"I am a father of four children and currently work as a motorcycle driver. Our family lives in a one-room house, and I am determined to better our living conditions by expanding our living space to two rooms, hence providing my family with a better and more comfortable quality of life. By the end of this year, I aim to have started this project, although its completion will depend on the funds I can gather. To achieve this, I have been saving a portion of my transfers in our local savings group, and my plan is to continue saving a portion of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, along with some of the earnings from my motorcycle business. Completing this house will bring me immense joy, as it has been my long-held dream. Once the house is finished, I intend to redirect my transfers into a business where I will buy livestock from rural villages at lower prices. I plan to rear them for a few months and then sell them in the markets for a profit. This venture, combined with my motorcycle business, will help me comfortably provide for my children's well-being and education. I am grateful for this opportunity that GiveDirectly has given me and my family, and I am looking forward to the day where I will gift my family a new house." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"This year has been a journey of hard work and dreams coming true. I took out a loan to purchase a motorcycle, and I have been working tirelessly to pay it off by the end of the year. Currently, I have an outstanding loan balance of $783, and I am determined to finish repaying it soon. To clear the loan, I plan to use a portion of my transfers in addition to my earnings that I make from my motorcycle taxi business, allowing me to make larger payments and aim for full repayment within the next four months. Once I have cleared this debt, my goal is to take another step forward by acquiring another motorcycle on loan. With this new bike, I plan to employ someone else, creating a job while also generating additional income. This new venture will help me secure a better future for my family, ensuring that my younger siblings have what they need for school and that we never have to worry about food or clothing again. I dream of a life where my hard work today leads to a brighter and more stable tomorrow."

"I currently work as a motorcycle taxi operator, but I don’t own my own motorcycle. Owning one has always been a dream of mine, as it would allow me to be self-employed. I am determined to make this dream a reality, even if I have to buy a second-hand motorcycle. To achieve this, I have been saving a portion of my transfers in our local savings group. My plan is to continue saving a portion of my future transfers until I can use them to purchase a motorcycle. This will enable me to manage my work more effectively and provide better support for my family. Once I have acquired the motorcycle, I intend to keep saving a portion of my transfers to invest in goats. My hope is that they will multiply, increasing in number and value. In the future, I plan to sell them to help fund my children’s education and create a safety net for emergencies, as I currently rely on my motorcycle taxi earnings to meet our daily needs. I am truly grateful for everything that GiveDirectly has done for me, and I am optimistic about the future that lies ahead."

"Receiving my unconditional cash transfer of $450 was a turning point for my family. I decided to invest in livestock because they provide not only food but also a source of income. I purchased a cow for $250 that is almost ready to give birth, and I bought four goats for $180. To my joy, two of the sheep have already given birth, and one even had twins! These animals will help secure our future, as I love livestock and see them as a way to build stability for my family, especially since sheep multiply easily. I also allocated $10 for my children’s school uniforms and another $10 for food. With seven children to support, it has been challenging to keep up with their needs, especially since they had been going without uniforms for too long. My husband, who works as a bodaboda rider, and I depend on charcoal burning and casual jobs to make ends meet, but it often isn’t enough. I want my children to have a better life, and ensuring they can attend school is a vital step toward that goal. Looking ahead, I see great potential for growth with the livestock. They will provide milk for my children and can be sold for school fees when needed. After losing all my previous animals to drought, I am filled with hope as I watch my new livestock multiply. This investment not only gives us food security but also a sense of pride and stability. I am determined to create a better future for my family, and with each passing day, I feel that dream becoming more attainable." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"In life, having essential skills is crucial for survival. I know that once I successfully complete driving classes and obtain my license, I will be able to secure a job, preferably driving trucks to transport goods. Currently, I am diligently saving $20 each month in our merry-go-round to enroll in a driving school, with the goal of gaining the expertise needed to operate large trucks. As a motorcycle rider and livestock keeper, I have five goats and chicken that I raise for future financial security. My plan is to let these animals breed, eventually selling them to fund the purchase of bulls and dairy cows. The bulls will help with land preparation, while the dairy cows will provide milk for both sale and personal use, such as making tea. The income generated will significantly improve my family's living standards. I also aspire to build a four-room house, as our current one-room home will soon be insufficient for my growing family. However, this project will come later, after I have successfully completed the initiatives I mentioned earlier." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"This year and in the years to come, I plan to buy a motorcycle. Currently, I have a bicycle, but it can no longer meet my needs. I want to start a business transporting people and farm materials from the village to town, which I can’t do effectively with a bicycle. I plan to use the next transfer from GiveDirectly to buy at least a second-hand motorcycle. This will help me become self-sustaining and generate income even after GiveDirectly’s support ends. The thought of achieving this fills me with happiness and satisfaction."

"I aspire to expand our home into a three-room house. Currently, we live in a two-room house, with one room serving as our living area. My goal is to create two separate bedrooms, providing my children with their own space for privacy and comfort. My daughter, who is now grown, lives with her grandmother, and I’m eager for her to return so we can all live together as one big family. To make this happen, I’m part of a merry-go-round group where we save collectively for future projects. When it’s my turn to receive the funds, I plan to purchase the necessary materials first and then call the builder to start the work. My husband, who works as a motorcycle driver, will also help. Together, we aim to create a more spacious and comfortable living environment for our family's well-being and unity."

"I run a vegetable selling business that I started using my previous transfers, and I am glad to say that it has allowed me to support my family alongside the income my husband earns as a motorcycle taxi driver. Currently, we live in a mud house, and I have always dreamt of having a more durable house made of blocks and concrete. To make this dream a reality, I plan to save a portion of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, along with some of the profits from my vegetable business and contributions from my husband's earnings. By doing this, I will gradually purchase building materials needed for our improved home. In addition to this goal, I want to ensure that my children continue their education without interruption, so I will allocate another portion of my transfers to support their schooling. Furthermore, I intend to reinvest part of my business profits and occasionally use some of the transfers to help my vegetable business grow. By following this plan, I am confident that we will eventually have a more durable house to live in and a sustainable source of income, especially when the GiveDirectly program comes to an end."

"In the coming year, my main goal is to purchase my motorcycle. Currently, I rely on borrowing one, which makes it difficult to save money for my family as a significant portion of my earnings goes towards renting the bike. I believe that owning my motorcycle will allow me to take home more income and better provide for my family. To achieve this, I've been saving a portion of my GiveDirectly transfers at a financial institution, little by little, so that by next year, I can afford my motorcycle. This plan gives me hope because having my bike will not only increase my earnings but also bring stability to my family in the years to come." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"Running a small charcoal business has been essential in helping me care for my family, especially as a widow with four younger children. My elder son, who works as a motorcycle taxi rider, also steps in to assist when things get tough. Though my business helps cover the basics like food and clothing, financing my children’s education has been a challenge. Before being enrolled in the Give Directly Cash program, my children were frequently sent home due to unpaid school fees, interrupting their education. Now, I am glad that my children are consistently attending school without being sent home. To ensure they remain in school and continue learning, I paid $56 towards their school fees. I also bought a new pair of school uniforms for my son, replacing his old, worn-out pair. It makes me happy knowing he can go to school feeling comfortable and confident. In addition to that, I saved $28 to purchase iron sheets for building a new house. The current house we live in is in a dilapidated state, and before it becomes unsafe, I want to gather enough materials to begin construction. I also spent $10 on two hens to restart my poultry venture, as my previous hens sadly died due to disease. I’m hopeful that these new hens will multiply and provide me with an opportunity to sell them for profit. I am incredibly grateful for the financial support, which has allowed me to secure my children’s education, plan for a new house, and restart my small poultry business. It has truly improved my life and given me hope for a better future."