"Prolonged droughts and lack of sustainable work is the aspect that makes my life harder recently. This has led to a lack of money for me which makes it very challenging. I have my daughter who is taking a nursing course and needs about 1000 dollars yearly for fees and because of the challenge I'm facing, I feel so stressed."

"My biggest challenge currently is a lack of sustainable work and money for basic needs. I solely depend on charcoal burning to look for money which is not enough. In addition to this, my mother is not feeling well and I need to send her money occasionally which I don't have. This stresses me so much."

"My goal is to invest in myself and my family so that by the time the program comes to an end, we won't return to the life we had before. I plan to rear more livestock and generate income so as to continuously provide my children with the best education possible to build their future. This means not only having a stable source of income but also achieving true financial freedom that can sustain us for the rest of our lives. My other plan is to manage my finances wisely, ensuring we never have to go back to the hardships we once faced. I'm excited to work towards making all these a reality"

"My plan is to acquire more goats and eventually exchange them for bulls. These bulls will become a source of income for our household, as we can rent them out for ploughing. This will not only provide financial stability but also helps us meet our family's needs ensuring our children get to higher levels of education. Additionally, I plan to expand our house to accommodate my growing family. The current space is quite small, and my children are becoming adults. I hope that these plans will work out and improve our quality of life, thanks to the support from GiveDirectly."

"My plan is to save money with the goal of purchasing a pair of oxen, which will greatly assist in plowing my farm. Previously, I faced challenges with timeliness in farm preparation, often having to rely on neighbors or using inferior tools, causing delays in the farming process. This resulted in poor harvests and an inability to fully cultivate my more than 4-acre farm. I firmly believe that if I can fully utilize my land, it will ensure food security for my household. Additionally, during the planting season, I can rent out the oxen to neighbors for additional income. To achieve this, I intend to save at least $20 every month."

"I vividly remember the evening; the sun was setting, and I had gone to the nearby market to buy food for my four children. The air was filled with a sense of companionship as I chatted with my fellow villagers. While engrossed in our stories, one of the women suddenly shouted with joy—the transfer had arrived! We all checked our phones, confirming the wonderful news. The sheer delight on our faces was palpable; we could not contain our happiness. We danced and sang, expressing our heartfelt gratitude to GD for their timely assistance. When I returned home, I gathered my family, and together we celebrated the good news. The transfer brought hope and possibilities, and we eagerly began planning how to utilize it, ensuring it would make a lasting impact on our lives."

"The recent transfer has been a lifeline for my family. With four children in school, the financial strain was becoming unbearable, especially with my spouse's low salary as a primary school teacher and the mounting educational expenses. The third transfer came as a ray of hope. We invested the money in our children's education. A substantial portion, $270, went into paying the university fees for two of our children, while $100 was used to cover the high school expenses for the other two. This was a significant relief for our family, as for the first time, our children did not face the threat of being sent home from school due to unpaid fees, allowing them to focus wholeheartedly on their studies. With the remaining funds, we invested in the future. We purchased two goats, considering their resilience in our arid climate. These goats not only adapt well but also reproduce rapidly, making them a valuable asset. I am confident that soon they will become a source of income for us, providing financial security in the face of our challenging circumstances."

"The most hard hitting problem for our family is food insecurity. Elongated drought has meant that we've not harvested well for the last 4 years. Farm productivity has been very low to zero. This has affected our food supply and drained our ability to farming. We've lost a lot of money due to the drought. This means we depend on casual jobs such as working people's farms (those who have access to water for irrigation ), fetching firewood for sell and burning charcoal. It's hard, since the money earned can hardly support our family of five. One is paid $3 per day. This is not enough because of the high cost of living. It's difficult putting a stable food on the table for our family."

"Before I joined the program, my aspiration was to establish my own tailoring business. However, due to the financial constraints related to my three children's school fees and my husband's unstable employment, I couldn't pursue this dream. Although I'm a trained tailor, I've been working in a neighbor's tailoring shop for some time. I'm happy that my husband recently secured stable employment, which has alleviated our financial burdens significantly. Now, I'm planning to save a portion of my monthly transfers and use them to gradually purchase the necessary textile materials, with the goal of opening my own tailoring shop. This endeavor will enable me to be self-employed, serve my own clients, and contribute to our family's financial stability alongside my husband."

"The challenge I'm facing at the moment is providing for my children. Since my wife left me with my 3 children in 2010, I was tasked with taking care of them. This is challenging for me considering I don't have a permanent job I depend on and therefore has made my life very difficult."