"I spent a larger portion of my transfer on starting up a business. I sell caps and T-shirts. I can never regret starting this business because it is doing well and I get money daily as compared to the monthly salary from the garbage collection jobs which gave me very little income. Apart from that, I also started rearing pigs. I had gotten the experience from my group and I decided to also start my own because of the benefits that it has. When they give birth one can even get like fifteen piglets at once. When they are taken good care of, the pigs are sold to the nearby slaughterhouse and this translates to a lot of money. This is simply what I want to concentrate on so as to enjoy the benefits too. So far I feel good about this project because I am very busy as well. Before then, I used to collect garbage and sell water. It was also competitive because most of the youths were looking for such kinds of jobs. I could also get injured while in the process. I can only thank GiveDirectly for changing my life."

"Being an employed motorcycle rider, i struggle in providing for my family since the little amount i am usually paid by my employer daily is spent in buying food and other basic needs for my family, thus none is left for savings. I have always wished to start up a business for my spouse so that she can help support in providing for the family but lack of capital has made this impossible, which is the biggest hardship i face"

"Receiving this money means i will be able to purchase bricks, timber and iron sheets to construct a modern kitchen since the one i currently use is made of mud and is hard to maintain especially at my old age. I also intend to fence my compound hence this money will enable me to buy some wire mesh, wood, nails and barbed wire "

"Growing up more than 30 years ago, my community enjoyed surplus yields in maize production. This was immensely attributed to a favorable climate due to even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. But man is the enemy of fellow man and environment. A once thick forest of more than 2,000 acres that acted as a water catchment area has been carelessly squandered to oblivion by locals from adjacent villages. A decade ago nature has since began to pay back in leaps and bounds. During drought, livestock die of starvation and children face malnutrition. Rainfall and bountiful harvests are only tales to our children. This is the biggest hardship I've faced in my life."

"When I completed my secondary education in 2016, I was determined to transition to college the next year to pursue my childhood dream of becoming a teacher. Unfortunately, my mother became ill that fateful year and succumbed to meningitis. Suddenly my future became bleak. My dreams were shattered and could not pursue my ambitions. Being the eldest child I soon assumed the role of provider in the household. My younger siblings have to eat and attend school. Till date my dreams continue to remain just that, a dream. This is the biggest hardship I've faced in my life. "

"I spent the whole of my transfer on paying college fees. I had dropped out of college due to lack of school fees. My mother does casual jobs and the little amount that she gets was hardly enough to meet the basic household needs. I had a great desire to complete my education since I believe that by doing so I stand a better chance of securing a job with the skills and experiences that I will have obtain from my course. I feel very good chasing my dream just hoping to finish school soon."

"My new goal is to boost my greengrocery business. I want to grow it because I have seen the benefits and I do not what to go back for casual jobs where I depended on commissions like from the salon that I initially worked in. The greengrocery business has assisted me a lot in getting income that has enabled me to better the living standards of my family. I see this business will help me to meet even my future goals."

"Farm expansion has been my biggest wish since I have depended most on subsistence farming in order to provide food for my family. Being a widow and unskilled can be the most disadvantageous aspect in life and this has forced me to depend on farming as my reliable source of income. With the help of GiveDirectly cash transfers, I am hoping to reshape my life for the better because my plan is to buy an oxen and an ox-plough that will help me to upscale my farming production. The oxen will also earn me income whenever it is hired on fee basis by my neighbours. This will bring a positive change in my life, a transformation that I have longed for."

"I expect to buy more building materials that I shall have used to plaster my house. I look forward to having this beautiful house that will be the envy of the entire village. There will also be less exposure to dust which will lead to fewer to no colds and flu infections."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have fenced my compound using the wire mesh that I bought. This has not only improved security in my compound but also allowed me to expand my poultry keeping project. I feel so happy that I was lucky to be one of the beneficiaries of this life-changing project."