"I'm currently working on renovating my house, which is in poor condition. One of the walls was severely weakened by recent rains and was on the brink of collapse. I have begun purchasing some of the necessary poles to start construction, with plans to save more in the upcoming months to buy the remaining materials. My aim is to ensure its stability, enabling it to withstand the heavy rains we are facing. I'm confident that once the renovation is complete, I will not have to worry about rain damage anymore since my house will be secure."

"As an elderly person, regular medical check-ups are crucial for me, but they come at a high cost. While my son helps by occasionally finding construction work, it is not reliable. He has his own family of six to support, which makes it challenging for him to assist me consistently. Thankfully, these transfers have become my lifeline. Given my ill health, I am grateful for the ability to receive treatment at home. My primary goal now is to maintain my health and use the transfers to cover my medical expenses, hoping for an improvement in my health condition."

"I am currently responsible for taking care of my two high school grandchildren. It has been challenging for me to afford their school fees, especially since one of them is in a day school and I have to pay for his rent. Unfortunately, I do not have a steady source of income that would allow me to comfortably provide for their educational needs. However, receiving financial transfers has been a huge relief for me because it has enabled my grandchildren to continue their studies without any interruptions. My only goal now is to ensure that I pay their fees on time and help them achieve their educational aspirations despite my financial hardships."

"I am currently surviving by taking on menial jobs such as burning and selling charcoal and sometimes selling snacks to make ends meet. However, despite engaging in these income-generating activities, I have always found it difficult to provide for my family. Due to the many household needs, even paying the school fees for my five children has been a challenge. I am, however, at peace because receiving my monthly transfers has ensured my children stay in school. This is because I have been able to pay for their education on time whenever I receive the transfer. My main objective currently is to ensure that my children's education is not interrupted due to financial constraints. I plan to continue using the transfers to pay their fees on time, allowing them to achieve their educational goals despite my financial struggles."

"After receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I felt incredibly happy because I could finally pursue my dream. Previously, I grew maize, but I always wanted to farm tomatoes. However, I lacked the necessary funds to start this venture. With the money from GiveDirectly, I spent $250 on tomato seeds for one acre and $180 on other essentials like insecticides to ensure a good harvest. Tomatoes thrive in our area and fetch a good price. It's important to note that tomatoes only take two months to harvest, and in just two weeks, I'll start harvesting them. I chose tomato farming because it's sustainable and fulfills a long-held desire of mine. I plan to use the earnings from the farm to pay for my children’s school fees, provide for my family of five kids, and save some money to reinvest in tomato farming."

"My top priorities for this year are still to buy livestock and build a house. I put up with my house's rusty iron sheets being in bad shape the entire previous year. Every time it rained, I would spend the entire night shifting furniture around the house to keep it from being ruined by the rain water seeping in through the roof. This year, I intend to purchase two new iron sheets each month until I have enough to fix the roof completely. I'll feel better once the roof is fixed, and I can then concentrate on getting more livestock to add to the few I already have."

"In the next few months and years, I have some plans. First, I hope to buy a cow. With this cow, I can use it to plow my farm, making it easier to grow crops. Not only that, I plan to offer plowing services to others for a fee, which will bring in extra money for my family. I'm also relying on a local merry-go-round savings group to help improve our financial situation. I know times are tough financially, but I'm hopeful that with these steps, things will get better for us soon."

"As my house construction nears completion, my main focus is to finish the remaining work, like installing doors. Looking ahead, I plan to use the coming transfer to buy goats. I believe this will be a smart investment for the future. Goats can multiply, providing a sustainable source of income over time. I'm excited about this next step and hopeful for what it will bring in the months and years to come."

"Life was really hard before. We didn't have nice beds to sleep on. Instead, we had to sleep on uncomfortable mats that hurt our backs. But now, with mattresses, we sleep so much better, and it feels amazing to wake up rested and happy as a family. Before, we didn't have much food, but now we have plenty. Our family is overjoyed. We can finally relax and enjoy our meals together without worrying about where the next one will come from. Our home is full of happiness now. We're not stressed out anymore; instead, we're grateful for everything we have and we cherish every moment we spend together as a family."

"In the coming year, my focus is on renovating our house, which is old and constructed with weak materials. I plan to create a better living environment for my family. As I undertake this project, I know that the memories of the GiveDirectly transfers will stay with me. Even after the transfers come to an end, I will always cherish the support they provided and keep them as a reminder of the positive impact they had on our lives."