"I work as a tailor and also engage in subsistence farming with my husband. Farming has always ensured we have enough food in our household. For this reason, I recently acquired an acre of land near a river where I can comfortably do some irrigation. I had previously made partial payments for this piece of land but still had a huge outstanding balance. I was paying through the little savings that I was making from my tailoring business. When I received the transfer, I paid off the remaining debt which amounted to $500 and gained full ownership of the land. I now possess the land and I am planning to plant fresh vegetables and maize crops and some irrigation using the available water. I hope to get good produce for consumption and sell the surplus thus earning some income as well. In addition to the land purchase, I also spent $20 in purchasing a new door for my home. The old one was broken, and I was concerned about the safety of my family as well as my household items. With the new door in place, I feel much more secure. Finally, I bought two chickens which I am currently keeping, and food for my family with the remaining amount."

"Since my mother and siblings do not have a place to sleep and call their home, I will spend $200 to construct a two-roomed house for them. Using another $2000, I will start a broiler chicken business to meet a demand in a nearby shopping center. This business is a seed to more sustainable investments I intend to do in future,thanks to GiveDirectly. This also means my siblings future in education is secured."

". Since Form One, I've been using my transfer to pay for both my and my siblings' school fees. Despite these challenges, I remain motivated by my academic success and refuse to accept a life of hardship. My dream is to build a better future for myself and my family, inspired by the tragic experience of my father, who was attacked while working as a watchman. Thus when I received my recent transfer I spent a total of $69 on paying my fees as well as my younger siblings fees. With the remaining amount I allocated $9 on buying my clothes,$12 on food and finally $12 on buying one chicken I'm currently in Form Two, having scored 321 points in my Class Eight exams. Despite facing challenges, such as my father's disability due to an attack by thugs as he was a watchman and my mother's for rearing. I am really grateful for this support from Give Directly"

"dedicated $64 to cover school fees, ensuring my children receive an education, which is a top priority for me. Additionally, I invested $25 in purchasing a goat, knowing they reproduce quickly, providing an opportunity to sell their offspring for financial support. I also bought a chicken for $5, which will contribute to our income through egg sales. Another $4 was set aside for food, ensuring our daily needs are met. With four children already in school, I plan to enroll my youngest next year, underscoring the importance of education for our family's future. Despite the challenges, I am determined to provide for my family and improve our lives. I'm grateful for the financial support from GiveDirectly, as it has alleviated the need for relying solely on casual jobs and small-scale farming to support my family, making life much less difficult."

"Witnessing my son's determination to pursue a teaching course filled me with pride, but the financial strain weighed heavily on both of us. With $50 from the cash transfers, I could alleviate his worries about overdue rent and living expenses. The relief that washed over me was palpable as I watched him focus on his studies without the constant burden of financial stress. As a widow relying on meagre earnings from charcoal burning, seeing my son settled in school brought a sense of reassurance, knowing he could pursue his dreams without sacrificing his education for financial constraints. Eager to diversify our income, I ventured into poultry farming with the hopes of securing a stable source of revenue. Despite my efforts, setbacks were inevitable, and some of the chickens perished unexpectedly. Fearing further losses, I made the difficult decision to sell the remaining ones. Though disheartened, I refused to be deterred, recognizing the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. With the remaining funds, I prioritized providing for my family, ensuring that we had enough food to sustain us through the coming months. Though challenges persist, the support from the cash transfers has offered a glimmer of hope, fueling my determination to create a better future for my family."

"Upon receiving my transfers, I faced a pressing issue: my motorcycle, essential for earning our daily bread, had broken down and required immediate repairs. With no spare funds at hand, I allocated $22 towards its repair and servicing. Getting it back in working order was paramount, as it meant I could continue supporting my family. I'm relieved that my motorcycle is now functional again. Despite the modest earnings it provides, I take pride in being able to contribute what little I can to my family's well-being. However, challenges loomed on other fronts. My children had accrued school fees debt, a burden I was eager to lift. Hence, I promptly allocated $25 to settle their dues, ensuring their uninterrupted education. Food scarcity was another concern that was eating me up and with $15 from the transfers, I made sure to purchase food, ensuring my children wouldn't go hungry. Their well-being is my utmost priority, and I cannot bear to see them deprived of basic necessities. With the remaining $40, I invested in livestock, a goat and chicken. It's a small start, but I am optimistic that they will yield dividends in the future. My plan is to nurture them, allowing them to multiply, and eventually selling them when the need arises."

"I come from a humble background, so after finishing primary school, I have to work hard to help support my parents. My parents are farmers, but sometimes they also do other jobs to earn money for our basic needs. We really depend on this money. Life was tough before Give Directly because we often had to skip meals and sometimes went to bed hungry. But now, things are better. Nowadays, I plan well and ensure we have enough food for family consumption. My mother and I sit down and plan how to use our monthly transfers wisely. With my recent transfer, I spent $20 on food to make sure we had enough. I also bought two chickens for domestic rearing and saved $60 for future financial crises. I'm happy I could buy some clothes for $10 and still have $7 left for buying airtime. I'm really grateful to Give Directly for helping us improve our lives."

"Life has become challenging since my spouse passed away, leaving me solely responsible for our family. With four children attending school, managing their fees has been particularly tough. I'm immensely grateful to Give Directly for their financial assistance, which has lightened this burden. The income from my farming endeavors now goes further, aiding us in meeting our family's needs. Over the past few months, we've faced food shortages due to prolonged drought. Therefore, I allocated $88 from my recent transfer to purchase food for our family's consumption. Additionally, I set aside $9 to buy two chickens for rearing and $5 for a new uniform for my son, as his old one no longer fits. Every dollar is precious in these times of scarcity, and we're doing our best to ensure our survival"

"My goal in the coming year and beyond is to save money for college. Having excelled in Secondary school, I am eager to pursue my dream of further education. To achieve this, I have started poultry farming using my monthly transfers to buy chickens. As they multiply, I plan to sell some and invest in goats. I believe that selling these goats will provide the funds I need to pay for my college fees. Additionally, I am saving $10 in our merry-go-round group, all of which will contribute towards covering my fees. I really appreciate Give Directly for this financial support because I am optimistic that I will join College very soon through the help of this financial support."

"With one of my children entering junior secondary school, I faced the responsibility of covering all the essential needs for admission and school fees. This was a significant burden as I didn't have the necessary funds readily available. My shop business isn't yet large enough to fully support my family and cover school fees simultaneously. Thus, I had to use $70 of the transfers received from GiveDirectly to prepare my child and enroll her in school. Witnessing her settled in school brings immense relief, allowing me to focus on expanding my shop to generate more revenue. To boost my shop business, I invested $10 of the transfer to increase my stock. I'm delighted to see my business growing, even if it's at a gradual pace. Amidst the hustle of caring for my children, I've never had the chance to replenish my worn-out clothes. To feel good and presentable, I spent $18 of the transfers to purchase some clothes for myself which made me feel so amazing. Finally, I allocated the remaining $6 to buy two chickens, hoping they will multiply. Chickens provide a reliable source of income and can be sold whenever the need arises, offering a solution to immediate financial needs."