"As a single person, I am focused on securing my future, knowing that I will settle down eventually. To achieve this, I aim to build a large herd of diverse livestock that will be a good asset in the future. To achieve this, I have been using a portion of my previous transfers that I have been receiving from GiveDirectly to buy goats, and I plan to continue allocating a portion of my future transfers for this purpose. My hope is that these goats will multiply, increasing both their numbers and their value so that in the future I may be able to trade some of them for female cows. I believe that these cows will also reproduce increasing in number and value and also provide milk for my family. My long-term plan is to sell some of the cows and goats to buy a piece of land and build a house for myself and my future family. I want to have my own place, something I can proudly call my own, rather than living in my family's home. I am optimistic that these dreams will come to fruition, all thanks to GiveDirectly." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"When I received the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly, the biggest difference it made was that I was finally able to pay dowry for my wife. This was a huge relief for me because, before that, things weren’t as smooth. Whenever my wife would go back to her parent's home, it used to feel difficult for me to follow her there since I hadn’t officially fulfilled that obligation. But now that the dowry is paid, our relationship with her family has also improved. I have gained more respect from my in-laws, and there is now a real sense of connection between us.  My wife is happier too, which makes life at home much easier and more fulfilling. With that stress gone, we can now plan better for our future together, and it feels like we are really on the same page. All this became possible because of GiveDirectly, and I am deeply grateful for that." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"My main objective for the upcoming year is to ensure that my children receive a good education so that they can become self-sufficient. I personally missed out on the opportunity to go to school due to lack of educational support, and I am determined to provide my children with better opportunities. The financial assistance from GiveDirectly has been tremendously beneficial, as it has been covering the costs of my children's education. In addition to this support, I plan to contribute to their education using the income I earn from casual jobs. I am confident that with the help of this program, my children will be able to achieve their goals. I have one child in secondary school and four in primary school, and I am fully committed to ensuring that each of them receives the education they rightfully deserve." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"When I received my cash transfer, food was a big problem. My motorcycle job earned me $300, but my siblings depended on me to meet our daily needs, especially after our mom passed away 13 years ago. Our dad remarried and moved away with his new wife, only helping by paying my sister’s school fees. Unfortunately, my sister and I had to drop out of school because we couldn’t afford the fees. With the transfer, I bought food worth $60, and I also used $32 to pay our overdue electricity bill, which had been disconnected for three months. I gave our youngest sister, who is in high school, $20 for pocket money and another $20 to reduce her fee arrears of $300. The remaining $60 went toward buying clothes for all of us since the ones we had were worn out." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"Before receiving the cash transfer, I felt hopeless and unable to buy a cow after losing my last one. I have always loved keeping livestock, but the death of my cow made me lose hope. My farm was supposed to provide income for buying livestock, but floods swept it away, leaving me with nothing. However, after getting the transfer, my hope was restored. I was finally able to purchase a cow again, which made me feel happy and motivated. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I can now start my livestock business once more and work towards a better future." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"To earn a living, I mainly rely on motorcycle riding, which can be really tedious. All I wanted was a good rest to recharge for the next day, but that felt impossible with my worn-out mattress; I could literally feel the board beneath me. With my limited income, I had to prioritize basic needs like food, making it seem impossible to buy a new mattress. The irritating creaks and sounds from my old bed kept me awake at night whenever I moved, but everything changed when I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I finally had the chance to purchase a bed and mattress, and since then, I no longer experience back pain or struggle to sleep; I wake up refreshed and ready for the day without waking up in discomfort. Thank you, GiveDirectly!" (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"My life has undergone a huge transformation ever since I was enrolled in the cash transfer program. Before, I struggled immensely to put meals on the table for my family of nine because I didn’t have any reliable source of income. My husband does not have a permanent job and often relies on the goodwill of his friends to lend him their motorcycles so he can work and earn some money. This inconsistency in income made it extremely difficult to meet our daily needs, and my children were frequently sent home from school due to unpaid school fees. With the help of the transfers, I was able to make significant improvements in my family’s well-being. I paid $15 in school fees, ensuring that my children could go back to school and continue with their education without interruptions. I also spent $40 to purchase food for my family, which meant we no longer had to worry about where our next meal would come from. Knowing that my family was well-fed and nourished gave me immense relief and happiness. In addition, I spent $12 on animal feeds for my over 40 hens, ensuring their survival and well-being. I view these hens as a future source of income. Once they mature, I plan to sell some of them and earn a good profit. This will allow me to reinvest in other areas of my household’s needs. Furthermore, I saved $20 in a savings group with the goal of accumulating funds to purchase livestock, particularly goats. The goats will be a future investment and serve as a safety net in case of emergencies."

"Financial constraints are the biggest challenge because my husband and I depend on charcoal burning to make ends meet. Currently ,the government has placed strict measures to restrict selling of charcoal and this has greatly affected our income. If we had a stable source of income life would have been better." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"As I mentioned before, our family goal has been to get my husband a brand new motorcycle so he can become self-employed. I’m thrilled to share that we have finally gathered the necessary funds, and he will be getting his motorcycle very soon, which will help increase our income. In addition to this, we currently live in a dilapidated house and are in the process of building a new three-room home for our family. My plan for this year is to complete the construction of the house. To achieve this, I intend to use a portion of my transfers along with the income my husband generates from his motorcycle hustle to ensure we finish building our new home. I am also enrolled in a tailoring college, and once I complete my studies, I aspire to own my own store where I can run my own tailoring business. After the house is finished, I plan to continue saving a portion of my transfers to buy my own sewing machine. This will allow me to create clothes for people and earn a living, enabling me to support my husband in taking care of our family."

"I rely on motorcycle services to provide for my family, but this hustle doesn’t pay well due to the high competition in my village. This has made it difficult to meet my family's needs since I am the sole breadwinner and my wife only looks after our livestock. The issue that has been causing me the most stress is my son's education. He is now in Form 2, and paying his fees has been a constant headache. To relieve this burden, I joined a merry-go-round in the village, where I saved $20 per month from the transfers. My goal is to accumulate enough money to pay my son's fees and even pay in advance for the whole year to avoid him being sent home frequently. My hope is to see him focus on his studies and spend quality time in school so that he can achieve good grades, which will ensure a brighter future for him and his generation. Additionally, I used $10 to buy spare parts and repair my motorcycle, which had broken down. Since it’s my only source of income, it was crucial to fix it immediately. I am happy that it’s now running well, allowing me to continue my work. I also set aside $10 for my son's exam fees, as they were approaching, and I wanted to avoid a last-minute rush that would cause me sleepless nights. Finally, I bought food for $37, which has sustained us for a while. For now, at least, we do not lack food on the table."