I have a dream, which is to build a house for myself and my brother. For now, I sleep at my mother's house, but I feel the need for privacy and a place I can call my own as time goes by. I plan to save a small portion of my incoming transfers and a little from my mother's savings to start building the house. I see this happening toward the end of this year, as I have already begun the process of buying materials with my brother. Once I accomplish this, I will have my own home, and when I am ready to start a family, I will be well prepared.

I was born with epilepsy, which caused me to drop out of school when I was in grade two because it was so frequent, and my parents didn't have enough money to take me to the hospital for proper treatment. As a result, my life has been full of hardships since I couldn’t afford the medication in time, making it difficult for me to do any chores at home. However, with the arrival of GiveDirectly, my story has certainly changed. I have been using my monthly $34 to buy the medication, and I am thankful that my health has improved compared to before, as I can now access the medication on time and follow the doctor's advice. Now, I can at least help my mother with house chores and even look after our livestock. This has truly restored my happiness and hope, as I never thought this could happen so soon, given our financial situation at home.

In the coming year and beyond, my heart is set on expanding my little herd of goats. With just four goats under my care, I see a future where these animals become the cornerstone of my livelihood. You see, I'm not able to take up a traditional job that pays a salary or wage, but that doesn't mean I lack ambition or drive. Instead, I've found my path in livestock farming, particularly with goats. They're resilient creatures, easy to maintain even in the toughest of times. So, I plan to save $10 every month starting today. With each dollar saved, I'm closer to buying more goats and building a stronger foundation for my future. Through dedication and determination, I hope to turn this humble beginning into a thriving herd that sustains me for years to come.

Receiving the recent transfers from GiveDirectly felt like a glimmer of hope. Out of the $102, I made decisions that were not just about my well-being, but about easing the burdens of those who have supported me tirelessly. With $30, I prioritized my health by purchasing medication for my epilepsy. For too long, the inability to afford treatment meant enduring the terrifying seizures that plagued my life. But now, with regular access to medicine, I feel a sense of control and stability that I never thought possible. Then, I used $40 to purchase two goats. This wasn't just an investment; it was a symbol of resilience and growth. These goats represent a future where I can sustain myself, where I can contribute to my family's livelihood instead of being solely dependent on them. And the remaining $32, was a gift to my parents, a small gesture to repay the years of sacrifice they've made on my behalf. By buying food to relieve them from their exhausting casual jobs, I hope to give them the rest they so rightfully deserve. The transfers from GiveDirectly didn't just provide financial relief; they offered me dignity and agency in a world that often overlooked my struggles. As someone unable to work due to my condition, I've relied on the unwavering support of my parents for far too long. But now, armed with the resources to care for my health and contribute to our household, I can finally envision a future where my epilepsy doesn't define me.

Due to my epileptic condition necessitating monthly visits to the doctor for treatment, my objective is to remain dedicated to my medication process. My hope is for my health to stabilize as I continue to benefit from the program. Currently, my parents face financial challenges, compounded by the responsibilities of supporting our large family. I am grateful that obtaining treatment is no longer a struggle, thanks to the assured transfers that enable me to cover my medical expenses. My new aspiration is to pursue specialized treatment, a possibility now achievable through consistent monthly support. Despite the challenges I've faced, I am pleased to be in a position where I can manage and meet my medical needs.

Before being enrolled in the program, I was in great distress due to my inability to afford my medication, as I have struggled with epilepsy for many years. This condition prevented me from joining school because of frequent seizures and attacks. GiveDirectly has provided crucial support, enabling me to access specialized medical care and treatment through monthly transfers. As my parents are subsistence farmers and my father sometimes does menial jobs to support the family, the transfers have had a significant impact on my life. The support I have received has been instrumental in helping me manage the challenges associated with this condition, and the specialized medical care and treatment I can now access are essential for my well-being. I can now afford monthly treatment, including frequent checkups. The monthly transfers have made it possible for me to spend almost $20 on medicines. The ability to afford monthly treatment, including frequent checkups, has significantly improved the quality of life. I spent the remaining amount on buying foodstuffs, new clothes for myself, and some household items that I lacked.

Unfortunately, I had to drop out of school when I was in grade two due to the frequent epilepsy episodes that disrupted my studies. It was only three years ago that my parents, especially my father, started purchasing consistent medication to manage my condition. However, his limited income made it challenging to provide me with daily medication. I'm grateful to GiveDirectly for bringing the cash transfers, which have ensured that I receive my medication every day. Although it might be too late for me to return to school, and I'm not confident about my ability to concentrate in a classroom setting, I have other plans to develop myself. I aim to do so through livestock rearing, and accumulating wealth that can help cover the costs of my medication and other needs even after the transfers come to an end. I already have one goat and a hen that I acquired through previous transfers, and my goal is to continue expanding my herd.

As the primary provider for our family, my father's livelihood revolves around buying and selling beef meat. However, the weight of his responsibilities, including caring for my siblings in school, my mother, and myself, often means that his earnings barely cover our basic food costs. Additionally, my health condition, epilepsy, requires a monthly refill of medication, which could be financially challenging given my father's income. This situation changed when I started receiving the cash transfers. Recently, I used $20 to purchase a month's worth of medication. I allocated the remaining amount towards buying food, and I even treated myself to some indulgent items like fruits and milk which were luxuries I could not afford before the transfers. I must say that my health has significantly improved thanks to the cash transfers. While I used to experience epilepsy episodes every three days before, I can now go even a month without an episode. These transfers have allowed me to live and enjoy time with my family without constantly worrying about my parent's ability to afford my medication.

My goal now is to seek specialised medical services that can help me overcome my epileptic condition that has persisted for years. I am even afraid of engaging myself in some beneficial activities because of this condition. My parents were unable to meet the expenses for the frequent check-ups but ever since I began receiving the money, I have been treated well and on time, and my prayer is that before the project comes to an end, I will have recovered.

I have been suffering from epilepsy for years and my biggest challenge is that it's medication is expensive, I could not afford at my own cost. I had to drop out of school because it was worsening, and my parents were not in a good position financially to help me seek specialised medical services. When I began receiving the transfers, I was able to seek medication and I have been treated well since I can now pay for the medical expenses with ease. I also spent a portion of my recent transfers on buying chicken feeds for my poultry project that I am currently engaging in. This is also a source of income to me because once the chicken matures and multiply, I will be able to sell them thus getting some money. I will be in a position to take care of my needs as well as the medications. Lastly, I did some shopping on foodstuffs such as maize flour which could last for some weeks. Taking three meals a day was no longer a challenge to me and my siblings, since food is available in plenty.

Giving monthly cash transfers to every household, in my opinion, is Give Directly's best work. With the money, I can finally afford my monthly medicine. More importantly, my family eats more regularly than previously, and our well-being is improving as a result of the cash transfers. Am so profoundly grateful that nothing about the way the organization operates seems off to me.

Being the main provider of the family, my father buys and sells beef meat for a living. Due to the heavy burden of responsibility, he shoulders, sometimes what he makes hardly covers food costs. Besides, my health condition requires a monthly refill of medicine, which is hard to afford through his income. This changed when I received the transfer for I spent $4 to buy a month-worth medication. Since it was also the festive season, I spent $10 on a pair of trousers to wear on New Year's day. $9 was used to buy a hen. The idea is to let it multiply, increase the flock, and grant me a reliable source of income in the future so that I can support my father. Lastly, I saved the rest aiming to buy a pair of scandals since my current shoes are torn.

Around 4 o'clock in the afternoon, my father, who is my helper, told me that I had received my transfer. I was taking a break from the sweltering sun under the cover of a tree. When I learned the good news about the transfer, I grinned ear to ear. I excitedly jumped up and down and gave my father a hug. I was relieved that the money would significantly assist my family during that trying time financially.

The money from the transfer has significantly improved my life by enabling me to buy medication that aids in the management of my medical condition. I was without drugs for more than two weeks, and my father was unable to get more because he lacked the funds. I'm relieved that my epileptic condition is under control thanks to the medications I purchased with the money from the transfer.

I have epilepsy, which makes my health situation very bad. I need prescription medications to keep my condition under control because without them, I would experience a series of convulsions. The biggest barrier to me working and making money is my health, so I am completely dependent on my parents for financial support. My father, who is the family's main provider of income, makes a living doing a variety of odd jobs like selling charcoal, building houses, and hawking snacks along the highway. I was overjoyed to receive my transfer so I spent $5 on medicine to manage my condition. I also spent an additional $11 on three hens and animal feed. This will allow me to engage in poultry farming, which will also serve as a revenue stream once I start selling the hens and eggs. Finally, I used the remaining $18 to purchase food. Due to his inability to secure a job for the entire week, my father was in a financial bind and struggled to feed the family. The financial assistance ensured that my family never went to bed hungry.