"My father has been sickly for a long time. He has had a condition which has made his life difficult for the past 6 years. He has had issues with his bladder which means he has issues with control of his bladder movements. We had tried for a long time to manage his condition with medicine but on his last visit we were advised to have him undergo a surgery to which we pooled our cash together to pay for his surgery. I gave $30 from my transfers to the contribution of both his treatment and surgery. I spent the rest of the cash, offsetting my payments for my motor cycle at $42, buying uniform and shoes for my child at $10, and buying a chicken at $3."

"I want to invest in goat farming because goats multiply quickly, which can lead to greater profits. Since these transfers will eventually come to an end, this initiative will provide future financial security for me. With my most recent transfer, I spent $32 to buy a goat. Additionally, I bought two chickens for $4 as part of my poultry project, which will help me in times of financial crisis by providing something to sell. I also used the remaining funds to pay $34 in school fees for my four children, ensuring they are not sent home for unpaid balances. Furthermore, I invested in my vegetable business, which is my primary source of livelihood. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for their wonderful financial support."

"I run a charcoal business, supplying to distant locations to support my three children. Because this work is strenuous and takes me far from home, I am looking to start a new venture where I buy young goats and later sell them at a higher price. This will provide a more manageable source of income and allow me to support my family without the physical strain of my current job. With my most recent transfer, I spent $69 to purchase two goats, though I had to add $5 from my own funds to meet the $74 required. I also bought three chickens for $12 as part of my future financial planning. Finally, I spent $22 on food to supplement the little stock we had, ensuring we have enough to get by for a while. Unlike before, when resources were scarce and we sometimes went hungry, this new business will help me plan and budget more effectively for my family’s needs."

"Owning cows has always been a dream of mine, as they would provide valuable assistance in plowing my farm and produce milk for my family and for sell. To work towards this goal, I have been using my transfers to buy goats. I therefore used $66 of my recent transfers to buy additional goats in the hopes that their number and value will increase over time. My plan is to eventually trade these goats for cows, which will help me achieve my long-term objective. I also spent $10 on chicken in addition to the goats I invested in. I am hopeful that these chicken will grow as well and I may be able to use them as food for my family and visitors and provide delicious meals. Lastly, I supplemented our existing food supply with more food for my family using the $6 that was left over."

"In the coming year and beyond, my primary goal is to initiate an investment in livestock farming. Given the high prices of goats, I’ve decided to begin with chicken rearing as a more feasible option. I already have 12 chickens, and they are multiplying. Once I’ve established a sufficient number of chickens, I plan to sell them and reinvest the profits in acquiring a female goat. I intend to allocate a portion of my transfer towards launching this project, recognizing it as a reliable investment for covering my children’s school fees and addressing any unforeseen emergencies. By diversifying my sources of income through this venture, I aim to create a stable financial foundation for my family’s future. Investing in livestock farming will provide a reliable source of income, enabling me to manage school fees and handle any unexpected emergencies that may arise."

"I have been struggling with financial challenges that made it difficult to educate my children while also taking care of other basic needs such as food. I do not have a stable source of income apart from the tedious charcoal-making business, which does not pay much. My husband is a wine tapper in the village, which is also unreliable. Due to this situation, I found myself taking some loans to pay for my children's school fees. Although I was happy that they completed high school, I had not finished paying off the loans. When I received my first transfer, I used $ 150 to clear the outstanding loan amount. In addition to this, I used part of the money to purchase building materials such as cement, ballast, and sand to renovate my house and build a new toilet. My house was in poor condition because it was not plastered, lacked a proper floor hence looked dusty inside. I also had a mud-walled temporary toilet that was not serving us well due to its condition. I'm glad that my house now looks decent after doing the plastering and flooring, and we also have a permanent toilet. Lastly, I bought a goat and two chickens, which I am currently keeping, and also bought foodstuffs to ensure that my family had enough to eat."

"I am a mother of three children, with one currently attending school. My main focus is on ensuring her education for a brighter future. To prevent her from being sent home, I spent $20 to clear her school fees. I also allocated $14 for food to ensure my children do not go hungry. Anticipating the rainy season, I wanted to make the most of my one acre of land. I invested $34 to hire someone to till the land and planted sweet potatoes. I believe this effort will yield enough to provide for my family's needs. In addition, I recently joined a merry-go-round group to invest in acquiring a dairy cow. I set aside $20 from my earnings to contribute to the group. With the remaining $14, I purchased two chickens, adding to my existing total of eight. I am confident that these chickens will multiply, enabling me to easily sell them and cover future school fees for my children."

"We live in a rental house, and my husband and I have always wanted to have our own plot of land and build our house. To make this dream a reality, I have ventured into livestock farming. I allocated $50 of my recent transfers to purchase goats, with the hope that they will multiply and increase in number and value over time. My plan is to eventually trade these goats for cows, which will also grow in number and value. When the time is right, I will sell the cows to raise funds for buying a plot of land. In addition to the goats, I also bought three chickens using $10 of my transfers. Similar to the goats, I am optimistic that these chickens will multiply and increase in number. In the future, I intend to sell them and use the proceeds to buy more goats, further expanding my livestock holdings. Recognizing the importance of my child's education, I spent $20 of my transfers to pay school fees. This investment ensures that my child can continue their studies without interruption. To make sure that my family does not go hungry, I allocated $13 to purchase food. Additionally, I gifted my husband $5 for his personal welfare, demonstrating my commitment to supporting his well-being. Finally, I have a vegetable selling business, and I used the remaining $5 of my transfers to add to my stock. By reinvesting in my business, I can expand my product offerings and potentially increase my profits, contributing to our overall financial stability."

"Initially, my plan was to expand our house and make it more spacious to accommodate our growing family. However, I have decided to take a different approach. My current plan is to collaborate with my husband, save my transfers, and combine them with his money to help him acquire a motorcycle. My husband is currently employed as a motorcyclist taxi driver, and by becoming self-employed, he will be better equipped to take care of our family's needs, which is not always possible with his current employment situation. Once my husband has acquired his own motorcycle, I intend to shift my focus to developing a plot of land that we own. My goal is to start a food-selling business on this property. To achieve this, I plan to use my transfers to buy more chicken, with the hope that they will multiply and increase in number and value over time. In the future, I can then sell these chickens and use the money, together with the support of my husband, to establish my food-selling business. I am hopeful that by working together and utilizing my transfers strategically, I will be able to achieve these goals."

"I have been unwell since August last year, and I am truly grateful that the transfers have been helping me manage my health and get the required medication. I spent $13 of my transfers on these essential medications, and I am thankful to see the progress in my health. To further support my health, I was put on a specialized nutrition plan. I spent $48 to buy the required food for this diet, as proper nutrition is crucial for managing my health condition. In addition to my health-related expenses, I also allocated $15 to purchase a goat. I am hopeful that this goat will multiply and increase in number and value over time. In the future, I plan to trade these goats for cows, which will also grow in number. When the time is right, I can sell the cows to help support my family. I also bought $8 worth of chickens, with the same expectation that they would multiply. To ensure the chickens' health, I spent an additional $4 on chicken feed. To further build my livestock holdings, I saved $10 in our local savings group, which I intend to use to buy more goats when the funds mature. Finally, for my own personal welfare, I bought myself a shirt for $3 and cell phone airtime for $1 to stay connected with my loved ones."