"Financial constraints is the biggest challenge. My husband is the sole breadwinner in our family and is employed on a casual basis at a farm. The money he gets is only enough to cater to food and education for our two children. We do not have any money left for us to invest in other things like farming hence we rely majorly on loans which has left us indebted."

"Looking ahead, my goal for the coming years is to repair the roof of my house. Currently, the roof is made of grass thatches that have deteriorated over time, allowing water to leak in when it rains. With the forecasted heavy rains expected in the next few months, I'm concerned that the roof will not hold up, and the entire house could be damaged. To address this, I plan to use some of the funds from the next transfers to purchase the necessary roofing materials, such as iron sheets, which are stronger and more resistant to rain."

"Our current house is deteriorating rapidly, and I'm worried that it might collapse soon, especially as the roof is almost caving in. My husband has not been able to fund the construction of a new house because he has not gotten many construction jobs lately, so his earnings are unpredictable. Moreover, with three children in primary school and two in college, financing a new house has been challenging, given the expenses for their tuition and food. Fortunately, this planting season provided us with a good maize harvest, which I'm confident will eliminate our food concerns for the next few months. I plan to use this opportunity to support the construction of a new three-room house, made of iron sheets and mud walls. I hope that the cash transfers and the income my husband earns from construction work will be sufficient to complete the house."

"My ultimate goal is to expand my meat-selling business and establish my butcher stall along with a food stand right next to it. To start this venture, I estimate that I will need at least $100 in capital. I'm now more optimistic than ever about accumulating this amount because we recently harvested maize produce that will provide food for my family for the remainder of this year. With the food constraints eliminated, I'm confident that I can save $25 every month over the next four months to reach the required capital for my business expansion."

"The significant and unconditional support from GD has been nothing short of a miracle in my life. Thanks to these transfers, I can proudly say that I am now the owner of a cow, a dream I had never dared to imagine. Additionally, being able to fence my land not only brings me peace of mind but also ensures that my cow will always have enough to eat, even during the harshest droughts. These transfers have touched my life in ways words can hardly express, and I am deeply grateful for the positive changes they have brought."

"In the coming years and beyond, my foremost plan is to protect my two acres of land from animal encroachments. I intend to construct a durable chain-link fence and establish a grass plantation. The grass will be stored as a reserve to feed my livestock during droughts. This proactive measure will spare me from the laborious task of climbing trees and cutting leaves to feed them, a task my advancing age no longer permits. I am determined to ensure that my animals never go hungry and thrive despite the challenges posed by unpredictable weather conditions."

"My current objective is to set aside a minimum of $20 from my transfers, with the intention of rebuilding a rental property that my late husband had left unfinished. Unfortunately, the structure had collapsed, rendering it unattractive to potential tenants. This rental property had previously been a valuable source of income for my family until its unfortunate deterioration. My primary focus now is on realizing the substantial goal of reconstructing this rental house. To accomplish this, I am diligently saving $20 from my transfers every month. The aim is to amass sufficient savings to facilitate the purchase of the necessary construction materials. My ultimate goal is to restore the rental property to a condition where it can once again appeal to tenants, thereby generating a consistent rental income for my family's benefit."

"Nothing excites me more than the unconditional nature of GiveDirectly transfers. It is an excellent strategy because family needs vary greatly within a community, and these transfers have had a transformative impact. They have alleviated many of our financial burdens and served as catalysts for expanding businesses and acquiring assets."

"In Kenya, where I call home, farming is not just a way of life; it is the very backbone of our economy. Here, families understand that to live, one must eat. Yet this area experiences adverse droughts often, so there is a need for crop diversification. Therefore, in the coming year, I hope to venture into millet and maize farming. This is because millet is drought-resistant and thrives best here. I will be glad that my family of four will be food secure as well as financially stable. I will use the millet I harvested last year as seeds for this season."

"In the upcoming year and beyond, my plan is to buy more livestock, particularly goats and chickens. This endeavour was somewhat challenging in recent times due to a severe drought that afflicted our region. As a result, a significant portion of my financial resources had to be allocated exclusively to securing food. However, I'm delighted that my household now enjoys an ample food supply following a successful harvest, which has given me the confidence to invest in additional goats. To facilitate my goal of acquiring more livestock, I've joined a merry-go-round savings group, where I contribute $10 every month. My objective is to use these savings to purchase the goats when it's my turn to receive the funds. Currently, I'm the proud owner of two goats and a small flock of chickens. These are the only assets I can proudly claim in my old age, and they serve as a form of financial security for my future needs."