"I engage in farming to meet my family's needs while also burning and selling charcoal. However, due to the ongoing drought, sales from my charcoal business have diminished since my customers are using their income to buy food. With my most recent transfer, I spent $22 on fees for my five children to prevent them from being sent home for unpaid balances. I also purchased one goat for $20 to secure future financial stability and have started investing in goats so that if the transfers come to an end, I can rely on them to help educate my children. With the remaining $60, I bought food for our family. Accessing food and water is currently difficult due to the drought, so I purchased supplies to last us a bit longer while I continue to seek income to support my children."

"Although my main priority this year is to buy a modern bed for myself, as I currently sleep on an uncomfortable traditional bed made of ropes, this focus has changed due to the severe drought affecting our area, which has resulted in a lack of food and water. Consequently, I am spending my limited income on food to support my family. While I am saving, when it’s my turn to access those savings, I plan to use it to stock up on food to ensure my children don’t go hungry. Once the rains come, I anticipate a good harvest, allowing me to shift the money currently spent on food towards purchasing a bed and bedding as I originally intended. For now, I must endure sleeping on the ground, but having a proper bed and mattress will greatly enhance my living conditions and provide me with peace of mind. I am truly grateful for the achievements I have made so far and look forward to a brighter future." (Occupation: Small business)

"After finishing my secondary education in the year 2010, I dreamed of living a better and more fulfilling life. However, that vision fades each and every day. Without a stable job, achieving my dreams feels increasingly out of reach. I rely on fishing, which earns me only about $3 a day which is not enough to cover food and other essential needs for my family. A habitable home remains just a dream, as I lack the financial resources to build a decent place to live. Struggling to provide basic necessities like food and clothing is deeply frustrating and embarrassing for me." (Occupation: Small business)

"I used the money from my transfers to finance my hairdressing education, and I’m thrilled that it enabled me to complete my course. Now that my business is thriving, I’m able to support my children’s education and work towards building a secure future for all of us. Currently, I’m running a salon business from home. In the coming year and beyond, I aim to build our own house on the land we own. To achieve this, I save part of my monthly transfer through a savings group to enable me achieve this. For now, I’m staying with my parents. With my most recent transfer, I allocated a significant portion towards this project to give it a strong boost. I’ve also started goat rearing and have managed to buy two goats. I chose this investment because goats multiply quickly, increasing their financial value. Once they’ve multiplied, I plan to sell some to support other projects, such as the building project I hope to begin soon" (Occupation: Small business)

"I had been sick, but I’m now feeling much better after seeking medical treatment. I’m really grateful to GiveDirectly for their financial support. With my most recent transfer, I used $16 to travel to my husband’s place for medication when I was very ill. This made things much easier for me, as I didn’t have to rely on others or beg for support. I’m glad I received the treatment I needed, and I’m now recovering well. I also used $34 to pay school fees for my six children, dividing the amount among them to cover the remaining balances, as I didn’t want them to be sent home. Additionally, I allocated $10 to boost my vegetable business, which I recently started to generate a little income to support my family, ensuring the business doesn’t collapse. With the remaining $42, I bought food for my family, as we had none in the house." (Occupation: Small business)

"This year and in the years to come, my goal is to increase the stock in my kiosk shop and to buy a cow. These two investments will help boost my income, enabling me to meet my family’s specific needs without financial strain. With the additional income, I will be able to provide for my family more comfortably and ensure we have enough food. Beyond that, I plan to venture into crop farming using the profits from my business. These steps will create a more stable source of income and improve our overall quality of life." (Occupation: Small business)

"My goal for this year and beyond is to continue with agribusiness, focusing on raising sheep and expanding my poultry farming. This will help me save money and eventually open other businesses in the future. By doing so, I’ll be able to provide for my children and support my entire family, who depend on me. Livestock and poultry farming will create a stable and sustainable source of income. This will allow me to meet my family's needs and build a better future for all of us."

"I am determined to change my life for the better, and my goal for this year and the years to come is to open a small business in my village. I plan to sell vegetables and other goods like maize flour, sugar, and tea, just to name a few. This business will provide me with a steady income that I can use to take care of my family and meet our daily needs. The thought of having my own business fills me with gratitude because it will bring stability to our lives. I will no longer have to rely on casual jobs or unpredictable sources of income. Instead, I will be able to support my family consistently, ensuring they have food, education, and a better quality of life. I am excited about this new chapter and hopeful that my business will grow, allowing me to continue improving our living standards."

"I rely heavily on farming to support my family, but this year the hot and dry weather has severely impacted my ability to grow crops. This has left us without any food from the farm, forcing me to buy food at very high prices to ensure my family has enough to eat. To survive, I now depend on any odd jobs that come my way, but those opportunities are scarce. I also sell vegetables, but with the lack of rain, my business has suffered, making it even harder to earn an income. Despite these challenges, I have saved $40, which I plan to use in the coming months to buy a goat. This will be a future investment, as I can sell the offspring once the goat multiplies, providing some financial security. I spent $48 to pay school fees for my children, who are in primary school, ensuring they continue their education without interruption. With the financial struggles we are facing, I also spent $13 on food for my family, which ensured we had enough to eat. I am incredibly grateful for the financial support that has allowed me to meet my family’s needs during these tough economic times." (Occupation: Small business)

"In the coming months, I plan to spend my transfers on purchasing food for my family. The weather conditions have been unfavorable, and I haven’t been able to harvest anything from my farm. This has forced me to buy food from the shop at high prices, which has been difficult. I hope that next year, the climate will improve so I can farm and expand my fruit-selling business, allowing me to earn a better income. I am very appreciative of the financial support that has helped me take care of my family, especially during these challenging economic times."