"Schools were opening, and obviously, my daughter's fees were needed. The thought of not having any money to give her was devastating, and my only option was to sell our goats. Not just one, but about four. Just as I was about to proceed with the selling, I received the best news ever: my first transfer from GiveDirectly. It was indeed the right time; I didn’t continue with my plan to sell the goats but used the transfer instead. If it hadn’t been for GiveDirectly, we would have had to sell our goats, our only investment right now after losing our crops to the floods. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"While I was at Kiserian, busy negotiating the price of a goat since I trade in livestock, I received a message at around 3 p.m. I quickly checked my phone and saw that the money had come from GiveDirectly. In that moment, I felt incredibly blessed and excited. I only had enough capital to buy two goats, but with the extra money, I was able to buy two more, making a total of four goats. I was overjoyed, knowing that my business had just grown in a way I hadn't expected. I couldn’t wait to take all four goats to the market the next morning, feeling confident and proud."

"I was at the farm, keeping an eye on my vegetables to make sure no stray goats wandered in when my phone buzzed in my pocket. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but when I pulled it out, I saw a message that made my heart skip a beat. It was from GiveDirectly, confirming that I had just received the cash transfer. I couldn’t believe it. Right there, standing among my crops, I felt a wave of happiness wash over me. I knew immediately what I was going to do with the money—I would finally buy those chairs for my home, something I’d been wanting for a long time."

"I run a kiosk where I used to sell only sugar and soap, starting at just $6.3. With the transfer, I added more stock, and now my business is growing. I used $50 to bring in more items for sale, and my daily sales have improved from $8 to $20. This has helped me expand the business, and I’m now able to meet more customer demands. I also wanted to make sure that I invested in something long-term. So, I used $150 to buy two goats. I see this as a form of saving because goats multiply quickly, and I already have one new kid. This will provide extra income for my family in the future, without spending the money right away on things like house renovations, that I had initially planned to do. I know that once the goats multiply, I'll be able to sell some and generate even more income."

"Recently, I received $200 from GiveDirectly, and as soon as I got the money, I began budgeting carefully to make sure I could achieve what I had planned. Out of the total amount, I set aside $90 for butternut farming. This amount covered the costs of preparing the land and buying seeds. I planted the butternut on one acre of land, choosing this crop because it suits our local climatic conditions and fetches good prices in the market. My goal is to use the proceeds from this farm to buy a generator, which will help me with irrigation so I won’t have to struggle with watering my crops. With $40 of the transfer, I bought a goat, which I see as a long-term investment. The goat will not only multiply over time but will also give me peace of mind when facing any emergencies. I can confidently rely on it in times of need without worrying about where to get money quickly. At the time this transfer came, I didn’t have food at home, and it was a struggle to provide regular meals for my family. So, I used $20 to buy food, which has lasted for the last two months. This has been a great relief, as we’ve been able to have consistent meals, unlike before when we sometimes went without. Lastly, I spent the remaining money on household items to improve the look of my house. This has made a big difference, and now my home feels more comfortable and welcoming. Overall, this transfer has made a huge impact on my life, allowing me to invest in farming, secure food, and make my home a better place to live."

"Now that I am in my final year of secondary school, preparing for my transition is very important. After secondary school, I want to join college and study education, as I have dreams of becoming a teacher by profession. To do this, I have been buying goats and chickens, and I hope that they multiply in number so that in the future I may be able to sell some of them and use the proceeds to pay my school fees. Additionally, I also intend to continue using a portion of my transfers to pay school fees for myself and assist my parents, as I know this is very heavy on them since they do not have a stable and reliable source of income. I am very grateful for these transfers from GiveDirectly, as they have been very helpful in my educational journey, and I am hopeful that I can achieve my dreams."

"In the coming year, my goal is to start goat farming because goats are more affordable and easier to maintain than cows, even though I already have one cow. I plan to save at least $10 monthly from my transfers to accumulate enough to buy one goat at a time. Currently, a goat costs around $50 due to high demand, but with steady savings, I know I can reach that amount. Starting with one goat, I hope to slowly build a herd, which will provide my family with a reliable source of income through offspring and meat selling. Over time, this will not only improve our financial stability but also allow me to expand the farm."

"My current house is small, cramped, and has leaking issues, which makes it difficult for my family to sleep comfortably. To enhance our living conditions, I intend to set aside a portion of my transfers in our savings group. Once the savings reach maturity in December, I will withdraw them and allocate the funds towards constructing a new two-room house for my family, ensuring that we can rest comfortably and stay warm. Furthermore, I aim to expand my livestock by using the transfers to purchase goats, in addition to the chickens I already own. The chickens are expected to multiply, allowing me to sell them in case of any unforeseen emergencies. The goats will increase in number and value, eventually enabling me to exchange them for cows in the future. These cows will then be utilized for plowing my farm. I am truly appreciative and optimistic about my plans as they hold significant importance for me."

"My plan after completing high school is to pursue a college education. Unfortunately, my mother can't cover my tuition fees alone, so I'm considering poultry farming as an investment. I started with a few chickens, but there was an outbreak that killed all five of them. Initially, I planned to invest in chickens and then exchange them for goats, but after this setback, I've decided to save part of my earnings and buy goats instead. At first, I chose chickens because of their fast multiplication rate, but now I've changed my mindset. I believe that by raising goats and selling them, I'll be able to fund my college education once I complete my secondary school education. This is my goal for the coming year and beyond."

"I had left my phone at home and went to look after my goats, not knowing good news was waiting for me. When I returned home that evening, my daughter excitedly told me that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was so happy, and the first thing that came to my mind was paying my son's school fees at the university. Thank you, GiveDirectly."