"Right now, I can't make any immediate plans for this year because hunger forces me to redirect almost all of my transfers from GiveDirectly to buying food, ensuring that my family does not go hungry. Once this challenging moment is behind us, I intend to use my transfers to buy goats and chickens. I am hopeful that these goats and chicken will multiply and increase in number and value, resulting in a valuable asset that will provide me with a reliable source of income so that once this program comes to an end, I will have something dependable to support my family as well as take care of my grandchildren's education. Additionally, having livestock will help me manage future emergencies more effectively, as they act as our banks, where we save our money."

"I want to thank GiveDirectly for the financial support that has enabled me to support my family with much more ease. With three children in school, including one in the upper classes, I have been able to consistently pay their fees without interruptions. This was challenging before, as my spouse and I depend on unreliable, low-paying casual jobs. When I received my most recent transfer, I spent $29 on their fees, dividing the amount equally among them. Knowing that these transfers will eventually come to an end, I decided to save $30 in our savings group with the aim of buying goats for financial security. With the remaining amount, I spent $28 on buying chickens, which I plan to sell once they multiply. With the remaining $15 I allocated on buying food for family consumption."

"To say that Givedirectly has changed my life would be an understatement. My entire family feels the impact of my receiving this cash transfers. My husband gets some monthly cash from my money to help him out when he is stuck, my daughter knows she will not miss out on food with this transfers. I have spent $10 sending to my husband to cover is needs. I have been able to buy food at $20 using my cash transfers. I am a member of two savings groups where I have so far saved $30. This cash has also allowed me to build a chicken coup at $4 and repair my main house at $34."

"My family feels overwhelmed every time we get the cash transfers as it is an assurance of access to resources that the cash at our disposal could not access. The cash I received allowed us to buy some livestock as well as stock up on food and also got to pay school fees for my 6 school going children. I got a goat at $34 and some chicken at $9. I was also able to pay $15 to my children's school. Majority of the cash we received, went to purchase food for our big family at $39."

"Planting grass is a lucrative idea, we plan to add more acreage. It will add more income to our family through grass or seed sales. We plan to add an acre more costing approximately $300. This will include fencing, tilling and planting. Our house is small, and we need an extra room for our children. Building an extra room can cost about $350, materials have risen over the last few years. When we have a good home we'll be able to enjoy life and even host guests comfortably. Livestock farming does well here, we plan to add more goats and chicken. The dry climate is conducive for them. We'll use the rest of the transfer to buy more chicken and about five goats. This will act as a cushion during tough times or be sold to fund our children's education in the future."

"After my previous house collapsed, I took the initiative to build a new two-room house for my family. I’ve already started the construction and am currently in the process of finishing it. Recently, I spent $24 of my transfers on roofing materials, and I am truly impressed with the progress I’ve made so far. In addition to the house, I invested another $52 in livestock, which includes a goat, eight chickens, and a duck. My plan for the chicken is to let them multiply, increasing their number and value, so that I can eventually trade them for more goats. The goats, in turn, will also be bred to increase their number and value, allowing me to trade them for cows. These cows will be essential for plowing my farm for better farm produce. The duck too, will multiply and increase in number since they breed faster and in numbers, and I plan to sell some of them to help sustain my family's needs. Additionally, I have five children in school, and I used another $10 of my transfers to pay their school fees, ensuring they stay in school and focus on their studies without the worry of being sent home for unpaid fees. Lastly, I spent the remaining $6 on food for my family, making sure we have enough to eat and don’t go hungry. I am committed to building a better future for my family, and every step I take brings me closer to that goal."

"I am both a teacher and a student pursuing a Diploma in teaching to advance my education. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for providing me with the opportunity to further my studies. Next year, in April, I will be sitting for my Diploma exams. In addition to my studies, I have plans to invest in livestock and poultry. Currently, I do not have any, but I aim to start by purchasing small chicks. As they multiply, I intend to sell them and eventually acquire goats. I plan to use the August transfers to purchase chickens and goats. My goal is to build up a substantial livestock and poultry base so that my family and I can become more self-sufficient without facing significant challenges. This investment will contribute to our long-term stability and independence."

"My son is in his final year of nursing school, a journey marked by numerous challenges for our family. My husband and I have faced many hardships, as I rely on my small fish-selling business and he works as a casual labourer. When I received some money, I immediately allocated $25 to boost his tuition fees, especially with his exams approaching. Knowing that he is settled in school brings me immense happiness and relief. I firmly believe that once he graduates, our lives will change dramatically for the better, as he will be able to secure good jobs and provide a stable future for our family. In addition, I used $65 to purchase a goat and seven chickens, which will be invaluable in case of financial difficulties. These animals represent a source of hope and security for us. Given the favourable climate in our region, I am confident the goat will thrive and reproduce well. To further support my family, I decided to boost my small fish-selling business with $12, hoping to earn good profits as it is our only source of income. This business is crucial for us, and I am determined to make it a success."

"I am the parent of four school-going children whose education is very important to me, and I believe it is the key to their future success. To ensure their future is secure, I spent $34 to pay for their school fees and to buy essential school supplies necessary for their continued learning. Additionally, I saved $30 in a merry-go-round group, planning to use the pooled funds that I will receive to buy goats with the hopes that they will multiply, increasing in number and value, allowing me to sell them in the future and use the proceeds to further educate my children. I also bought a chicken for $4, with the intention of it multiplying and increasing in number so that I can sell the chickens to address any pressing issues that may arise as they grow since chicken multiply faster and in greater numbers. Furthermore, I spent $24 to buy food for my family, as we had run out of supplies due to this year's unfavorable weather, which caused our crops to dry up. Unfortunately, I recently fell ill and had to go to the hospital for necessary treatment, so I spent the remaining $10 on medication. I am happy to say that I am now feeling better, and I am truly thankful for GiveDirectly, as I don’t know what I would have done without their support."

"For about 11 years, I have been living in a one-room house. Part of the walls were iron sheets, and part were made of mud. Our living conditions were uncomfortable, as the muddy walls often broke, and my wife had to repair them frequently. The house was small, and as a family of six, our sleeping arrangements were limited. My older children slept in our small grass-thatched, muddy kitchen, while my wife and I utilized the space with our two younger children. When visitors came, it made things even tougher for us. For all these years, I have been unable to improve our living conditions due to financial constraints. I do casual jobs and sometimes make charcoal with my wife, but the income is limited and opportunities are inconsistent. To supplement our income, we do crop farming, but drought, which is common in our area, often affects our yields. During heavy rains like recently, we lost our crops to floods. Generally, climate change has always affected our income from crop production, making our dream of having a better house seem impossible. When I received my first transfer, I decided to start building a house. I bought materials worth $130, planning to continue construction with the next transfer. I spent $5 on fees for my child in elementary school. My wife bought three chickens for $12 to help generate income later by selling eggs and chicken as their numbers increase. Finally, the remaining money we used to buy a few food items and second-hand clothes."