones toward my ultimate ambition. By consistently prioritizing these purchases, I am paving the way to eventually acquire a bull for farming and another cow for milk. This initiative will provide income to support my family. I also remain adaptable to address unexpected financial needs, adjusting how I allocate my transfers when urgent situations arise."

"It cost me about $300 to prepare and cultivate my 2.5 acre piece of land. This investment gave me hope of living a better life. As it is said, "Do not count the chicks before the eggs are hatched." I was optimistic and hopeful that I will have a bumper harvest this season. Things took a different turn, on that fateful day we received heavy downpour which lasted for about 3 hours. The whole village was flooded and I lost all my investment in flash floods. All that I had invested was reduced to ashes. I am left recounting losses. I never imagine that I will end up burning charcoal to earn a living and support my family."

"After working in a local hotel for a year, I've gained skills that inspired me to start my own small hotel business. Using the money I get from transfers, I've been buying equipment and supplies, and I plan to get the rest soon. I'm attracted to running a hotel because I've seen how profitable it can be, and it doesn't need a lot of money to start. Having my own business will boost my income, which will help my children and family. I aim to keep growing the business with the transfers, hoping to achieve financial stability for my family by the end of the project. This isn't just a personal goal but also a way to ensure a stable future for my family."

"I was just seated at home, relaxing because I'm too old to work, when my daughter came rushing to me with my phone in hand. It was around 4 PM, and she excitedly told me that a money message had popped up. At that moment, I was filled with happiness, knowing that I finally had a starting point to build my house. You see, I used to sleep in the kitchen because my house was in such a bad state. The first thing I thought of was how my life was about to change for the better, and I couldn't help but feel incredibly grateful and hopeful for the future."

"In the coming year, I hope to make the most of the piece of land I bought. My dream is to start subsistence farming so that I can provide enough food for my family. By growing our food, I can save the little money I earn from casual labor. This saved money will go towards paying school fees for my five children, ensuring they get the education they deserve. Beyond this year, I want to continue improving our lives bit by bit. My ultimate goal is to see my children succeed in school and have opportunities that I never had. I believe this piece of land is the first step towards a brighter, more secure future for all of us."

"In April, devastating floods swept away the old mud hut where I used to reside, leaving me homeless. Since then, my one child and two grandchildren have been taking refuge in the house that my mother left behind. According to our culture, it is taboo to sleep in my mother's house, so I have been forced to seek sleeping arrangements from friends. This situation makes me feel very uncomfortable and displaced. My plan for the coming year is to build a two-roomed house made of iron sheets using the third transfer from GiveDirectly. Having my own space will relieve me of the shame of having to borrow a place to sleep at my age, allowing me to live without the constant worry of imposing on others."