"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."

"When I received the third transfer, I decided to invest it in buying a dairy cow worth $30. This cow holds great significance for us as it will primarily provide milk for domestic use, particularly when our other two cows are not lactating. This decision allows us to avoid the high cost of purchasing milk and ensures a steady supply for both my spouse and me. Since we only need a small amount of milk, I am eager to share the surplus with our neighbors and grandchildren. It brings me joy to uphold our cultural belief that prohibits the selling of milk. As our herd expands through natural multiplication, we plan to sell the male calves. The proceeds from these sales will be instrumental in addressing various other needs that may arise within our family. With the remaining amount from the transfer, I purchased two sacks of maize and some other food items. This ensures that my spouse and I have enough food to sustain ourselves, especially since we are unable to engage in casual work due to old age. We rely on the sale of our livestock to meet our basic needs, so having enough food on hand has also safeguarded the future sale of our 10 goats."

"My current objective is to purchase livestock, especially goats, so that I can breed them and sell them to generate income. As a widow who mainly relies on subsistence farming, I currently have no source of income and believe that owning some goats will be a good investment for me. I currently own seven goats, but my focus is to buy more. My goal is to breed and let them multiply, and I can readily sell the offspring to generate income when I am in a dire financial need."

"Changing the nature of our living is what I have wanted for a long time. Imagine sharing a room with my daughter and 3 grandchild yet it's not spacious enough to accommodate us. This has pushed me to desire constructing a decent and spacious house for both of us. To ensure this come to reality, I intend to spend $500 of the money to solve this menace. This will guarantee us a better house to boost our self-esteem as well as maintaining our dignity. On the other, I will also invest in livestock moreso goats which multiply fast. To start with, I will use $200 to buy 5 goats to act as my long-term investment project. The remaining amount will help me to buy new beddings and also to support my grandchildren's education. Thus, this is what receiving this money means to me."

"Before being enrolled in the Give Directly cash program, I relied heavily on casual jobs such as uprooting tree stumps, burning them, and making charcoal. However, the earnings from these ventures were minimal, making life quite challenging. Since joining the program, my life has undergone a significant transformation. I now own six goats and eight sheep, all acquired with the help of the transfers. With my recent transfers, I allocated $24 to food purchases, ensuring that my family of five never goes hungry. Additionally, I saved $20 in a local savings group formed with close relatives and friends. I intend to use this money to purchase bulls, which will not only help me plow my land but also potentially earn additional income by offering plowing services to others. Given the heavy rains we are currently experiencing, I invested $24 to plow my 1.5-acre land in preparation for planting. Moreover, I fully paid $24 to purchase a mattress that I had been acquiring in installments. Lastly, I spent $10 to purchase two hens, considering them as a future investment since they will multiply, allowing me to sell them and address my needs. I am extremely grateful for the financial support I have received, as it has profoundly changed my life for the better."