"I am a parent to two children who are currently in high school. My top priority is always to ensure that I pay their fees on time. I am currently struggling to make ends meet as I only work menial jobs that do not pay enough. Despite my efforts, I have not been able to raise the fees required using my own resources. Thanks to the monthly transfers, I am hopeful that my children's studies will not be interrupted like before when they would be sent home and stay for weeks. My ultimate goal is to allow my children to achieve their educational goals despite my financial struggles. I am also planning to save some money for a new bed to replace the old traditional one I have been using. It is no longer comfortable to sleep on."

"I am currently in the process of building a rental house on my piece of land, and the monthly transfers have played a significant role in its construction. Previously, I couldn't afford to buy the necessary building materials, but with the help of the transfers, I'm grateful that I started the construction. I've been buying the materials gradually, as soon as I have saved enough, and my goal is to see this house come to completion. I'm assured of earning some rental income once it's complete, which will supplement my income. So far, I've been surviving on fetching and selling firewood, which doesn't pay much. I believe that earning some rental income will not only transform my household's living standards but also help me pay school fees for my children."

"Life on my side hasn't been easy; struggling to meet our basic needs has been tough. I have two kids, my daughter, and my grandchild. My husband is very old and sick; he's been suffering from tuberculosis for a long time and his eyesight is poor. But even though he can't see well, he helps by collecting charcoal and taking care of our grandchildren when I'm away doing casual jobs.When I received my transfer, I paid $30 for my kids' school fees—both my daughter's and my daughter-in-law's because she's also in school. Usually, I rely on farming to pay for their fees, but this year we didn't harvest anything due to the prolonged drought.After that, I used $50 to buy iron sheets. I decided to buy them in pieces because the money wasn't enough. When I get the second transfer, I'll buy more iron sheets and build a new house. The one we're living in now is made of mud and grass. When it rains, it leaks from the roof, and it's almost falling apart.Additionally, I spent $50 on food for my kids so we'd have enough to eat and I wouldn't have to work so hard burning charcoal. Finally, I bought one goat with the remaining money because I already had one, and I thought it would be a good idea for them to graze together.We're really grateful to GiveDirectly for helping us. Life used to be very hard, but now I can see some changes and improvements. We hope that by the end of the transfers, we'll be living a much better life."

"Life on our side hasn't been easy; we've been struggling to make ends meet. Now, I have four kids, while the other two are married. My husband is a farmer, and I also help him with farming. However, I used to earn some extra money by taking care of my neighbor's livestock, but I had to stop because my neighbor lost his job and couldn't pay me anymore.Since then, I've been doing casual jobs like burning charcoal to make money. When I received my third payment, I used $350 to pay for my kids' school fees. We used to sell our cows to pay for fees, but now we only have two left, and we've decided not to sell them until they multiply. I also used $50 to pay off our energy bill for electricity tokens because we hadn't paid it for a while due to lack of money.Finally, I used the remaining amount to buy food so that we wouldn't rely too much on charcoal for food. Life is better now compared to before, and I hope it continues to improve in the future because we've invested in farming with the second transfer"

"In the upcoming months, my aim is to invest in livestock, particularly goats. I am optimistic that they will breed and provide a sustainable source of income for me in the future, even after the financial aid ends. I am pleased with the positive changes in my life that have been facilitated by the transfers. I no longer face the significant challenges I did before, and I am grateful for the progress I've achieved."

"My aim in the upcoming months is to fund my son's college education. His one-year course will equip him with valuable skills that can lead to lucrative job opportunities, enabling him to support our family financially. I am grateful for the financial assistance I have received thus far, as it has significantly contributed to improving the quality of life for me and my family."

"A reliable source of income is the challenge I am currently facing in life. I do casual jobs and most times I go without any job. This has made the family go without food and sometimes we lack even money to buy water from the water point in the village."

"What really impressed me about GiveDirectly is their commitment to helping people directly. Since receiving their assistance, our standard of living has improved, and I am able to send my kid to school. This will definitely increase literacy levels in our family. I am so grateful for GiveDirectly. I don't have any recommendations for change because I loved everything about GiveDirectly's processes."

"Receiving assistance from GiveDirectly has been a significant blessing for me and my family. With the $130 of the received transfer, I prioritized my son's education. I used it to pay for his first term school fees as he embarked on his journey into junior secondary school. Witnessing him take this step forward academically fills me with immense pride and gratitude toward GiveDirectly for making it possible. Alongside the school fees, I did some shopping for some essential items he required as he joined the school. Investing in the future is crucial, so I allocated $90 to purchase three she-goats. Not only do they provide security for our future, but they also offer an opportunity for additional income through breeding and selling offspring. As a family heavily reliant on charcoal burning and occasional casual jobs, securing our future with these investments brings a sense of stability and hope. Furthermore, I utilized $55 to purchase a sack of maize, ensuring an adequate food supply for my family of seven. This investment in our sustenance ensures that we can focus on other aspects of our lives without worrying about hunger. With the remaining $252, I am currently renovating the walls of our mud-wall house, which were damaged by the ongoing rainfall. Investing in our home's infrastructure enhances our living conditions as well as provides a sense of security and stability for my family's future."

"We live in a two roomed house and it is my wish to expand it by building an extra room that will serve as my bedroom. This will enable me to enjoy privacy all the time unlike now where I have to share a room with my three daughters. This has been my wish for a very long time but I have not been able to achieve it due to lack of finances. Currently, I am planning to start buying the building materials in bits every month using my monthly transfers."