"I am a widow of two and I do farming as my job. The challenge I faced is lack of rain. This has made change my mind and do poultry and animal rearing though on a small scale. Farming has enabled me to pay school fees for my daughter in primary school and also buy food . I live in a one room house with a grass roof and it leaks during rain season. I lack the capacity to build a spacious one. I will use $750 to build a two room house for the family and also equip it with beddings. I will also use $200 to buy four goats as an investment to add on the poultry I have . This will assure me of sustainable income."

"Every month, I set aside a portion of the GiveDirectly transfer to contribute to our savings group. Over the last three months, I've managed to save up $70, knowing that once the new year rolls in, I'll receive back what I've set aside. And let me tell you, "I've got great plans." Our current house is cramped, the roof has caved in, and cook in the same room. With three kids, including two in school, it's a constant struggle, when it comes to covering school fees. With the transfers, I paid $22 for their school fees and bought food with the remaining $10. Despite my husband's job as a house helper bringing in $60 a month, it barely meets our household's basic needs. So, I took to selling firewood, but even on the best days, I only make $2. It's been tough, but ever since GiveDirectly stepped in, things have started looking up. Our children no longer face the threat of being sent home from school due to unpaid fees, and we can afford to put food on the table every day. With the cash transfers from GiveDirectly, I'm determined to build us a new home. We are grateful for the support and assistance that GiveDirectly has provided us."

"My residence, an aging structure, is no longer able accommodates my growing family of eight forcing some of my children to seek sleeping arrangements at their grandparents' house, as they have outgrown the capacity of our home. Addressing this pressing issue, my foremost priority is to construct of a new dwelling. This new construction will allow our current residence to serve as additional sleeping quarters for my children. To facilitate this endeavor, I have been saving a portion of my transfers through a local savings group which has enabled me to procure some of the requisite materials, including 18 out of the 25 iron sheets needed for the roofing. To complete this phase of the project, an additional 7 iron sheets are required, amounting to an approximate cost of $95. Fortunately, my employment in the construction sector equips me with the necessary skills to oversee the construction process once all materials are procured. In addition to this housing project, I remain steadfast in ensuring the consistent education of my children. To this end, I prioritize the timely payment of their school fees, ensuring they remain enrolled and engaged in their education. By pursuing these dual objectives, I aim to secure a brighter future for my family, characterized by improved living conditions and educational opportunities."

"My wife and I do casual jobs earning little income which caters for food and school fees . I have a family of seven members and we all live in a two room house that has a leaking roof during rain season. I can not renovate the house due to lack of funds. I will use $500 to buy 20 pieces of iron sheets and other materials to renovate my house. I will also use $300 to buy six goats as an investment. This will foster sustainable income in my family. It will also help me to raise school fees for my children three children who are at primary school."

"You know, the GiveDirectly transfers have really eased our financial burdens. There were times when business was slow, and our needs piled up, but this help made all the difference. It's like a weight was lifted off our shoulders when things got tough. With the last three months' transfers, I contributed $60 to our merry-go-round group of 24 members, and every time it's your turn, you receive $120. My main aim for joining was to accumulate enough cash to finally fix our leaking roof, which had been long overdue as setting aside cash for the repair was not possible due to our low income. After which, I paid $30 for my child's school fees as schools were soon opening. I'm grateful that this time we could afford it due to the transfers we received. Lastly, I spent $12 on buying poultry and household necessities, with the hope that the poultry will generate some extra income once I resell them."

"Living a decent life in a better house while at the same time owning a small business is something that I have desired for a long time. Currently, I am jobless at home, and my house is small and can not accommodate us. This is the reason why I wish to construct an iron-roofed house for my family of 4. A two-roomed house is enough to bring comfort that I have missed since I got married 5 years ago. With these transfers, I plan to spend a big portion of it ( $600) which will be enough to offset the housing issue. On the other hand, I will use $200 to start a food outlet business within our trading center. This will make me utilize my time well instead of staying idle at home. The remaining amount will help me to cater to other household needs like new beddings and clothing."

"Constructing a suitable dwelling for my family had long been a cherished aspiration. Regrettably, financial limitations prevented its realization, particularly with seven children to support through their schooling. I am married and my husband works as a driver, while I sustain our livelihood through charcoal vending. When we received our second payment, I chose to spend $200 towards refurbishing our dilapidated house, which had a leaky roof and one side exposed. Additionally, I invested $250 in purchasing a cow, leaving the remainder for essential food supplies. Despite the ongoing strain of school fees and other obligations, I am immensely grateful to now possess a decent home, a dream fulfilled thanks to the generous assistance of the organization."

"I am a single mother of one living in my uncle's house. The owner left the village three years ago. I do casual jobs earning very little income which caters for food and other domestic needs though it is not enough. Most of the time the family goes without food and infact we have been taking one meal per day before we got harvest. I have been thinking of how I will do something sustainable but lacked the capital. I will use $400 to start a second hand clothes business at the shopping centre.I intend to make approximately $30 per day as profit. I will also use $550 to build a one room house with iron sheets roof. This will foster privacy to me and have ownership of the house unlike the one I am living now."

"The recent payout from the merry-go-round has addressed one of my foremost concerns regarding our sleeping arrangements. With this financial boost, I have been able to procure a bed and proper mattresses for both my children and myself, significantly improving our comfort and quality of rest. Inspired by the success of this saving strategy, where I allocate $20 of my transfers monthly, I am now looking to expand and enhance our living space. Our current residence, with only two rooms, is inadequate for my large family of seven. Consequently, my children are forced to seek sleeping accommodations elsewhere, which is far from ideal. With the next payout from the merry-go-round, scheduled in six months, I intend to initiate improvements to our home by purchasing necessary materials. Subsequent payouts, including the year-end one, will allow for the completion of these renovations. My ultimate goal is to provide a more spacious and comfortable living environment where all my children can reside under the same roof. This will not only foster a greater sense of family unity but also enable me to closely monitor and support my teenagers as they navigate their formative years."

"As a single mother, my children rely solely on me for support. I take on any casual work I can find, like washing clothes for others or helping out on farms. On good days, I might earn $3, but there are also days when I can't find any work at all. This constant uncertainty makes it difficult to provide for my family. The place we previously lived was in terrible shape. Its roof was full of leaks, making rainy days uncomfortable, and the door was in such bad shape that water would pour in. When I received the transfer, I saw it as a golden opportunity to finally make our living situation safer and more comfortable. I decided to invest a significant amount, $440, into building a new house. This covered the cost of materials and labor. Now, I am incredibly grateful that the new house is complete, and we have already moved in. No longer did I have to worry about my children getting sick from the dampness or feeling unsafe during the rainy season. Now, we have a place we can truly call home, a sanctuary where we can feel secure and comfortable. Seeing the smiles on my children's faces as they explored their new surroundings filled my heart with joy. With the remaining amount, I purchased sugar, which had been lacking in our household for some time. We had been drinking plain tea for a while, but now, with sugar in stock, our simple daily rituals feel more complete."