"With the cash transfer, I finally saw a chance to make long-needed changes at home. I used $180 to buy building materials for a store—a plan I’d kept pushing aside because of the constant demands of school fees. As a teacher with four children to support, I’ve been managing alone since my husband passed away four years ago. Despite my income, finding extra funds was nearly impossible, especially for things beyond daily needs. The store had been a priority, but it always felt out of reach. Getting this money allowed me to make it a reality, giving us a safe place to store supplies.Furthermore, I spent the rest of the funds on food for my family. With my teaching salary often stretched to its limits, we’ve frequently struggled to have enough. My children deserve regular, nourishing meals, but meeting that need had been difficult on my income alone. Now, I feel a sense of relief knowing we have enough to last us for a while without me having to worry about where our next meal will come from.This support has eased my worries in so many ways. Knowing that we now have a proper store and a steady supply of food brings a deep sense of stability to our lives. I’m grateful beyond words for this opportunity because it has helped me provide more security and comfort for my family. Now, I can focus on other priorities, like ensuring my children get the best education I can give them."

"For the coming years and beyond, I want to invest fully in farming, both in crops and livestock rearing. I see this as the best way to secure food for my family and ensure my children can stay in school without interruption. By growing crops, I’ll be able to provide for our daily needs and, hopefully, sell any surplus for extra income. Raising livestock will give us a safety net, as they can be sold if unexpected expenses arise. My goal is to create a stable source of support through farming, one that we can rely on as my children grow. This way, I can give them the education I didn’t have and build a stronger future for our family."

"We are going through incredibly tough times right now. The dry spell has stretched on and on, bringing severe drought, and leaving us all facing hunger. This year, with things as they are, my priority is to keep using my transfers to buy food and water so my family can get by until the rains finally come and we can hopefully harvest enough to fill our stores again. Also, looking ahead, I dream of building something sustainable for my future. Once the drought conditions improve, I plan to use a portion of my transfers to buy more goats, adding to the small herd that I already have. I envision these goats multiplying over time, giving me a source of income that I can lean on in the future when this program eventually comes to an end. Additionally, managing my health is another important goal. I plan to keep using a portion of my transfers to buy my monthly medication so I can take care of myself and stay strong. I cannot say enough how grateful I am to GiveDirectly for this support. It is not just helping us get through these challenging days but it is also giving me hope and a chance to build a future I can rely on."

"I have always dreamt of having a proper bed and a mattress to rest on, especially since I am currently sleeping on a bed made of ropes with no mattress on it making it very uncomfortable. Finally, I managed to pay off the bed, but now I’m focused on saving up for a mattress. Recently, I was able to complete payments for the bed that I wanted. Now, my plan for this coming year is to set aside a portion of my transfers, little by little, until I have enough to buy a comfortable mattress. Just imagining having a comfortable place to sleep fills me with hope and gratitude. After that, I want to use part of my transfers to buy goats, adding to the few I already have hoping that they will multiply and increase in number and value so that in the future I may have something to rely on. Additionally, with my health being a concern at my age, I also plan to dedicate part of my transfers to seeking medical care and ensuring I can manage my nutrition so I can live as healthily as possible. I feel incredibly thankful for the support I get from GiveDirectly."

"With my dream of owning livestock, my plan for this coming year and beyond is to save a portion of my transfers that I receive from GiveDirectly so that once I accumulate enough funds, I may use them to buy more goats and chicken, hoping that they will multiply and grow in both number and value, providing me with a reliable source of income support in the future. In the meantime, given the ongoing drought and hunger we are facing, I plan to continue using another portion of my transfers to continue buying food and water. This is very crucial for us to avoid going hungry until this drought passes. I am determined to secure a better future for my family, and I truly appreciate the support that makes this possible."

"With the current drought and hunger impacting us in our region, my top priority is ensuring my family's health and nutrition. I therefore plan to keep using a portion of my transfers to buy food and water until the rains come, and we can finally harvest and put an end to this hunger crisis. Additionally, I intend to invest another portion in acquiring more goats and chicken, hoping they will multiply and grow in both numbers and value. These animals will become a valuable asset for me which I can rely on in the future, especially when this program concludes. I am truly grateful for the support from GiveDirectly as it has been a lifeline for my family during these tough times."

"My house is quite small and needs some repairs, along with an extension of one room to make it more comfortable and provide me with a private space. My plan for this coming year and beyond is to continue saving a portion of my transfers in a merry-go-round group. Once I receive the pooled funds, I intend to use them to renovate my home and add that much-needed room. Additionally, I want to buy a bed and mattress with the pooled funds because right now, I am sleeping on a bed made of ropes without a mattress, and it is very uncomfortable. Having a proper place to sleep would make a world of difference in my life especially with my age and condition. Once I achieve these improvements, I will continue saving a portion of my transfers and use the funds to buy goats. My hope is that they will multiply, providing me with a reliable source of support when this program comes to an end. I am excited about these plans and the possibilities they hold for my future!"

"The roof over my home has seen better days because it is filled with holes and badly needs repair. This coming year, I am determined to renovate it so that I can have a safe and comfortable place to live. To make this happen, I plan to keep setting aside a portion of my GiveDirectly transfers in our local savings group until I have gathered enough to fix the roof. Just the thought of having a well-roofed home fills me with such hope and excitement. Once I complete this renovation, I want to keep saving that same portion, but this time, I will invest it in buying goats. I dream of watching my small herd grow, multiplying over time, and creating a sustainable source of income for the future knowing that I could rely on it even after this program ends. I am incredibly grateful for the support from GiveDirectly; it has given me the chance to build a safer, more secure future for my family, and for that, I am beyond thankful."

"My two children had an academic school trip coming up, but I didn’t have the money to pay for the required cost, and I felt devastated. It broke my heart to think about them missing out on this opportunity, knowing they would feel left out and alone while their classmates went. I could see the sadness in their faces as they expressed their disappointment, and it was unbearable for me as a parent. Thankfully, the cash from GiveDirectly came just in time; there was only one day left before the trip! We were able to pay for their trip cost, and seeing their faces light up with happiness was a moment I will cherish forever."

"We own an acre of land, which my husband and I use for crop farming. However, water has been a constant challenge due to frequent droughts, which limits our production. Currently, we rely on a generator to pump water, using furrows to channel it to the farm. This process is slow, tedious, and also expensive since the generator consumes a lot of oil. My plan is to invest in irrigation pipes, which will make irrigation easier and more efficient and also allow us to plant crops throughout all seasons. This will ultimately increase our income and help us better sustain our family."