"Life at the moment, has become so tough because my husband's job as a tractor operator came to a halt. This pushed him to come home and stay idle with us. Since we had some 19 goats, we started selling them to earn cash for our upkeep. As I speak, only 6 goats are remaining and this has been a huge blow to us as a family. In addition, I went through a caesarian procedure when I was giving birth and unfortunately, the kid could not survive. This also stressed me so much and I am currently not able to take up strenuous tasks to earn a living. This means I had to abandon my work of selling takeaway foodstuff, instead, I fully depend on my husband. This burden contributed a lot to him to sell the goats to support us. Hence, the lack of a reliable source of income stands out as my biggest challenge."

"In the olden days, being a housewife was not a problem because there was plenty of food since farming was reliable. This is not the same case at the moment because life has become tougher for me and depending on my husband poses a big burden on him. Although his monthly income is $300, this is not enough to fully support us because I do not have a job to supplement this. This means, his earning largely goes to settling our bills; school fees, and food. The lack of a job makes me feel so uncomfortable as a mother because I drain my husband so much, such that he can't save for our future. Hence, I consider the lack of a reliable source of income as my biggest challenge at the moment."

"I am a subsistence farmer and I have been for a long time depending on this as my source of income. In the last 4 years, our area has not had enough rain to enable us to harvest on our farms. This has been a pain for me because my family has had food insecurity. Since I lack the skills for a decent job, I engage myself in odd jobs like charcoal work to make ends meet. This venture is so tiresome and time-consuming and hence, it's also not reliable. Due to the unreliability, my family has suffered a lot and the children in school are not spared. What a pain as a father! Hence, I consider the lack of a reliable source of income as my biggest challenge."

"I was in my garden, then I heard other people saying they had got money. I sent for my phone and I checked only to find the message for money. I felt so happy and I thought of withdrawing the money."

"Having faced consistent drought that shattered our hopes in subsistence farming, we had no choice but to rely on purchasing daily food supplies from the local market, despite the high expenses involved. However, I am sincerely grateful for the well-timed financial support provided by GiveDirectly. Out of the second transfer, I spent $86 on purchasing a relatively sufficient amount of food, which included a sack of maize and 20 kg of beans to sustain my family of nine. As a result, we now enjoy at least two satisfying meals each day, a significant improvement from the past when we relied on casual earnings and saved them solely for dinner. In relation to my three daughters' secondary education, I had accumulated a significant arrear in fee payments due to defaults. Thankfully, I was able to settle this arrear with $315, enabling my daughters to study happily without any disruptions. Additionally, part of the remaining $49, which was added to our savings, was utilized to purchase four additional goats, adding to our existing count of 16. I intend to sell these goats in the future to meet the pressing need for school fees. Finally, I used the remaining $50 for household goods and as a contingency fund for any unforeseen emergencies."

"Now that I have successfully finished constructing my new house and completed the necessary fencing around my compound, I have set my sights on embarking on livestock farming in the upcoming year and beyond. My goal is to acquire goats and chickens, as they offer several advantages, such as a consistent demand in the market and their resilience to drought, making them an ideal choice for my region. Moreover, their relatively easy management, as they can be allowed to freely roam, further adds to their appeal as livestock options. By venturing into this endeavor, I aim to not only secure a steady source of income but also contribute to the overall growth and sustainability of my household."

"Looking ahead to the coming year and beyond, my aspirations revolve around strengthening my existing motorcycle transportation business while reviving my wife's grocery store, paving the way for the initiation of a new venture in livestock business. My primary goal is to engage in buying and selling goats within the nearby market, recognizing the potential profitability and manageable nature of this enterprise. Our community predominantly consists of farmers who rear goats, and these animals are in high demand for local consumption in resorts and hotels. By capitalizing on this market, I aim to establish a thriving and sustainable business that will contribute to our long-term financial stability."

"Lack of reliable source of income is the current challenge I am currently facing in life. My husband does casual jobs and I am just a house wife. He earns approximately $ 80 per month which caters for food only. Lack of reliable income has caused my three sons to be out of school for a week due to school fees."

"I now sleep confertably and eat well"

"There's a difference, in my life and my family as well...we now have two bulls which we didn't have before I got cash from give directly."