"My pit latrine is almost collapsing, which has been caused by the ongoing rains. My children and I have ceased to use it since it might fall and damage us physically. Sharing the toilet with my neighbors has never been my thing; therefore, there is a need to construct another one as soon as next month."

"Since I have relied on casual jobs for years, I feel it's high time for a change. This is because the work is tedious and not lucrative. Besides, I have numerous responsibilities to cater to. Based on that, in the coming months, I am thinking of starting a new business that involves selling green leafy vegetables and fruits. I believe this will enable me to make ends meet, especially by paying fees for my children."

"One of my daughters, Salama, recently joined college to pursue a beauty therapy course. I was stuck; I had been asked to clear the arrears before the end of the semester. I was stressed and frustrated since I had no idea where I would get the needed cash. I normally rely on hand-to-mouth jobs like working on people's farms for $2 a day. This wasn't enough even to buy a packet of maize flour; we have therefore been going without meals most of the time. It all started when my spouse passed away ten years ago and left behind six children. Out of whom four are still under my care while the other two got married, Therefore, after receiving the cash, I paid the fees and bought stationery. Upon finishing that, I cleared a debt of $300 to settle with a friend after purchasing a piece of land on credit some months ago. I feel relieved and have peace of mind at long last. Also, having ownership of the land makes me proud and ambitious, considering that the current one is no longer productive. I spent the remaining amount on food that lasted almost a month."

"Since I have been relying on casual jobs for my daily upkeep, I have been thinking of purchasing more goats. These will not only help me make my household better but will also be a stable source of income for me to support my children's educational journey. I trust these are the most valuable assets that will ease the difficulties we have been facing for years."

"For all those years I have been married, my life has been surrounded by unending troubles. This was a result of being at an advanced age without any source of income. Therefore, I have been relying on my children, who also have families of their own, to support them. Therefore, it has not been easy for them to meet all my needs at once. Upon receiving the recent transfer, I bought a solar panel, which cost almost $100. For a while, I have been using firewood in place of candles since I could afford to buy it. I feel great and safe because thieves have been taking advantage of me and grabbing some of my property, especially at night. On top of that, I cleared the hospital bill for my spouse, Gohu, who has been battling kidney issues. The money came in handy since my children had tried all they could to settle the bill but in vain. As a family, we appreciated and felt thankful for saving the lives of our loved ones. To add to that, I bought two goats worth $100. I chose to rear the goat since they grow and multiply within a short period. Therefore, as time goes by, I plan to sell some that will enable me to generate an income to help me take care of my ailing husband. With the remaining amount, I have been buying food that has sustained us to date."

"My primary objective remains the construction of a new house. Since the commencement of the cash transfers, I have diligently allocated a significant portion of the funds toward acquiring building materials. Courtesy of Give Directly, I have accumulated enough iron sheets and have recently started acquiring building poles, bringing me closer to my goal. A more spacious house is of utmost importance to my grandchildren and me, as it will enable us to have separate and comfortable living spaces. Additionally, having enough room will ensure that we can accommodate visitors without any difficulties. I am grateful for the assistance provided through the cash transfers, as they have allowed me to make progress toward achieving my objectives and improving the living conditions for my family. "

"As a mason, the lack of house construction projects deprives me of work, forcing me to heavily on cash transfers. This reliance is further intensified by the financial demands of having seven children who are all attending school, contributing to the overall increase in expenses. Though the transfers have lifted a significant burden off my shoulders, I intend to establish another source of income to support my family even after the transfers stop. In the coming few years, my goal is to invest in rearing cattle. I believe that by acquiring young calves at a lower price, I can raise them over the next five to six years until they reach maturity. At that point, I can sell them at a higher price, generating a profit. This profit will open up opportunities for me to explore and invest in other areas."

"Since my husband is not physically fit to work due to his advanced age and constant illness, I shoulder the majority of the household expenses. Burning charcoal, and now the monthly cash transfers are my only ways of trying to make ends meet. However, the income from charcoal making is often insufficient to cover all our needs and the cash transfers will soon end after few years. So, to establish a sustainable income stream, I plan to buy goats. I aim to increase the number of goats from the existing two that I acquired through previous cash transfers. As these goats reproduce and mature, I plan to sell them to generate income that will help sustain my household and support my grandchild's education."

"When I received my second unconditional transfers I decided to embark on a journey of tomato farming, ultimately transforming the lifestyle of my struggling family of three. On the face of adversity, I recognized the potential of agriculture as a means to secure a sustainable income and uplift my family. I decided to allocate about $300 of the unconditional transfers towards tomato farming, a venture that held promise and opportunity. I also used $15 of the unconditional transfers to purchase five chickens, a move that brought multiple benefits to our family. Not only did the chickens provide a consistent supply of fresh eggs, but they also served as a potential source of additional income through the sale of eggs or breeding. I also made sure that I have stocked up enough food in the house since it has been so hard to secure a meal in a day and I wanted to change that narrative in my household, I bought food worth $40 that i still had and i hope it will be enough for us in the next three weeks."

"I was so happy to receive my first ever transfers from Give Directly because our old home was not in great conditions at all, this way, I decided to invest $ 220 to renovate our dilapidated one-roomed house plagued by termite infestation, I invested in repairs and improvements and I able to transform our living space into a safer, more comfortable environment. The removal of termite infestation not only restored the structural integrity of the house but also provided a healthier living space, free from the threats of pests. Secondly, I recognized the importance of securing their compound. With a portion of the funds, I opted to erect a fence around our property. This decision served multiple purposes: enhancing security, protecting our privacy, and delineating their boundaries, this was about $50 in total since I only paid for labour. Lastly, I acknowledging the fundamental necessity of food, so I allocated a portion of the funds towards ensuring access to nutritious meals by purchasing food, this ensured that our basic sustenance needs were met, thus alleviating the stress and uncertainty associated with food insecurity"