"Old age sometimes denies one the energy to fend for the family, and therefore one has to think of alternative sources. Since I am now old, I cannot walk for long distances so as to fetch water for the household, and therefore, I plan on purchasing a 3000 liter water tank for $200 to harvest and store rainwater. I have not been able to save enough money from the milk sales, as all of the $0.8 goes toward household food and there is no surplus to attend to other needs such as this water tank. Currently, my family uses the water from the water pan to attend to all the household chores, including cooking. This water is sometimes unfit for human consumption as it predisposes one to waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and typhoid. Furthermore, even the animals drink from these water pans, and other people wash their clothes and pour back the dirty water into the water pan. If I own the water tank, then my health will not be at stake, and I will utilize the energy that I use to fetch the water to attend to other family needs."

"What happens when schools open and you have no money to pay for fees? You're depressed, aren't you? When my two children in university opened schools in February, I did not have the finances to pay their fees since the $160 I earn from my pre-primary school teaching job is insufficient to cater for all the family's needs, including school fees. However, I was grateful when I received my transfers in February 2023 because my children's school fees were going to be paid in full. I used $500 to clear university school fees for my two sons, who are in their first and fourth years, respectively. I am happy that now they are in school and I only have to pay a small amount to cover their rent. For the rest of the transfers, I was able to purchase food for my family of five. I am delighted that my son will complete his studies without much struggle, graduate, and hence assist me in raising his siblings."

"Currently, my house is in a dilapidated condition and too small to comfortably accommodate all members of my family. However, my long-term goal is to save enough money from both my business and the transfer to purchase the necessary materials for constructing a three-bedroom house with an iron sheet roof. This has been a long-standing dream of mine, but my financial situation has prevented me from making it a reality. I am eagerly anticipating the start and completion of my new home so that my family can move in and enjoy a better living environment."

"For the past three years, my house has been a suitable home for my family. However, the walls have recently developed massive cracks, indicating that the poles supporting the house are weakening. To reinforce the house, I plan to purchase bags of cement, sand, and building stones. Building strong pillars around the house will make me feel secure, and I will no longer worry about the house collapsing. In addition to improving the house's condition, I would also like to purchase a bed and mattress. Sleeping on the cold bare floor has significantly contributed to my chest pains and breathing difficulties, and having a proper bed will help improve my health."

"An empty hand is not licked. As the saying goes, my wish is to be financially stable so as to assist my husband in raising our family of six. Currently, we solely depend on my husband's plumbing job to earn a living since I had to drop my housekeeping job to attend to my newborn baby. Hopefully, when I regain strength, I plan on enrolling in a hairdressing college so as to fulfill my ambition of being a salonist and therefore earn income to support my family as well. Since we had already agreed with my husband, the plan was that he would pay my school fees once he received his savings from the merry-go-round club he joined. When I complete college, I will be able to start my own salon business at the nearby center. I am hopeful that my family's financial status will be restored once more."

"Food, shelter, and clothing are the three basic needs we all hope to have in our families. Of all the three, better housing is the biggest challenge for my family of nine. Currently, we live in a one-room house that often leaks when it rains, and I have to move my belongings to avoid them being rained on. My children have also suffered respiratory diseases due to the unfavourable living conditions, which have cost me a financial fortune. Therefore, to improve the living standards of my family, I hope to construct a two-room, iron-roofed house using the bricks that I am currently manufacturing. I am hopeful that my family's health standards will improve, and I also hope to open up a grocery business to support them. I plan on using $50 as capital to initiate this business at Matano Manne Center and expanding as time goes by, thus improving my financial standard."

"In my entire life, I have never come across an organization such as GiveDirectly. I do admire the discipline and respect the staff have towards the recipients. Also, the mode of working is top notch, as there is no payment in order to be enrolled, nor do they discriminate against people. All the recipients are considered equal, irrespective of their backgrounds. Alternatively, there is no corruption as each household is accounted for at the grass-roots level."

"My desire is to have a substantial livestock herd and a flock of hens. Due to my health status, I am unable to perform labor-intensive jobs, such as selling charcoal, which I used to do previously. This investment would provide me with a new opportunity to become financially independent and cease being overly reliant on my son's support. Generating income would enable me to support myself and attain financial stability. My objective is to have the poultry project operational by the end of the year and be on the correct path towards earning a steady income from it."

"I was caught off guard when my house collapsed unexpectedly. Since then, I have been dedicating all of my financial resources towards building a new house as quickly as possible. To accomplish this, I will need to purchase new iron sheets, building poles, and pieces of timber. I am eagerly looking forward to having a new home where I feel secure and can safeguard my privacy. Rebuilding my home is my top priority, and I hope to achieve this goal by the end of the year."

"My passion for education is unwavering, and I am committed to doing everything within my power to ensure that my children have access to the best possible education. I firmly believe that education is the key to a successful future, and I am convinced that providing my children with an education will offer them greater opportunities than what I am able to provide them with presently. To achieve this goal, I have set my sights on clearing all outstanding school fee balances for my children by the end of this year. I believe that by doing so, my children will be able to study and focus on their education in a stress-free and conducive environment, and as a result, excel in their academic pursuits."