"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."

"Now that I feel my health improving day by day, I’ve set a new goal: to buy goats and keep them in my compound. Currently, I don’t have any goats because I’ve been facing some hardships and rely on my sons for support. To achieve this goal, I plan to set aside a small amount from my transfers within my savings group each month. In a few months, I will be able to buy one or two goats. I’m confident they will thrive here at home, as there is plenty of pasture available. Once I succeed, I’ll have something to fall back on, especially for emergencies, particularly those related to health. This way, I can sell a few goats if needed and easily cover my expenses."

"For years, I have struggled with issues related to my waist that prevent me from standing on my own, forcing me to rely on my wife for help with daily tasks. When I received the cash transfer, I used about $20 for my monthly medication. This allowed me to purchase medicine that has improved my ability to move around, although I haven't fully healed yet. Thankfully, I am no longer in as much pain as I was before. Understanding that this program will eventually end, I decided to buy a goat for $46, which I am now keeping at home. My hope is to raise more goats over time, providing me with a sense of security and support when the program concludes. For the first time, I have assets at home that serve as security, something I never had before. Additionally, with $36, I bought enough food to last us for a while, as we currently have no other source of support due to the drought, which has left our farms unproductive. I am incredibly grateful to this organization; I can hardly imagine how my life would have been without their support."

"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 GiveDirectly officers guided us well, teaching us how to use the money wisely and encouraging us to think carefully about our plans for it. They asked each of us what we intended to do with the funds, making us feel that our choices mattered. Their advice helped me prioritize important needs, like buying goats for milk and settling debts. I appreciate how they didn’t just hand over the money but took the time to help us make informed decisions. Personally, I have no complaints—just gratitude for the way GiveDirectly has supported us. If there’s one area to consider for improvement, it might be offering follow-up visits to check on our progress and give additional guidance, but overall, I’m deeply thankful."

"At 6 am, I woke up and casually checked my phone, only to see a message that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I felt a rush of happiness and couldn’t keep it to myself immediately woke up my wife to share the good news. "Look," I told her, "we’ve received the money!" She checked the message herself, and we both felt such relief and excitement. The first thought that came to mind was finally buying goats. Buying milk every day had become a real strain, both financially and physically, and I knew having goats would help us save money and ease that burden. We were grateful, knowing this transfer would bring such a big difference to our daily life."

"We are going through incredibly tough times right now. The dry spell has stretched on and on, bringing severe drought, and leaving us all facing hunger. This year, with things as they are, my priority is to keep using my transfers to buy food and water so my family can get by until the rains finally come and we can hopefully harvest enough to fill our stores again. Also, looking ahead, I dream of building something sustainable for my future. Once the drought conditions improve, I plan to use a portion of my transfers to buy more goats, adding to the small herd that I already have. I envision these goats multiplying over time, giving me a source of income that I can lean on in the future when this program eventually comes to an end. Additionally, managing my health is another important goal. I plan to keep using a portion of my transfers to buy my monthly medication so I can take care of myself and stay strong. I cannot say enough how grateful I am to GiveDirectly for this support. It is not just helping us get through these challenging days but it is also giving me hope and a chance to build a future I can rely on."

"I have always dreamt of having a proper bed and a mattress to rest on, especially since I am currently sleeping on a bed made of ropes with no mattress on it making it very uncomfortable. Finally, I managed to pay off the bed, but now I’m focused on saving up for a mattress. Recently, I was able to complete payments for the bed that I wanted. Now, my plan for this coming year is to set aside a portion of my transfers, little by little, until I have enough to buy a comfortable mattress. Just imagining having a comfortable place to sleep fills me with hope and gratitude. After that, I want to use part of my transfers to buy goats, adding to the few I already have hoping that they will multiply and increase in number and value so that in the future I may have something to rely on. Additionally, with my health being a concern at my age, I also plan to dedicate part of my transfers to seeking medical care and ensuring I can manage my nutrition so I can live as healthily as possible. I feel incredibly thankful for the support I get from GiveDirectly."

"With my dream of owning livestock, my plan for this coming year and beyond is to save a portion of my transfers that I receive from GiveDirectly so that once I accumulate enough funds, I may use them to buy more goats and chicken, hoping that they will multiply and grow in both number and value, providing me with a reliable source of income support in the future. In the meantime, given the ongoing drought and hunger we are facing, I plan to continue using another portion of my transfers to continue buying food and water. This is very crucial for us to avoid going hungry until this drought passes. I am determined to secure a better future for my family, and I truly appreciate the support that makes this possible."

"With the current drought and hunger impacting us in our region, my top priority is ensuring my family's health and nutrition. I therefore plan to keep using a portion of my transfers to buy food and water until the rains come, and we can finally harvest and put an end to this hunger crisis. Additionally, I intend to invest another portion in acquiring more goats and chicken, hoping they will multiply and grow in both numbers and value. These animals will become a valuable asset for me which I can rely on in the future, especially when this program concludes. I am truly grateful for the support from GiveDirectly as it has been a lifeline for my family during these tough times."