In the coming year and beyond, I plan to invest in livestock purchases. Currently, I have six poultry birds and one goat, but my goal is to expand my livestock holdings significantly. By growing their numbers, I will be able to sell some of them and use the proceeds to address pressing needs. This shift to livestock promises to be a good venture for me, especially given the harsh climatic conditions that make farming untenable. I am very grateful for the financial support, which is enabling me to better care for my family.

I earn a living as a casual laborer, while my husband raises livestock for others for pay. These jobs provide very little income, making it challenging to meet our daily needs. Our financial struggles have worsened, especially with the climatic conditions rendering our 5-acre farm unproductive. This situation has forced us to buy food from shops at high prices just to survive. Recently, I spent $57 on food purchases, including maize flour, wheat flour, sugar, and beans, to ensure our household had enough to eat. I also paid $10 in school fees for my two children at Makwala Primary School. They had been sent home due to unpaid fees, and paying this amount allowed them to return to school and continue their education. Knowing that my children are back in school and continuing their studies brings me great joy. Additionally, I purchased a goat for $20 and two ducks for $15. These purchases are steps toward increasing my livestock, which will help generate income in the future as they multiply. I am very happy and appreciative of the financial support, which is helping me take care of my family.

In the upcoming year, my focus is on investing in livestock, particularly goats, given their cost-effectiveness and quick reproduction. My primary aim is to build up a herd of goats, with the intention of eventually selling them to acquire a dairy cow. Owning a dairy cow would allow me to generate income through milk sales. I intend to use my forthcoming transfers to pursue this goal, as recent rainfall has led to an abundance of food, providing stability for investment. I am optimistic about the prospects of a brighter future ahead.

I sell charcoal while my husband tends to livestock to provide for our family of five. Previously, we faced a lot of hardships since we did not have a reliable source of income to support our household. Thankfully, our circumstances have improved. With the assistance of transfers, I can now purchase books, uniforms, and pay school fees for our children. Additionally, we now have the means to afford medical care in case of sudden illness. Out of the transfers received, I allocated $34 to acquire a goat and five chickens, which we will raise and later sell at a profit. Furthermore, I used $40 to settle a school fees debt that needed clearing. The remaining amount was dedicated to buying food for my family when we ran out. I am pleased with the positive impact these transfers have had on our lives.

As I look ahead to the coming year and beyond, my main goal revolves around financial stability for my family's future. I'm determined to prioritize saving more money, with a clear purpose in mind: to invest in livestock, especially goats. These animals hold the potential to become a valuable asset, one that I hope will aid in covering my children's school fees as they progress through their lower grades. By meticulously setting aside funds and planning for this future investment, I aim to ensure that my kids receive the education they deserve without financial strain. The prospect of creating a sustainable source of income through livestock gives me hope for a brighter tomorrow and underscores my commitment to securing a better future for my children.

Using a portion of the recent unconditional cash transfer, I addressed some pressing needs that had been lingering over my family. The education of my two children was a top priority, and I allocated around $24.7 to pay off part of their fees and purchase much-needed stationery. They had accumulated significant arrears, and while I couldn't settle them all, this payment helped relieve some of the burden. The joy of seeing them equipped for school and knowing they wouldn't face any hurdles due to unpaid fees was immeasurable. Another significant part of the funds went into buying clothes for them. They had been wearing worn-out clothes for far too long, and it had been a constant source of stress for me as a parent. With limited financial resources and the challenge of being a casual laborer with low wages, keeping them adequately clothed has always been a struggle. The unconditional cash transfer provided a lifeline, allowing me to address these basic needs and restore a sense of normalcy and dignity to my family. I am immensely grateful to GiveDirectly for being the beacon of hope that brought joy back into our lives.

The challenging financial period I endured during the severe drought has inspired me to make prudent use of my monthly stipends. I am considering investing in livestock, specifically goats, due to their affordability and rapid multiplication. My ultimate objective is to acquire a dairy cow, as it would enable me to generate income from milk sales. With the recent rainfall in the past few months resulting in an abundance of food, I am confident that my aspirations will soon become a reality.

My husband and I work as casual laborers, making a living by selling charcoal. Unfortunately, the income we earn from these sales is insufficient to cover all our family's expenses. As a result, our financial hardships have had the greatest impact on our children. Recently, we faced a difficult situation when my two children, who attend Makwala primary school, were sent home because of overdue school fees. Consequently, they missed five days of school. Thankfully, when I received my July transfers, I was able to use $10 to partially clear the school fee debt, allowing my children to return to school and continue their education. Apart from settling the school fees, I also spent $22 on purchasing food for the family. This allocation proved to be extremely helpful as it ensured that none of us went hungry or had to skip meals due to financial constraints. Additionally, I used the remaining $2 to buy stationery items, which have made learning easier for my children. I am delighted that they are no longer facing significant obstacles in their education. As casual laborers relying on charcoal sales, we acknowledge the challenges we face in meeting our family's needs, especially concerning education and basic necessities. Nevertheless, with careful budgeting and utilizing every available resource, we strive to ensure a better life for our children.

Owning livestock is what I wish to have accomplished in the next year and beyond. Right now, I do not have a reliable source of income, which makes me struggle to meet the need of my three children, including food and their school fees. I believe if I raise livestock, they can help me generate money to cover the household costs. So far, I have two goats that I acquired from previous transfers. My goal is to buy more and let them multiply, then trade them with cows later. Not only will I raise money by selling the cow's milk, but I could also sell the animals during financial emergencies. 

My household had run out of food when I received the funds. At the time, my charcoal business had not brought me enough money. Also, my husband, who works as a herdsman, had not received his monthly wage yet. Consequently, I spent $10 to purchase maize flour, which gratefully fed my family the rest of the week. I used the remaining amount to buy a goat worth $22 and a chicken worth $2. I hope that these animals will reproduce, as I could sell them in the future to generate money and support the needs of my three children. Likewise, I can trade some of the goats for dairy animals, whose milk I can sell. 

Give Directly is doing a great job of giving money to people most affected by poverty and drought. My children went back to school after a month of staying home courtesy of the transfers. Honestly, I wish I would give everyone from Give Directly a strong handshake for the good you have done for me. I am very content with how the organization works. 

Being a widow, I fend for myself and my family by burning charcoal. The monthly income I get from this activity, around $16, is not enough to provide basic needs like food and school fees. I was sad when my two children stayed home for a whole month because I could not afford a $10 outstanding tuition fee balance. Getting them back to class was my priority when I received the transfer, so I cleared the amount and they resumed their studies. Also, I paid a tailor $4 to make them appropriate uniforms since they used to wear casual clothes to school. Since hunger is a critical issue in my home, where we constantly miss meals, I spent $10 to buy food to last us a few days as I raised more funds. To at least invest out of the transfer, I bought a hen using $3.5 to let it breed. I saved the remaining amount to help buy books and pens for my children when they resume school next year. Give Directly saw my children back to school and I could never be happier. Thank you!

I was at the back of my house brushing my teeth when my phone rang with a text message. I quickly gave it to my daughter-in-law so she could read the message's contents. She enthusiastically informed me that I had received my first transfer. I was so happy to have finally received some money from the transfer that I started jumping around in ecstasy.

My life and the lives of my children have significantly improved as a result of the transfer of funds. It gave me a major headache the previous month to see my kids at home instead of in school. They returning to school to further their education makes me happy. They would have remained at home and would have greatly missed out on their education if it weren't for the transfer.

I make a living by selling firewood and charcoal. I don't make nearly enough money from this business to support my entire family. I have therefore had difficulty affording my two sons' school expenses. Both of them have accumulated $37 in unpaid school fees. They missed more than a month of school after being sent home from school at the start of the previous month. The fact that their peers were attending school while they remained at home made them feel terrible. I was extremely concerned that I would be unable to raise the required funds because my business had generated no revenue. I was relieved to receive my first transfer because a significant portion of my $10 was used to partially pay off my school fee debt. Finally, I used the money that was left over to buy a packet of maize flour so that I could feed my starving children.