"We have experienced significant change in our community since GiveDirectly arrived in our village. Personally, I plan to invest a portion of my transfer into a profit-generating activity that will continue to provide benefits even after the transfers end. Therefore, I have decided to purchase goats and raise them as a future investment. As a parent of school-going children, I need to plan carefully. In addition to using the income from this investment to pay for school fees, it’s important to be prepared for any financial emergencies that may arise. Rather than relying on friends for help, I will have my own investment to depend on. I’m pleased to share that I have already bought eighteen goats, and I intend to acquire more until I have a substantial number. I believe that, over time, they will also reproduce and increase in number. Furthermore, I want to initiate a poultry project as well. Having both of these ventures will help support me during financially difficult times, as there is a ready market for both poultry and goats in our area. These are my plans for the coming year and beyond."

"Our area is prone to floods, and my house, being in a flat area, makes it even more vulnerable. This year was not the first time we were affected, and I knew it would not be the last. When I received my second transfer, I decided to secure half an acre of land, which was going for $400, for which I paid a deposit of $300. I plan to clear the remaining balance with my final transfer and eventually move my current house to this new, safer location. To meet my family’s needs, I rely on crop farming, but with the ongoing climate shocks, farming has become more difficult. To diversify my income and reduce risk, I began keeping goats, as they tend to do well in our area. I initially bought three goats and then added two more with my first transfer. With my second transfer, I was able to add two more goats for $100, while the remaining money went towards food, as we did not have enough after losing our two acres of maize to the floods. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for the support."

"Going forward, my plan for this year and the years to come is to invest in livestock keeping and crop growing. I intend to use the next transfers from GiveDirectly to buy more goats and to invest in farming. This will help ensure that there is a sustainable income in my household, providing financial stability for my family. The thought of having livestock and crops fills me with confidence, knowing that I will have something to rely on in times of emergency. I feel much better knowing that I can build a foundation for the future and take care of my family's needs, even when unexpected challenges arise."

"The floods hit us hard, washing away our entire one-acre maize crop, leaving us with nothing to feed our children or sell for their school fees. I felt completely helpless, especially since my husband, who is a farmer too, has other family responsibilities in his polygamous household. He helps when he can, but his support isn’t always consistent. With four young children relying solely on me, this cash transfer felt like a miracle, arriving just when I was at my lowest. Finally, I felt a sense of relief, a glimmer of hope that we could get back on our feet.I used $180 to buy three goats, securing something valuable and lasting for our future. These goats provide milk, a crucial addition to our children’s diet, and give me a way to save, knowing I can sell them if an emergency arises. It’s more than just livestock to me—it’s a lifeline, bringing stability I hadn’t known in a long time. Finally, I have something to depend on, a small but meaningful shield against the hardships we’ve faced. With $80, I bought a cupboard to store our utensils safely, as managing a household with four young children can be challenging without proper storage. Now, I can keep things organized, locked away from their reach, which brings peace and order to our daily life. The rest of the money went to school fees and food. With our farming income wiped out by the floods, I was able to give my children some security and consistency. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I finally feel like I have a chance to provide for my children, lifting a heavy burden from my heart."

"The biggest difference in my life after receiving the transfer is the relief of finally being able to pay my child’s school fees without having to sell off my goats. Before, each time fees were due, I would have to sacrifice one of my animals, and now I only have six left. This constant selling worried me because the goats were my backup for emergencies, and I was afraid of being left with none. With this transfer, I could keep my livestock and still cover the school fees, which has been a huge burden lifted off my shoulders. Now, I can focus on caring for my family without worrying about losing my animals every time I need money for school. This support has not only kept my child in school but also allowed me to hold onto the few assets I have left, giving me a sense of security and hope."

"My eyesight had completely failed, and I was scheduled for surgery to try to restore it. Thanks to my previous transfers and the support from my sons, I was able to undergo the surgery. Now, I am able to see a little bit, and I am hopeful that, with time, I will fully recover and regain my sight. However, the road to full recovery does not stop here. I need regular medical check-ups to monitor my progress, and those visits come with their own costs. So, my plan is to continue using part of my transfers to take care of my health and make sure I stay on track with my recovery until I can fully regain my eyesight. I am determined to get better, and I know this is crucial for my future. Once my eyesight is fully restored, I plan to use some of my transfers to buy goats, adding to the few I already have. My dream is to see them multiply both in numbers and value so that I can build something sustainable for myself and my family. This will help provide for us in the future, as they will be a sustainable source of income and with them I can have something to rely on especially when the program eventually comes to an end. I am deeply grateful for the support I’ve received so far, and I am working hard to ensure that I am not only healing but also setting myself up for a better, more independent future."

"I am optimistic that all my children will successfully finish their education. The assistance we've received from GiveDirectly has been essential in supporting our children's educational needs. A portion of the funds has also been used to buy food for our family due to our decreased food supplies. Unfortunately, our maize farm has suffered because of insufficient rainfall. Nonetheless, if we manage to harvest a substantial amount of maize in the coming season, I intend to use part of my transfer for our children's school fees. Additionally, I hope to acquire some livestock, specifically goats, as they can reproduce and provide extra income for our family's needs. Eventually, once the goats increase in number, I plan to trade them for cows, which can be more profitable. This is my focus, particularly as my older children are about to start secondary school. We do not have steady jobs, my spouse runs a small house construction business, and I assist him with farming, although this can be inconsistent due to unreliable rainfall. Because of this, we need to prepare by establishing an alternative source of income hence the reason why I want to invest part of my transfer in goat rearing. All in all I am grateful to GiveDirectly because since I began receiving these transfers, my financial stress has decreased, my children are receiving meals without going hungry, and I can pay their school fees on time."

"Earlier, I had planned to replace my old, dilapidated door. It does not give my home a welcoming look, nor does it provide the level of security that I need. I managed to buy all the necessary materials for a new door and was only left with hiring labor to install it. But just as I was preparing to move forward, my family was struck by tragedy. My dear daughter-in-law fell seriously ill and, heartbreakingly, lost her battle with the illness which shook us deeply. I had to put everything else on hold to focus on saying goodbye to her with the dignity and love she deserved. Now, as I look ahead to this coming year and beyond, I want to pick up where I left off. I plan to use a portion of my transfers to finally cover the labor costs and get the new door installed, bringing a fresh, secure look to my home. After that, I hope to gradually invest in purchasing more goats adding to what I already have using another portion of my transfers hoping they will multiply, growing in both number and value, so that in the future I will have something to rely on when this program comes to an end. Additionally, I rely on my son for support, but his income is unstable and I do not want to place too much of a burden on him. To ease this, I plan to use some of my transfers to help provide food for myself, supplementing the little he manages to bring in so he does not have to shoulder this responsibility alone. I am incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly for this support"

"Now that I’ve finished building my two-room house with the help of some of the transfers I received a while ago, I have a new goal: to buy more goats and keep them at my homestead. I feel that my financial struggles have partly been due to a lack of dependable assets that I could sell when needed. To achieve this, I’m now planning to save about $20 each month from my transfers, so I can fulfill this dream as soon as possible. Once I reach my goal, I’ll be in a good position to sell some goats and pay my bills on time, especially since I don’t have a permanent job at the moment. Having goats at home will also ease my burden, as I won’t need to borrow money in case of emergencies. Instead, I’ll be able to sell one or two goats and settle any expenses that come up."

"I've always had a desire to pursue poultry farming, particularly raising chickens. Unfortunately, earlier this year, there was an outbreak of chicken disease in my area that wiped out all the poultry. As a result, I've decided to abandon the poultry project and focus on goats instead. I believe that goat farming presents a great business opportunity, as one mature goat can generate significant income. This investment will help me cover my children's school fees and other essential expenses while also providing support for my husband. Furthermore, I'm interested in starting a small fish business to complement the goat rearing project. To achieve these two goals, I plan to use my transfer to invest in them, and these are my objectives for the coming year and beyond."