"My family and I resided in a dilapidated house that barely provided adequate shelter from the elements. With four children attending school, there were school fees to pay, and ensuring they had enough to eat was a daily concern. I had tried to make ends meet by selling sisal and charcoal, but it was far from an ideal source of income. The sales were irregular, and the returns were meager. There were days when we could barely afford a decent meal, let alone cover other essential expenses. Then one evening, a notification on my phone signaled the receipt of the tranfers from GiveDirectly,a lifeline we desperately needed. The most pressing need was a better home. We allocated $450 to building a good, we wanted a safe and comfortable place to live, one that would shield us from the rain and wind. With $30, we ensured that there was enough food on the table. No longer did we have to worry about our daily sustenance. The $30 set aside for school fees meant that our children could continue their education without disruption. It was an investment in their dreams and aspirations. And then, there was the $40 we saved for an uncertain future. This money represented a safety net, a buffer against unexpected challenges or opportunities that might come our way. Gone were the days of inconsistent income from sisal and charcoal."

"After finishing my studies in 2010, I returned home and launched my garage business, specializing in repairing and selling motorcycle and bicycle spare parts. My main ambition is to expand my inventory and improve my family's quality of life, so I'm determined to save up for this goal."

"I deeply appreciate GiveDirectly for the unconditional nature of its cash transfers. This support has reignited my hope for livestock rearing. With the transfer, I managed to purchase three goats, and I am determined to put in all my efforts to ensure they thrive and multiply, not succumbing to hunger as before. I am determined to do this, as they are my primary source of income and my means of supporting my child's education."

"In the coming years and beyond, I have a clear plan in mind. I intend to install a permanent chain-link fence around my two-acre piece of land. This initiative is vital to safeguarding my efforts to cultivate grass, as I aim to store it for feeding my livestock during the dry seasons that frequently occur at the start of each year. This strategy is essential to ensuring that my animals do not suffer from hunger, as they represent our primary source of income. The fence will keep out wandering animals, allowing me to cultivate and store enough grass to sustain my livestock throughout the challenging dry periods."

"My goal is to establish my own vegetable-selling business, driven by the desire to provide for my family more comfortably and with less financial strain. To achieve this, I am committed to saving a portion of my monthly income, aiming to set aside between $10 to $15 each month. My target is to open the business in February next year, believing that the income generated will significantly contribute to our financial well-being and create a stable future for my family."

"My primary goal is to pursue a college education in computer studies. Despite completing my secondary education last year, financial constraints have hindered my progress in furthering my studies. Witnessing my parents' enduring struggles, I am determined to gain the knowledge and skills that will enable me to provide them with much-needed support in the future. To attain this aspiration, I have devised a strategic plan that involves saving a portion of my income and investing it in livestock. Through the sale of livestock, I aim to secure the necessary funds to cover my college tuition fees and embark on a journey towards a brighter future for myself and my family."

"My primary goal is to successfully complete my college education next year without any outstanding school fees debt. Currently in my second year of studies, I am burdened by a $300 school fees balance, which has been causing me considerable stress as my parents struggle to meet the financial demands due to their lack of a stable income source. With the assistance provided by GiveDirectly, my strategy is to make monthly transfers of $15 to gradually reduce the remaining balance, alleviating the financial burden and ensuring I can focus on my education without any financial hindrances."

"Lack of reliable source of income is the challenge that I am currently facing in life. I do casual jobs earning approximately $30 per month which caters for food only. This has made me unable to enroll my four children to school due to lack of school fees."

"I have been trying to build a herd of goats and chicken. I have always felt that animals were a good way of ensuring you had an emergency fund and grow your investments. Two of the goats I got have already given birth and now I have 7 goats. I want more of this. I plan to continue adding a few more animals to the heard as the year progresses to ensure they are sufficient even when trouble strikes."

"My children are my life and pride, my hope is to have them get to finish school. I believe this will allow them find opportunities they would not have sought after had they not had an education. I am planning to continue using my transfers to pay for their education to ensure firs the oldest finish their secondary school and undertake the national exams. I also hope to see a time where my younger children also get to secondary school. I am also planning to start saving to afford a goat worth $30. The goat will help build an animal heard that can act as an emergency fund for the family."