My primary goal for utilizing my transfers in the coming year and beyond will be to acquire goats. As an elderly person, my primary source of income from house construction is not financially rewarding. Concerned about the limitations of physical labor as I age, I see goat keeping as a worthwhile investment. Goats are low-maintenance animals, which makes their care easier for me. Furthermore, their ability to be sold provides a potential source of income during difficult economic times. I will diligently save a portion of my monthly earnings to achieve this goal.

Firstly, I used $10 to take my son for a medical check-up, especially since the public hospitals are not fully operational. Then, with $27 and some savings, I bought 5 iron sheets to repair our roof, which was damaged by a strong wind and now leaks during rainy days. Additionally, I invested $25 in buying a goat, hoping they will multiply and provide emergency financial security in the future. The remaining $25 was crucial for purchasing food, as resources are scarce. As a subsistence farmer solely supporting my family, I rely on my son, who is training to be an electrician, for additional income. These transfers have been a blessing, helping us navigate through challenging times and plan for a more secure future.

Acquiring goats has become a significant priority for me as I explore avenues to enhance my livelihood. Recognizing the versatility and resilience of goats, I believe that investing in them will not only contribute to the sustenance of my family but also create additional income opportunities. I intend to use the upcoming transfers to realize this venture, and I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity it presents to improve and enhance my life.

In the past, I worked as a builder, constructing houses to support my family financially. Regrettably, the construction business faced challenges, leading me to discontinue it. I shifted to farming as an alternative means of providing for my family, and I'm thankful that the recent rains resulted in a plentiful harvest for us. GiveDirectly transfers have played a crucial role in supplementing my income, allowing me to purchase both food and cover school fees for my son who is in the seventh grade. Out of the transferred funds, $34 was allocated to settle my son's school fees, addressing a pending debt. Another $34 was used to acquire food for my family, especially since we hadn't yet harvested anything. The remaining funds were directed towards addressing my urgent medical needs, specifically a hernia that required immediate attention and I am glad that I am doing better. I am profoundly grateful for the positive impact GiveDirectly has had on my life, transforming it in ways I never could have imagined.

My primary goal for utilizing my transfers in the coming year and beyond will be to acquire goats. As an elderly person, my primary source of income from house construction is not financially rewarding. Concerned about the limitations of physical labor as I age, I see goat keeping as a worthwhile investment. Goats are low-maintenance animals, which makes their care easier for me. Furthermore, their ability to be sold provides a potential source of income during difficult economic times. I will diligently save a portion of my monthly earnings to achieve this goal.

I recently made several purchases and payments using my most recent transfers. First, I purchased a goat, which I regard as a valuable asset capable of meeting my future financial needs. I enjoy raising goats because they are easy to manage, multiply quickly, and allow me to sell them to support myself financially. In the long run, I intend to buy more goats to secure my son's education. As I am no longer physically able to engage in manual labor, like the house construction work I used to do, owning goats provides an alternative source of income during times of financial strain. Furthermore, a portion of the money was allocated to paying my son's school fees. He was able to continue his studies because of this timely payment, giving me plenty of time to plan for the next term's expenses. Knowing that if I had not paid the fees on time, he would have been sent home gives me peace of mind. I also utilized a portion of the funds for purchasing medication, which has led to my successful recovery. I am grateful for the treatment I received and the progress I have made in regaining my health. Finally, I invested in food for my family of eight, including necessities such as maize flour and various cereals. This ensured that there were no food shortages and that we had enough to eat throughout the period.

At the moment, I intend to invest in livestock, specifically goats. I chose goats because they are less expensive to purchase and can withstand the harsh climatic conditions in our area. To accomplish this, if all goes well, I intend to buy a goat in every transfer I receive from now on. Because goats reproduce more quickly, I believe they will multiply to allow me to have a larger herd to sell in the future to make a larger investment.

I was struggling to make ends meet as a casual worker. Being able to support my family has not been easy due to the ongoing drought in our region. To make sure I had food at home for my family, I spent $29 of the most recent transfer on a bale of maize flour and four kg of beans. The fact that the maize flour took us 1.5 weeks makes me delighted. For $500, I also purchased some clothing. The clothes I had were ripped and worn out, so I made the decision to get some new ones for myself. In contrast to the past, when I felt self-conscious about my appearance, I am now glad that I also wear excellent clothes. My confidence has been restored by the transfer.

I like how GiveDirectly deposits money right into our phones. The best way to make sure the money gets to where it's supposed to is in this way. I implore the organization to keep up the excellent work without getting weary. Many people will benefit from this and escape poverty.

I used the majority of my transfer, of $20, to pay my hospital medical bills. My health has gotten worse over the last two years because I get sick so frequently. My wife, who makes a living by selling charcoal, is who I rely on the most. When I feel better, I build houses and dig latrines to make a living. Working every day and assisting my wife in taking care of the family's needs is extremely difficult for me because of my health. I spent $10 on five packets of maize flour. We didn't have enough money to buy more food, so we got by on one meal a day for the entire month. Purchasing the flour was sufficient to ensure that my family would have food.

I was with my son and grandchildren relaxing while enjoying narrating stories to each other after taking our lunch. I remember it was around 4pm when I received a message alert on my phone. I handed it over to my son who disclosed to me that it was the transfers from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and felt relieved since I was very sure that my kids will continue with their education.

The biggest difference in my daily life is the fact that I am able to get food for my family of 5 members. We no longer have to sleep hungry since I can easily go to the nearby shop to get food on credit. The food store owner is now trusting my ability to pay back after being enrolled in the program.

I am illiterate and my desire has been to support my kids to obtain quality education. At the moment, I have 2 children in school one is in college taking an electrical wiring course and the other is still in primary school. After receiving the transfer, I spent $5 to pay part of the fee arrears for the daughter who is in class six. Lastly, I used $7 to acquire food for the family since the temporary casual labor I depend on earns me $2 per day which is not enough to support all our basic needs as well as educate the children. This forced my children to constantly stay at home something that troubled my mind.