"I am a mother of three, with an elderly husband who is no longer able to work, and I am unable to work myself due to my health conditions. We both depend on our elder son, who works as a casual laborer to support us. With the last three transfers totaling $102, I set aside $20 to pay for my monthly medication, as advised by the doctor. My health is important, and without this medicine, I wouldn’t be able to manage my daily life. I also felt it was necessary to pay $20 in school fees for my two grandchildren, who are orphans. Their mother is in town searching for work, so it’s my responsibility to ensure they continue their education. With the remaining money, I made sure to cover other essential needs. I paid a $10 installment for a solar system that I bought on hire purchase, which has been a source of lighting at my home. I bought detergent for $4 to keep our home clean and hygienic. I then invested $35 in buying a goat, bringing my total to two goats. This is a small step towards building a more secure future for our family. Finally, I used the last $13 to buy food, ensuring we had enough to eat. These transfers have been a lifeline, helping us meet both our immediate needs and plan for a more stable future."

"My plan revolves around using the transfers I receive, along with additional support from my parents, to sustain my education until I complete my A levels. After that, I aspire to enroll in college and pursue a course in medicine. To make this journey possible, I need to dedicate more time to my studies and focus during these remaining months. I have a strong desire to join college and study medicine after completing my A levels. Coming from a humble background, I am determined to work hard and change the narrative of our home so that one day, my parents can enjoy the fruits of their sacrifice in sending me to school. This is why I’ve been using my transfers to pay my fees, ensuring that I’m not sent home due to outstanding balances. This allows me to focus fully on my studies."

"I am a widow who has been struggling with life since the passing of my dear husband, and one of my sons, who used to support me, also died a while ago. As a result, I have faced many challenges, and at my age, I can no longer work and can only rely on farming activities. To secure my future, I decided to purchase two goats for $70. I am confident that these goats will help me soon, especially once my current financial situation improves. They will provide support during times of crisis, and since goats thrive in my region, I believe I will eventually have a sizable herd. Recently, I experienced some discomfort in my stomach and had difficulty sleeping. Upon receiving the cash, I used $20 to buy medicines recommended by my doctor, as I have been battling stomach ulcers. I am pleased to report that I am now feeling much better and no longer experiencing the severe discomfort I had previously. Additionally, I spent $12 on sufficient food. Given that I am under medication, I was advised to maintain a good diet to strengthen my body and aid in the healing process."

"Givedirectly transfers have ensured that all my five children are back to school. Originally two had dropped out owing to the absence of enough finances to facilitate their attending school. I have spent $59 on school fees and school related expenses such as uniform and this has allowed all my children to go through school. I was also afflicted by a bad flu that forced me to seek medical attention at the hospital. I spent $15 to see the doctor and by the medicine I required. I am glad that Givedirectly has been the right hand of my family."

"My main goal this year is to expand my goat herd. In May 2024, with the $120 I received from my merry-go-round, I purchased two goats for $100. I used the remaining $20 to buy medicine to keep the goats healthy and strong. I am thrilled to see that one of the goats is already pregnant. As my herd grows, I plan to sell some of the goats to fund renovations for my house. The current structure, made of old sticks, is in poor condition and at risk of collapsing. I aim to renovate my one-room house to withstand the upcoming heavy rains."

"I am a divorcee with seven children, and caring for them over the past two years has been incredibly challenging. I have been relying on selling traditional chewing sticks, which also serve as herbal medicine in my community, but it hasn't been very profitable. The biggest stressor has been my house. It's too small for all eight of us, and some of my children have had to stay at their grandmother's house. To address this, I've started buying building materials in pieces from my transfers. I spent about $68 initially and currently have six iron sheets, aiming to gather 18 in total to build a larger home. Once the house is complete, I won't have to worry about my children's safety and can find some peace of mind. I also paid $25 in school fees for my seven children, so they are now settled in class without disruptions. With the remaining $9, I bought some good food for my children to enjoy and help them stay motivated in school."

"As a poultry farmer, I recently used $15 from the transfers I received from GiveDirectly to purchase chicken feed and medicine. This investment ensures that my chickens grow healthy and strong, maintaining their value. I am committed to providing the best possible care for my flock, as they are a crucial source of income for my family. In addition to my poultry business, I also operate a small kiosk where I sell household items. To help this business grow into a more substantial income source for my family, I spent another $63 to expand my inventory and boost sales. I am optimistic that with this investment, my kiosk will become a reliable and sustainable source of income. Unfortunately, my bicycle, which I rely on for transportation of goods especially when buying some stock for my kiosk from the big town, was in need of repair. I allocated $10 from my transfers to service and fix the bicycle, ensuring I can continue to move around efficiently and effectively manage my businesses. Finally, I used the remaining $14 to buy food for my family, so we would not go hungry. Providing for my family's basic needs is a top priority, and I am grateful to have the means to do so."

"I have a medical condition that requires me to pick up medicines every month, so I always make sure to allocate $20 for that purpose. With the last three transfers totaling $102, I used $60 to cover the cost of my medicines for three months. This has been a huge relief because it means I no longer have to worry about how to pay for them each month. My sister, who has been helping me with these expenses, can now focus on other things, knowing that the transfers are taking care of my medical needs. After securing my medication, I used $30 to buy food. Since I relied on my sister and the transfers for support, this money ensured we had enough to eat. Finally, with the remaining $12, I bought three chickens as an investment. These chickens will eventually provide eggs and perhaps more chicks, which will help me earn some income. I am delighted because these transfers have eased the medical burden on my sister, giving her more freedom to manage other responsibilities."

"I have a passion for turkey rearing, so when I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly, I decided to invest in a few turkeys to begin with. Since they require proper care and regular vaccinations, I’ve been using part of my transfer to keep them healthy. When well taken care of, they lay eggs more frequently. With my most recent transfer, I spent $60 on turkey feed and medicine for vaccinations. The remaining $42 went towards buying food for my family. I’m incredibly fortunate because I received the transfer just as our food stock was running low, allowing me to restock. I’m deeply grateful for this financial support, as it has allowed me to pursue my dream of rearing turkeys."

"I used the recent transfer to buy two goats for $10.4, which will be a good source of income in the future as they multiply. I have long wanted to rear goats in my livestock-keeping projects since raising the 10 sheep I had has been a real challenge. Sheep are easily affected to harsh climatic conditions. During droughts, I have to relocate them to my relatives, who live deep in the bush, so they can find food. I am also forced to buy medicines frequently, as they get sick easily with weather changes. Goats, on the other hand, multiply faster, are more resistant to harsh climatic conditions, and can fend for themselves. You just release them in the morning to graze in the bushes, and they return in the evening on their own. Additionally, I bought a sack of maize, beans, and rice for $60, ensuring that we had enough food. Since buying the food, my children have never skipped a meal as they did before, as I previously depended on charcoal burning to fend for them. Charcoal burning does not earn enough income; I would only sell one or two sacks per week at $0.4 each, which is too little for my family of seven. To survive, I used to cook porridge for them in the morning, then go till the evening when we could eat a better meal. Thanks to the transfer, I have seen improvements in their health. I also used $30 to buy good clothes for them to wear during occasions such as church, as their previous ones were very old. I used the remaining amount to buy utensils."