"With my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to make sure we had enough food. So, I spent $80 on essential foodstuffs like maize, beans, and rice. Getting food on the table has always been a struggle, especially since my income comes from odd jobs here and there. It's just me and my grandchild at home, but I also try to help my son and his family living with us in the same compound. In addition, I bought 3 plastic chairs to save us from the old containers we have been using as chairs since we had none, costing $650 each. Moreover, I have an acre piece of land right near the river. I haven't farmed it in a while because money for capital has been a problem. Even when I could start something, the cost of keeping the crops healthy, like weeding, adding fertilizers, and even renting a generator was way beyond me hence losses. The last time I got any harvest from it was four years ago. But now, thanks to GiveDirectly. I've set aside $100 specifically for getting back into farming. I've already used $30 to clear the land, and the remaining $70 for plowing, furrowing, and planting my maize. There's a feeling of hope. I believe that this year, I'll harvest and sell the extra to support my family."

"Owning livestock has been a long-held dream of mine, but the constraints of school fees prevented me from realizing it until now. With high school behind me, I've begun fulfilling this dream by investing in goats and chickens. Looking ahead to next year and beyond, I aim to expand my livestock holdings by purchasing at least five cows. With these cattle, I can sell them for approximately $300 per bull, helping to fund my college education. In the long term, I aspire to attend a community health college. I was inspired to take this path by the success stories of peers from my village who have excelled in this field."

"I've always had a desire to start poultry farming by raising chickens. While I had planned to begin this venture earlier this year, I was discouraged by the outbreak of coccidiosis disease in my neighborhood, which wiped out all the poultry. I intend to take a few months off before starting this venture to prevent a recurrence of this disease. I believe poultry farming offers a lucrative opportunity. Besides, with the availability of maize produce, the chicken will always have feeds. This business will provide me with various benefits. I can sell the chickens to pay for my three children's school fees or to cover other essential expenses, supporting my husband in the process."

"To establish a stable income source for my growing family, consisting of my wife and child, I aim to use the cash transfers to realize my dream of constructing rental properties. My plan revolves around livestock keeping and building rental spaces. With around ten goats, I can sell them for around $100 each, gradually accumulating funds to purchase land at the market center to build the rental house This rental space will serve as a crucial income source for my family, even beyond the duration of the cash transfers. I'm grateful for the progress I've already made, having acquired six goats this far."

"I used to run a small vegetable selling business in the village last year, but I had to close it when I became expectant and needed to move to town for better healthcare. Unfortunately, shortly after their birth, my twins did not make it. The loss has made it hard for me to return to the village promptly, but I plan to go back to revive the vegetable business in the coming months. The profits from this venture will not only enable me to contribute actively to our needs and support my husband but also save up for enrollment in an Early Childhood Development course. Ever since I completed high school in 2022, I've harbored a dream of becoming a teacher. I aspire to have a stable teaching job to provide for our growing family in the future."

"Nothing worries me more than the lack of a stable income, especially with my son, Abdalla, still in school. Ensuring he receives a good education by covering his school fees is my top priority. Despite my husband's and my limitations in taking physically demanding jobs due to our advancing age, I see livestock ownership as the best way to generate wealth and secure my son's education. Even if the cash transfers were to end, I wouldn't be concerned. I'm already planning to invest in goats and have begun saving towards this goal."

"Looking ahead, by the end of the year, I aim to expand my tailoring business further by investing in more equipment and materials, estimating a cost of at least $500. This expansion will not only ease financial strain in our household but also enable me to play a more active role in supporting my husband. It will also lay a foundation for providing for our growing family in the future, especially once the cash transfers cease."

"My ultimate goal is to own rental houses in one of our trade centers. I believe this will provide a steady and guaranteed monthly income, relieving any worries about meeting basic needs or supporting my siblings' education. To kickstart this plan, I intend to start with cattle rearing. I have already leveraged the cash transfers to buy three goats already. I aim to let them multiply and expand the herd, ultimately selling them to raise a substantial sum of at least $1000 to purchase the land for my dream rental property venture. The cash transfers have already paved the way for this dream, and I am determined to see it through."

"My focus is to enroll in college to study mixology within the next six months. Lack of finances has been a barrier since I graduated in 2021, but thanks to the cash transfers, I now have the opportunity to pursue my dreams. The short course will equip me with essential skills for immediate employment. Alongside this, I plan to open a shop in my village in the coming years. Not only will it meet the community's demand for everyday items, but it will also boost my income. I am confident that this will enable me to support my seven siblings' education and ease the burden on my father's shoulders."

"As my younger child grows, I am preparing to return to work and join my husband in shouldering the responsibility of providing for our family. Together, we aim to save diligently, with the intention of developing the land we've acquired by constructing rental properties. This dream feels attainable now, especially as our children are still young and the financial demands of their education are manageable. We're filled with hope and determination, believing that with hard work, we can turn this dream into reality. The prospect of earning rental income to cover our children's education expenses and support our family's needs fills me with gratitude and a sense of blessing. It's a realization I never thought possible in the near future, and I'm deeply thankful for the opportunity to make it happen."