"I used around $44 to buy one goat and two chickens, which I now keep at home as valuable assets. I purposely made this purchase to help cover the school fees for my four children who are still in primary school. It has been a great challenge for me since I work at a construction site, which is not a permanent job, and my wife is jobless. I believe having these animals will benefit me in many ways, especially when it comes to paying their school fees and meeting their other needs. Later on, I paid $20 for my children's school fees, as I had been warned by the teachers that they might be sent home anytime due to arrears. I was very worried because I didn’t have the means to raise the cash, and what I earn mostly goes towards buying food for my family. With $29, I bought enough food to last my family for a while, knowing that we would soon run out of stock. I had already used all the money I had to buy other essential items for the house. Without the cash transfers, we would likely have gone without food for days. I am incredibly grateful for this support, as I can't imagine where my children would be without it. I also used $9 to buy clothes for some of my children so they could at least look nice for the upcoming Christmas celebrations."

"I recently joined a savings group with six trusted village mates. Over the past three months, I’ve managed to save a total of $60. This money is helping me work toward one of my goals: buying livestock, such as goats, and starting a new vegetable-selling business in the village. At the moment, I am jobless, but I believe that once I have this capital from my savings, it will help me generate some income. Having these goats will also give me a tangible asset, something I can rely on if anything unexpected happens, especially for the well-being of my children. Additionally, I used $10 to pay the school fees for my three primary school children, ensuring they could continue their education without any interruptions. I also set aside $26 to buy Christmas clothes for my children, as the holiday is just a month away. I wanted to prepare in good time so they wouldn’t miss out on looking as good as their friends. This will help boost their confidence and ensure they feel included in the celebrations. Lastly, I used $6 to buy food for my family, which has lasted us for about a week now. I am incredibly grateful for this, as it means we rarely go to bed without food these days."

"My primary goal now is to buy more goats and keep them on my homestead. Since goats are expensive and I cannot afford them on my own, I have decided to join a merry-go-round where I save about $10 a month. My aim is to increase my savings until I can purchase goats. Over time, these goats will multiply, and I plan to exchange some of them for cows. In addition to saving through the merry-go-round, I currently sell mandazis, and I plan to use some of my earnings to ensure I achieve this goal. I am confident that once I succeed, I will no longer feel stressed. Owning livestock will provide me with a sustainable source of income, especially for paying my children's school fees, which has been a constant challenge. This accomplishment will bring me much-needed relief and peace of mind."

"With a son in school, my greatest priority for the coming year and beyond is to ensure that he completes his education and I am very much committed to supporting his studies. To achieve this, I plan to continue dedicating a portion of my transfers from GiveDirectly to paying his school fees. Unfortunately, my husband and I have been unwell for some time, and managing our health has become a significant challenge due to financial constraints. To address this, I will use a portion of my transfers to purchase the monthly medicines we need to improve our well-being and lead a normal life just like our fellows in our community. Additionally, the drought in our region has been so bad, bringing hunger and uncertainty into our lives. To ensure my family has enough to eat, I intend to continue using part of the transfers to buy food until the rains come and we are able to harvest enough to sustain ourselves. Also, looking ahead, I am determined to build a more sustainable future. Once we receive rain and are able to secure enough food to last us for a longer period, I plan to save a larger portion of the transfers and invest in purchasing more goats, with the hope that they will multiply and grow in value. This approach is my way of securing a reliable and lasting source of income for the future, especially when this program eventually comes to an end. I am deeply grateful for the cash support from GiveDirectly."

"This year, my goal is to expand my goat herd, as goats have proven to be a valuable asset in my village. Additionally, I plan to invest in poultry farming since chickens have a ready market and can provide a financial safety net in the future. To achieve this, I intend to save diligently from my upcoming transfers to increase my goat numbers, which I can later sell for profit. I am deeply grateful for the financial assistance I have received, which has helped me support my family. With continued support from these transfers and by joining a savings group to facilitate the purchase of goats and investment in poultry farming, I am optimistic about achieving my goals and securing a stable financial future. Furthermore, while focusing on these projects, I am committed to ensuring my children receive a proper education by consistently paying their school fees on time."

"The festive season is fast approaching, and to avoid the last-minute rush, I used $30 to buy nice clothes for my four children so they can look smart and decent for Christmas. I’m glad to have brought joy to their faces; this time, they won’t feel out of place, as they have in the past when their friends were always more presentable. Additionally, I used $20 to pay school fees and buy a new uniform for one of my daughters, as her current one had become too small. Paying their fees has motivated them to focus on their studies without stress, unlike before, when they often stayed home because of unpaid arrears. I also purchased a goat to add to my herd, bringing the total to 14 goats, all acquired from the transfers I received in previous months. It’s fulfilling to see my herd grow, as I’m confident that the goats will help me achieve many of my goals. They are not only an investment for the future but also a way to better provide for my family. Lastly, I used $22 to ensure we have sufficient meals for the family. Food has been a challenge for my husband and me, as we’ve been alternating odd jobs to put meals on the table. Knowing we now have enough food brings us much-needed relief and peace of mind."

"These transfers have been highly beneficial to my family. The majority of my transfer has gone towards paying my children's school fees, ensuring they are not sent home as they were before GiveDirectly arrived in our village. I have two children in secondary school and two in junior primary. As the school term was nearing its end, I used $58 to clear their fee balances so they wouldn’t be sent home. I also sent $10 to my two secondary boarding school children for their bus fare home when schools close. With the remaining $34, I bought food for my family, as we had none. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for this support."

"I am planning to use the first transfer to construct a kitchen for my family. This will allow us to cook comfortably during the rainy season, as we have been unable to build one due to financial constraints. Additionally, I intend to stock enough food for my family to curb hunger and ensure my children have enough to eat. I also plan to buy clothes for my children so they can look presentable.With the second transfer, I wish to invest in livestock to diversify our income and expand my business. I plan to add more shelves in my shop so I can stock a variety of food items instead of selling maize flour only. This expansion will increase our income and improve our family's financial stability.Finally, I will use the last transfer to pay school fees for my children and expand our house to create more space for my family. This will greatly improve our living conditions and provide a more comfortable and stable environment for everyone."

"Over the past three months, I managed to save a total of $60 through my village's Merry Go Round. I gladly joined this initiative with the intention of buying as many goats as possible in the future, as they are the only livestock that can thrive in our area due to the frequent droughts. Currently, I own four goats, which I purchased with money from a transfer. My goal is to grow my herd so that, in the future, I’ll have assets to rely on for paying school fees for my children, who are still in primary school. In addition to saving for livestock, I used $20 to pay my children’s school fees and to buy a new uniform for one of them, as her old one was in poor condition. It fills me with joy to see my children heading to school every morning, laughing and walking with their friends. This is especially heartwarming given the struggles we’ve faced with school fees in the past. To conclude, I spent $22 on food for my family. This has been a great relief to my husband, who has always been the breadwinner and has struggled to provide for us. Now that we have food at home, he can redirect the money he would have spent on food to other household needs. These changes have brought much-needed stability and hope to our household."

"I am a widow with five children, and together, we rely on charcoal burning to meet our daily needs. When I received the last three transfers, I saw an opportunity to secure a better future for my family. The first thing I did was invest $20 in a small goat. This goat is more than just an animal; it is a step toward building a sustainable source of income for us. I also used $20 to buy four chickens, knowing that poultry farming will provide eggs for us to eat and sell, adding to our earnings. These investments are small, but they hold great promise for the future. After securing these investments, I saved $30 in a local savings group. This will give me access to financial support when I need it, whether it’s for school fees, emergencies, or expanding my small farming efforts. Finally, I spent $32 on food to ensure my children had enough to eat. Taking care of their immediate needs is as important as planning for tomorrow."