"In the coming year and beyond, my focus is on investing in livestock, particularly goats and chickens. Relying on subsistence farming has left me without a reliable source of income to meet my needs. There have been distressing moments when I couldn't afford school fees for my son, which pushed me to borrow from neighbors and accumulate debt. With livestock, I see an opportunity to generate income by selling them, alleviating the need for borrowing in the future. Currently, I own three goats and five chickens, and I aim to expand my livestock holdings further. Recently, I joined a merry-go-round with seven members, intending to use the accumulated funds to purchase more livestock when it's my turn. This proactive step aligns with my long-term goal of achieving financial stability through livestock farming, ensuring a more secure future for myself and my family."

"My primary goal at the moment is to ensure that my four children can continue their education without interruptions due to school fees. Currently, I rely on subsistence farming as my sole source of income, while my co-wife works as a nanny. With the monthly transfers, my plan is to promptly pay my children's school fees and support their educational aspirations. Recently, I joined a savings group where I contribute $10 monthly, aiming to accumulate funds to purchase goats when my turn comes. With six goats already in my possession, I am confident that when the time comes for my children to further their studies, raising the necessary fees won't be a challenge. I can sell the goats as they multiply, using the proceeds to cover their educational expenses. With these strategies in place, I am confident that my children will have the support they need to achieve their educational goals without financial constraints holding them back."

"I allocated $30 from my recent transfers to purchase building poles for renovating my house, which was on the verge of collapse due to damage from heavy rains. The walls had weakened considerably, so I acquired enough poles to stabilize them and start the renovation process. Once completed, I won't have to worry about rainfall causing further damage, as my home will be strong enough to withstand adverse weather conditions. Alongside house repairs, I'm grateful for the two goats I acquired using $60 from the transfers, which expanded my livestock herd to a total of six goats. These goats serve as valuable assets, as I plan to breed them, allowing their numbers to grow, and eventually sell them for additional income which will provide me with financial security. The remaining funds were dedicated to purchasing food supplies for my family. Since we rely on subsistence farming, recent excessive rainfall led to poor harvests, leaving us vulnerable to food shortages. The transfers ensured we had enough to eat, and I am deeply grateful for this support, which not only addresses immediate needs but also enables me to plan for a more secure future."

"I engage in subsistence farming in the village, which has always ensured that I do not face food shortages in my household. Getting food from my farm after a successful harvest means that I will not incur the cost of buying food for my household. When I received my recent transfer, I spent $20 to hire a pair of oxen, which helped me effectively utilize my acreage. I am now expecting a bountiful harvest in three months since I was able to do a timely cultivation. This will help me ensure that I have plenty of food in my household from my farm. Additionally, I also used $30 to pay fees for my two grandchildren, who are currently enrolled in high school. I am relieved that I managed to clear their fee arrears and also purchased them the necessary stationery, like books for their studies. I also paid rent, which amounted to $10 for my grandson, who attends a day school. I also purchased a goat worth $36, which I am keeping as an asset. I own four goats now, which I acquired through the monthly transfers. I plan to breed them and let their numbers increase. Since I don't have any source of income, these goats will help me in case of a financial need, such as raising school fees for my grandchildren. I used the remaining amount to buy food and other household items that I lacked, including some toiletries."

"I have found the monthly transfers I receive to be incredibly helpful in ensuring my children receive a proper education. I am a widow, and I rely on menial jobs such as selling charcoal to make ends meet. I have also been selling snacks, but even with these efforts, I still find myself struggling to provide for my family. Currently, I have five children enrolled in school, and they all depend on me for their upkeep. However, with my recent transfers, I was able to spend $30 on buying them new school uniforms and pay their fees on time. This has been a great relief for me because it has given me an ample time to plan for next term's fees. Over the past few months, I have also purchased three goats, which cost me $85. Now that I own six goats, I am hopeful that as they multiply, I will be able to sell some in order to generate some income in case of a financial need. These goats also serve as a security for my children's future education. Since I do not have a stable source of income, I can readily sell them to raise money for their fees and educate them. This has given me a sense of empowerment, even when GiveDirectly phases out. Lastly, I used the remaining amount to buy foodstuffs, ensuring that my family had enough to eat. I am happy that, despite my financial challenges, my family can eat three meals a day without struggle."

"As my house construction nears completion, my main focus is to finish the remaining work, like installing doors. Looking ahead, I plan to use the coming transfer to buy goats. I believe this will be a smart investment for the future. Goats can multiply, providing a sustainable source of income over time. I'm excited about this next step and hopeful for what it will bring in the months and years to come."

"With the recent cash transfer I received, I paid $25 towards settling the debt on a tailoring machine, an investment for my upcoming tailoring business. I have decided to shift from charcoal burning, which has become less profitable due to the scarcity of trees, to tailoring, a more sustainable business for our family of three children. With $35 from the transfer, I purchased a new mattress to replace our worn-out one. I then bought a goat at $34 for our future income generation. After covering these expenses, I had $8 left, which I spent on buying food for our household. Life has taken a positive turn since we began receiving these transfers. We can now afford essential items and have food, which was a struggle before. I'm deeply thankful for this opportunity, it has enhanced our family's well-being."

"I plan to use my monthly transfers to invest in livestock, starting with goats. This project is particularly beneficial as it provides a reliable safety net during financial emergencies. With the consistent financial support from Give Directly, I aim to gradually build my livestock holdings. Once the goats have multiplied sufficiently, I plan to sell some and purchase a cow. Since buying a cow outright is beyond my current financial reach, starting small and progressing gradually is a more feasible strategy. I am immensely grateful for the financial support from Give Directly, which has empowered me to pursue dreams that once seemed out of reach."

"I used to make charcoal but developed chest complications due to the strenuous nature of the practice. As a result, I took a break from the practice when the transfers started. I have basically been spending the funds to cover the daily needs of my family. Recently, one of my children did not have decent uniforms; hers was tattered due to repetitive use. So I used $7 to buy her new school uniforms, and now she is more confident wearing comfortable attire to school. I also set aside $20 in my mobile money account. I plan to keep accumulating this money when I receive other transfers to buy a goat. The aim is to rear the goat. It can help me in events when my child has been sent home from school due to fees. I can sell the goats to raise the school fees. Ever since I started receiving the transfers, I joined a savings club intending to build a house. I am happy that this goal came to pass last year, and now I have a good place to call home. With this being done, I started saving towards the college fees of my child. She completed primary school last year but did not perform well enough to join high school. So, I would like to enroll her in a hair-making training college. I saved $60 for this purpose. The remaining amount went towards the purchase of food to ensure that my children never went a day without eating."

"I want to establish a stable source of income through the rearing of livestock. I currently have three goats that I bought through the cash transfers. I wish to have grown this herd by five by the time the cash transfers end. I believe that rearing livestock will allow me to grow my wealth and provide a sure source of income that can continue supporting the needs of my children, especially their school fees, even after the cash transfers end. It will be a valuable supplement to the little and unpredictable earnings that I currently make from selling palm wine."