"I have two children in secondary school, and while their elder brother primarily shoulders the responsibility for their tuition, I do my best to support them whenever possible, ensuring the burden does not solely rest on him. As secondary school tuition tends to be higher, I allocated $60 to settle their balances for the ongoing term, relieving them of any outstanding debts. Also, I invested in livestock by purchasing four chickens for $8 and a goat for $30, bringing my total number of goats to five. These animals serve as a financial security measure for the future, as they have proven helpful in covering my children's tuition fees and ensuring they have ample school time. In times of financial strain, such as when the cash transfers are yet to come in, I can sell the goats to cover any outstanding tuition fees. I am grateful for the transfers as they have enabled me to support my children's education and alleviate some of the burden on their brother, allowing him to better care for his child."

"My priority is to purchase a mattress for my three children, who have been sleeping on a plan leave woven mat that needs frequent replacement. I believe we can provide them with a more durable sleeping solution that will last for several years with the mattress. Following this, I plan to continue investing in livestock such as chickens and goats. As these animals reproduce, I can sell them to generate additional funds to support my children's education, thereby alleviating the financial burden on my husband, who works tirelessly as a fisherman."

"I know that one day the transfers will come to an end. By that time, I wish to have invested some funds in livestock like goats and chickens. Owning livestock will be a critical source of income as I can sell them to raise cash for my four children's school fees. I believe that with the transfers, I can achieve this goal. It is something that I had desired to do for a long time, but the mere earnings I made from making charcoal barely made it past our food expenses."

"Since I lack a source of income, I plan to start to expand my poultry farming business by buying more chickens when I get a chance. I believe they generate quick cash as it is easy to sell chickens and generate funds for my children's needs. I used to own a flock of chickens, but it was affected by a coccidiosis outbreak late last year, resulting in the death of some of them. However, I am pleased that the survivors have bred and increased the flock to 26 chickens. The profits from this business will enable me to provide school fees for my three children even after the cash transfers have ended."

"I aim to start rearing livestock like goats and chickens before the transfers end. Despite having some livestock before I started receiving cash aid, I haven't been able to increase their numbers due to financial constraints, including providing food and paying school fees for my three children. Besides, the money I raised from making charcoal barely allowed me to invest in more livestock. My goal is to expand my herd, particularly goats and cows, which I can sell in the future to generate school fees for my school-going children."

"I spent $30 of my recent transfer to purchase three pieces of iron sheets to renovate my roof. The old and leaking iron sheets had weakened my entire house, so I plan to buy at least 28 pieces. So far, I have been able to acquire 10 pieces by buying them in bits. Once I have enough, I will start renovating the roof. Having a stable roof will mean that I no longer have to worry about rain, which has been my biggest concern for a while. Sometimes I am forced to seek shelter from other people due to the condition of my house. I also spent $70 on livestock, including two goats and two chickens. I currently own seven goats and ten chickens and plan to breed them and be able to generate income by selling them. I am currently selling snacks and vegetables as a small business, and owning livestock will supplement the income from this business. I have four children who are still in lower levels of education, and I plan to sell the livestock to cater for their education as they advance in the near future. I also paid $20 in fees for my children, which allowed them to stay in school without the risk of being sent home for lack of fees. This is a significant improvement from before when they would stay at home for days before I could raise the required amount. Finally, I used the remaining amount to pay for household expenses such as buying food and toiletries."

"My aim is to purchase livestock, particularly goats and chickens so that I can rear them alongside my food kiosk business. I believe that they will provide an additional source of income for me. Currently, I own three goats and more than 18 birds, and my goal is to keep them and allow them to reproduce. I can then sell them to cater for my financial needs. Even when my children advance their education, I will not struggle to raise their fees, as I can comfortably sell the livestock to meet their education expenses. I am also planning to build my own house in the next year or so to live with my two young children. I am currently living in my parent's house despite having my own family."

"I am excited that I have finally been able to purchase some livestock that I have been longing to keep in my compound. As a subsistence farmer with no source of income, owning these livestock will be a safety net for me to generate some money by selling them. With my recent transfers, I spent $65 to buy three ducks, three chickens, and a goat. I am thrilled to have these new additions to my livestock, and my hope is to allow them to multiply so I can sell the offspring to meet my financial needs. I feel financially empowered now that I own five goats and 11 chickens in total which I could not afford to buy on my own previously. I have five children who are currently in school, and my plan is to sell some of the livestock when the time comes for my children to advance their education. This will enable me to raise the necessary fees without struggling. I also paid $35 in school fees for my children with the remaining funds. It brings me great peace of mind to know that my children will no longer face the risk of being sent home for fees, which has been a constant struggle for me in the past. I am now able to plan adequately for them and provide them with the necessary support. With the remaining amount, I bought new clothes for my five children and some foodstuffs to ensure that my family is well-fed and can comfortably have three meals a day without struggling."

"After getting $450 from GiveDirectly, I made a choice to invest it wisely. I decided to put some of it into buying a cow. This decision was important because it means I'll have a sustainable source of milk, which I usually buy every day. Milk can be expensive, and sometimes I struggle to afford it, especially since I only do casual jobs. With some of the money, I also started a poultry venture. I used $40 to get started and bought 40 chicks. This was a big step for me. I know that taking care of these chicks can lead to a good income in the future. But to make sure they are safe and easy to manage, I used $70 to build a proper space for them. I'm focusing on this poultry venture because it offers stability. By selling eggs and eventually chicken, I won't have to worry about where my next dollar will come from. It's not just about the money; it's about being prepared for emergencies in the future. Now, I feel like I'm on the right track. These investments give me hope for a better tomorrow. With hard work and dedication, I believe I can build a brighter future for myself and my family."

"In the future, I aspire to expand my livestock, focusing on chickens and goats. These animals can be sold to cover basic needs like food and school fees for my children. Rearing livestock is an ideal option for me as I lack a reliable source of income, and they have the potential to multiply and grow over time. Having a livestock venture will not only support my family but also assist my husband in providing for our household. With the acquisition of three goats from the transfers, I now plan to diversify my herd by adding chickens to the mix."