"The floods completely swept away my home, leaving us living in tents and struggling to survive. All my belongings, including my house, five goats, and six chickens, were destroyed. So, when I received the cash transfer, I knew I had to rebuild. I spent $300 to construct a room with iron sheets and used $30 to build another room made of grass and mud walls. I also spent $50 to construct a proper toilet since we had been using the bushes for a long time. These changes have made a huge difference for my family, and we now feel more secure and comfortable in our new home.In addition to rebuilding, I used $70 to pay school fees for my children. Education is important to me, and despite the hardships, I want to ensure my kids have a better future. My husband is a fisherman, and I work casual jobs, which together used to be enough for basic needs, but the floods took everything, making life difficult. Now, with the help from GiveDirectly, I can focus more on my children’s education without worrying as much about school fees. Although life was hard after the disaster, we are finally recovering, and I am grateful for the improvements. My family of eight now has a safe place to live, and we no longer have to rely on temporary shelters. We feel hopeful for the future, and I can confidently say that our lives have changed for the better."

"I have six children in school, and their education is my top priority. Recently, I used $59 from my transfers from GiveDirectly to pay their school fees, which was crucial in ensuring they would not be sent home due to unpaid fees. Also, our region is currently faced with severe drought and hunger, which has made it difficult for us to access basic necessities such as water and food from our farms. To ensure my family did not go hungry, I spent another $33 of my transfers on food, as we had none left. In addition to these immediate needs, I am also focused on building a sustainable future. I saved the remaining $10 in our local savings group, where members pool their resources to support one another. Once I receive my pooled funds, I plan to use the funds to buy chickens and goats. I envision them multiplying over time, providing us with a reliable source of income. My goal is to sell some of the animals and invest the profits back into buying more chicken and goats with the aim of selling them in the future."

"My health and well-being will remain my top priority, so in the coming year and beyond, I plan to continue using a portion of my transfers to purchase the necessary medication, refills, and special nutrition I need to maintain and improve my health. Additionally, I intend to keep investing another portion of the transfers in more goats and chickens, with the hope that they will multiply and grow in value. In the future, I can sell some of them to start a business. Due to my health condition, I am unable to do heavy work, so my goal is to open a shop where I can sell household consumables without needing much physical strength. I am hopeful that these dreams will come true, and I am deeply grateful for the support I receive from GiveDirectly."

"Some time ago, I bought a solar panel on credit for lighting purposes, and the transfers I've received have been helping me to gradually clear the debt. Recently, I used $10 of my transfers to reduce what I owe. I also have plans to become a livestock farmer, and I’ve been saving money in a merry-go-round group. Just recently, I saved $45, and once I receive my pooled funds, I plan to use them to buy goats. My hope is that the goats will multiply and grow in value, giving me something reliable to depend on in the future. In addition, I spent $9 to buy some chickens, with the hope that they will multiply so I can sell them when needed. Given the current drought and hunger in our area, I used the remaining $38 to buy food for my family to ensure we did not go hungry. I’m truly grateful for the support I’ve received and feel blessed for the assistance during these challenging times."

"Initially, I had plans of renovating my house, but things have become quite difficult and so I had to shift my priorities. The drought and hunger affecting our region has made life challenging for many of us. I used to collect building poles from the forest and sell them to people in my community who were constructing homes. But with the current hunger crisis, people are more focused on providing food for their families, leaving me with fewer customers for the building poles. This has reduced my income, and now I solely rely on the transfers from GiveDirectly. For the coming year and beyond, I plan to use a portion of these transfers to continue paying school fees for my children and buy food for my family. Additionally, where possible, I intend to invest in chickens, hoping they will multiply and grow in value. My hope is that when my children need school fees, I can sell some of the chickens to cover their costs and ensure they continue with their education. I’m truly grateful for the support from GiveDirectly, especially during these difficult times."

"My current dream is to expand the number of animals I own. These animals have proven to be a reliable way to cope with extreme weather, allowing us to sell them for school fees and food. We currently have 8 chickens and 8 goats, and I plan to grow this by purchasing more animals through my monthly transfers. I also intend to breed my goats to increase their numbers, which will provide financial support in case I face any challenges. This is a dependable way for me to improve my living standards, especially as the transfers come to an end. I also run a motorbike taxi business to help support my family, along with the assistance from GiveDirectly."

"Since completing my hairdressing course in 2014, I have never been employed and have relied on my husband Mike to support our family of five. To create my own source of income, I ventured into poultry farming, starting with just 14 chickens. I was thrilled four months ago when Mike, my husband, bought me 2 more chickens, which increased my egg production and gave me the potential for more chicks once they hatched. This small step has been encouraging, and I hope to grow my poultry business further while pursuing my passion for hairdressing."

"When I received the cash, the first thing I did was spend $56 on a bag of maize and other household food items. We needed to be food secure because my salary often comes late, and I didn’t want us to struggle with hunger again. After that, I used $65 to buy a bigger chicken coop since the old one had become too cramped for the 30 chickens we have. This new coop can fit up to 50 chickens, so it gives them more space and room to grow. I also bought a small mattress for $30 so my wife and the baby could sleep comfortably. With a new baby in the house, it’s better if they have their own bed, while I sleep on the other bed with the older children. I wanted to make everyone happy, so I used another $30 to buy clothes for my wife and the kids. Their clothes were worn out, and seeing them smile in new outfits gave me joy. I didn’t forget my brother in college—he had told me he needed money for food, so I sent him $10 for upkeep. Additionally, I spent $7 on medicine for my goats and chickens to ensure they stay healthy since they’re important to our livelihood. The remaining amount, I’ve set aside for food or any emergencies that might come up later. This way, I feel more prepared to face whatever comes next."

"With my son about to complete his secondary education, I see an opportunity to expand my poultry-rearing venture next year. I plan to build a larger chicken coop and purchase more hens, which will increase the size of my flock and, in turn, boost my income from chicken sales. Since I won’t have the pressure of school fees, I can focus on growing the business and possibly purchasing other livestock, such as goats. This will further diversify my income and provide greater financial stability. I am very appreciative of the financial empowerment that the transfers have brought to my life, allowing me to support my family and improve our livelihood."

"I have two children in secondary school, and their education is incredibly important to me as it paves the way for their future. With my recent transfers from GiveDirectly, I prioritized their schooling by spending $20 to pay their school fees, ensuring they would not be sent home for unpaid dues. As they returned to school after the holiday break, I also allocated $28 of these transfers for their transport and pocket money, helping them settle back in comfortably. Additionally, I invested $25 to purchase 10 chicken, hoping they will multiply and increase in value, providing me with a source of income when needed. Lastly, I used the remaining $29 to buy food for my family since we didn’t have a harvest this year due to drought. I am truly grateful for the support from GiveDirectly; it has made a significant difference in our lives and gives me hope for a brighter future."