"I am currently in my third year of secondary school, and I am looking forward to completing my education soon. Right now, my focus is on my studies as I have some outstanding fees to settle. I plan to use my transfers to clear these balances. Additionally, in the upcoming years, I aim to build my own house. I intend to start using a portion of my monthly transfer to cover the building expenses. This way, I can gradually purchase the necessary materials until I have everything I need for construction. I am glad I have managed to start buying a few iron sheet for preparation.Owning a house provides a level of comfort that you don't get when you're relying on others for shelter. Therefore, I am optimistic that I can achieve my dream of having my own house."

"I have set a new goal: to buy more goats and raise them at home to support my family, especially my children's education. It's always a struggle to ensure they can attend school because I lack enough livestock to sell, which would help me easily afford their schooling. Therefore, I plan to use part of my earnings from casual jobs and save about $10 from transfers each month to buy a significant number of goats and build a large herd. I believe this is the best way to secure my family's future, especially when this program comes to an end. Additionally, having a herd will provide me with financial security; if one of my children is sent home for unpaid fees, I can sell a goat to send them back to school."

"My daughter is currently attending college in a nearby town, and I have been struggling to ensure that she has a positive experience there. My husband passed away many years ago, leaving me to raise our two children on my own without any additional support. This has been challenging, as I primarily rely on income from charcoal sales for our survival, and this business is not profitable enough to comfortably meet all my family's needs. Consequently, my daughter’s education has often been interrupted, and she has had to switch in and out of school at times. While enrolled in this program, I developed a plan to send $10 each month for her school expenses, helping to provide her with a smoother learning experience without financial interruptions. As a parent, this arrangement brings me a great sense of relief, and the burden I felt before has become much lighter. Additionally, I save $20 each month in a savings group, which will help me gradually build a better house. Through these savings, I recently purchased iron sheets, and I am hopeful that, with continued savings, I will be able to buy the remaining materials needed to complete the construction. Our current house is small and has a grass-thatched roof, so I’m constantly making repairs and living in fear that it may collapse. With $12, I bought food for my family, which has sustained us for a while. I am incredibly grateful to this organization for its support, as it has made a real difference in putting food on our table."

"I have a son who is currently in Form 1 at Ribe High School. Since it is a national school, the fees are quite high. Although I receive some support from the government, I am still required to pay a portion of the fees for him to continue his studies. Over the last three months, I have paid $60 to keep him in school, ensuring that he stays focused on his education and isn't held back. I never had the chance to attend school myself, so my goal has been to support my son until he graduates, find good job opportunities in the future, and help us rise out of the poverty that has burdened us for a long time. In addition, I have saved $30 in my Merry-Go-Round chama to eventually renovate our house, which is currently thatched with grass. This situation has been a source of stress, especially during the rainy season when we often end up getting wet. With the remaining $12, I purchased food supplies for my family, enough to last us for at least a week, as the farms are dry and the harvests are scarce. The monthly cash transfers have truly been a great support for us."

"I have established a small animal farm, where I currently raise chickens, sheep, and goats. Unfortunately, while my poultry project was thriving, an outbreak occurred that wiped out almost all of my chickens, leaving only two survivors. At present, I have 5 goats and 3 sheep as part of my livestock project. Both my goats and chickens have had offspring. My plan is to prepare for the future as I have a two-year-old child who has not yet started school. I anticipate needing funds when she does, so I aim to build a larger herd that will allow me to sell animals to ensure she can enroll in school and complete her education, even after the Givediretly program ends. Therefore, in the coming year and beyond, I intend to use my transfers to invest in livestock, focusing on goat and sheep farming alongside poultry operations."

"The biggest difference in my life after receiving the transfer is that we now have enough food at home. Before, I often had to go out looking for casual jobs just to feed my family, and there were times when I couldn't find work, leaving us hungry. It was stressful not knowing where our next meal would come from. However, now that we have food, I can relax at home with my family. This change allows us to focus on other important things, like my children's education and health. I feel a sense of relief and hope knowing that we are no longer struggling with hunger. This support has truly transformed our lives for the better."

"When I received my second cash transfer, I felt a wave of hope wash over me. With $135, I bought two sheep, knowing they would provide us with milk when they give birth and serve as a valuable investment for our future. Livestock has always been important to our family's well-being, and I am excited about the possibilities this purchase brings. I also set aside $50 to pay for my children's school fees, which is essential for their education. In the past, I depended on farming and charcoal burning to raise enough money for their fees, but it was never guaranteed, especially during tough times. Furthermore, I realized that my family had no clothes at home; we only had worn-out outfits. I spent $100 to purchase new clothes, which made me feel proud and happy to have something decent to wear. With the remaining $165, I invested in crop farming by cultivating one acre of land. Farming is crucial for us to have enough food at home and to generate income to pay for school fees. However, the cost of fuel for the generator to pump water is very expensive, so I had to divide my money wisely to make it last. Life has been hard, especially before I received this money. Since the day we got the cash transfer, everything feels easier. My husband and I alternate our responsibilities; he looks after the animals while I tend to the farm. We are a family of three, and the support from GiveDirectly has truly changed our lives for the better. With this assistance, I feel a sense of relief and optimism for our future."

"I am educated, but I do not have the money to continue my education. My goal is to continue farming, and when we start earning an income, I hope to go back to school either for myself or for my wife to further her education. I believe education is important for a better future, so I will give her a chance to start first, and then I can pursue my studies later. This plan not only helps us improve our lives but also sets a good example for our children. I am determined to make this work, as I want to show my family that with hard work and perseverance, we can achieve our dreams. In the coming years, I see a brighter future for us, where education plays a key role in our success."

"Life had become challenging, especially after the floods destroyed our farm, which had always been our main source of income. With eight children to care for, we depended on farming to pay school fees, but the floods took away that option, leaving us with no alternatives. When GiveDirectly’s cash arrived, it felt like a lifeline; I immediately used $240 to cover my children’s fees. Knowing that they could stay in school brought me relief and hope for their future. Education is important to us, and we didn’t want our children’s studies to be interrupted, so having this support at the right moment felt like a true blessing.In addition, I set aside $50 for farming, hoping to rebuild by planting maize. Having a reliable source of food and potentially a small income from any surplus would help us recover from the loss. Farming has always been unpredictable, but I believe that restarting with this fresh crop will bring some stability back to our lives. Furthermore, I used $50 to buy a sheep, which I see as a small but meaningful investment for our family. Over time, it can provide us with milk and can even be sold if we face any urgent needs. With the remaining funds, I purchased curtains to make our home feel warmer and a few food items to carry us through. This money has allowed us to address both immediate and future needs, and it’s a comfort to know we have a start toward recovery. Farming is not easy, with its seasonal changes and risks, but this support has given us renewed strength to keep going. My husband and I are grateful, as we now feel better equipped to care for our children and keep our family moving forward."

"Goats had been causing constant trouble, sneaking into my compound and damaging my farm. When I received the cash transfer, I used $100 to buy wire mesh to secure the area. This small investment brought me peace, knowing my crops are now protected, and it feels like a real improvement in our daily lives. I also spent $120 on a cow, hoping that when it gives birth, we’ll have milk for ourselves and possibly extra to sell. The cow feels like a lasting reminder of GiveDirectly’s support, something that adds stability to our family. Another major expense was school fees, for which I used $150. Previously, we relied on fundraisers to keep our children in school, which was stressful. This transfer allowed me to pay the fees directly, lifting a huge burden. Education is very important to us, and we’re grateful to GiveDirectly for making it easier for our children to stay focused on their studies.The remaining funds went to my wife, who bought food and other essentials we lacked. Together, we manage a small farm, but as we get older, we increasingly depend on our children’s help. Life was challenging before the cash transfer; we would sometimes have maize from our farm but no money on hand. Now, with GiveDirectly’s support, we feel relief and hope, with resources to help us improve our lives bit by bit."