"This year, my primary goal is to complete the construction of my new house. My previous home was very small and on the verge of collapsing. With the support of the transfers from GiveDirectly, I have been gradually purchasing building materials, and I intend to use a portion of my future transfers to continue buying the remaining building materials needed to finish the house. I am very excited about the progress we are making, and I am very hopeful that soon enough we will move into our new house. Once we complete the house, my focus will shift to livestock farming. I intend to invest another portion of the transfers into buying goats, with the hope that they will multiply and increase in value over time. This will allow me to sell some of them in the future and provide for my family’s needs. With these livestock, I will have created a sustainable asset that I can rely on in the future, especially when this program comes to an end. I am genuinely grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has provided me and my family. Their assistance is helping me build a brighter future, and I am optimistic that my plans for both house and livestock farming will come to fruition. Each step I take brings me closer to achieving my dreams, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds."

"I had a simple yet profound dream - to build myself a house. Unfortunately, my financial resources were insufficient, leaving my ambitious project in limbo. To make matters worse, my living conditions were far from ideal. I slept on an old traditional bed and worn-out mats that were anything but comfortable. My struggles seemed endless until GiveDirectly came to my aid. With renewed vigor, I set out to change my life, starting with completing my mud house. I spent $150 to ensure it was not only finished but also spacious, providing the peace of mind I had longed for. Understanding the importance of a good night's sleep, I invested $100 in a new bed and mattress, replacing the old, uncomfortable bedding I had been using for years. Restless nights turned into periods of serene slumber. Food insecurity was another battle I faced, often going to bed hungry. Determined to ensure my family never experienced this again, I spent $250 to buy enough food. This ensured that my family was well-fed and never lacked food again. I spent the remaining amount on covering medical expenses. I received treatment in a good hospital, a luxury I hadn't experienced in years."

"I have a goal in mind, which is to start a new business selling clothes. It's the kind of business I've always wanted to run, but I haven't had the opportunity to get the capital, so it has been difficult for me. I’m planning to start this business hopefully by next year. I intend to borrow a loan from a savings group to get started. I believe this will happen, as I have been following up with the group, and once everything is cleared, I will be granted the loan. Once I achieve this goal, I will be able to contribute to taking care of my family. My husband has been handling everything in the house since I am currently jobless, and I trust this will be a relief for him."

"My plan for the coming year and beyond is to provide my children with the best education possible. By investing in their education, I am providing them an opportunity to have better lives in the future. With three of them currently in secondary school, the financial burden is quite heavy, but I am determined to see them through. This year, two of them will complete their final exams, which will ease the pressure of school fees and allow me to redirect the transfers toward livestock. I aspire to build a herd of livestock that will be a valuable asset in the future. To achieve this, I plan to invest a portion of the transfers in buying goats. My hope is that they will multiply, increasing in number so that I can sell some of them later. The proceeds from these sales will help me take care of my family and support the education of my younger children, as well as assist my older ones as they transition to college.I am truly grateful for the opportunity that GiveDirectly has provided us, and I remain hopeful that these ambitions will come to fruition."

"As a single person, I am focused on securing my future, knowing that I will settle down eventually. To achieve this, I aim to build a large herd of diverse livestock that will be a good asset in the future. To achieve this, I have been using a portion of my previous transfers that I have been receiving from GiveDirectly to buy goats, and I plan to continue allocating a portion of my future transfers for this purpose. My hope is that these goats will multiply, increasing both their numbers and their value so that in the future I may be able to trade some of them for female cows. I believe that these cows will also reproduce increasing in number and value and also provide milk for my family. My long-term plan is to sell some of the cows and goats to buy a piece of land and build a house for myself and my future family. I want to have my own place, something I can proudly call my own, rather than living in my family's home. I am optimistic that these dreams will come to fruition, all thanks to GiveDirectly."

"In my opinion, the organization did a very good job by ensuring that they improved our lives. I was living in stress, not knowing where I would keep my children in the future as I had been staying at my brother's house. However, the financial support I received allowed me to buy land and build a house. Were it not for this cash support, I do not think I would have been able to acquire all of this anytime soon, as I had many responsibilities to take care of, which was not easy for me. Therefore, they should continue doing what they do, and there is no need to change how they operate."

"Upon receiving the cash transfers, I immediately knew where I wanted to allocate the funds. Having suffered for many years, I used $300 to install tap water in my compound. This had been a long-standing desire of mine, but I couldn't afford it until now. Previously, I had to make long trips to fetch water due to the lack of funds and my health issues. I often had to hire someone to fetch water for me. The installation of the tap has significantly eased the burden as I no longer need to trek for water. Additionally, I've started selling water to generate income, which helps cover the monthly water bills. I also used part of the funds, $180, to purchase seven iron sheets and poles to renovate my house and make it more spacious. The construction is currently underway, and soon we will enjoy the luxury of living in a spacious house for the first time in our lives. It was quite challenging before. With the remaining $70, I purchased food. As a widow unable to work due to health issues, my farms have not been productive, leading to occasional meal shortages. Buying extra food has alleviated the burden on my daughter, who has been my caregiver."

"As I approach the completion of my secondary school education, my goal in the coming months is to use my transfers to clear any remaining school fee debt. This will ensure that I can sit for my end-of-year exams without the stress of having an outstanding balance. Once the results are out next year, I hope to continue my education and move closer to achieving my goal of becoming an engineer. I plan to use my subsequent transfers to pay the rest of my school fees, which will give me peace of mind and help me focus on my studies. I am very grateful for the financial support, as it has helped me pursue my dreams and continue striving toward my goals."

"I am so happy that I no longer have to take on casual work to support my family. This is such a big relief compared to before when I had to burn charcoal and do other hard jobs just to earn extra money. The support I have received has made a huge difference in my life, allowing me to focus more on my family and less on exhausting work. I am truly grateful for this help, which has significantly improved our lives. It feels wonderful to have some stability and not constantly worry about making ends meet."

"Over the years, I had been using a temporary pit latrine that was unstable and at risk of collapsing due to poor construction. With the rainy season approaching, I worried that it would easily give way. So, I decided to build a permanent one. When I received the second cash transfer, I spent around $174 to purchase all the necessary materials for the construction. I'm thrilled that the toilet is now complete and ready for use. It's such a relief because we no longer have to endure the discomfort of using the old one, which was not only at risk of collapsing but also full, making it even more dangerous. I also used $200 to send my two children to college, where they are now pursuing beauty therapy courses. Although they had completed secondary school years ago, I didn't have the funds to send them for further studies. Now, my heart is full, knowing that this burden has been lifted. Once they finish their studies and earn their certificates, I trust they will secure jobs and help improve our situation at home. I've been the breadwinner, depending on farming jobs, as their father is very old and can no longer work. With the remaining $157, I bought food, ensuring that my children could eat well and no longer go to bed hungry."