"I am a father of three, working hard through casual jobs to provide for my family. My three recent transfers, amounting to $102, were a great help in addressing some pressing needs. My priority was the health of my child, who has been unwell for a while and requires regular checkups. Each visit to the doctor costs $10, and over the last three months, I spent $30 on these medical expenses to ensure my child continues to receive the necessary care and medication. Health is everything, and seeing my child get better is worth every penny. In addition to medical needs, I am committed to building a better financial future for my family. Over the last three months, I saved $45 in a local savings group, setting aside $15 monthly. This growing savings will help us during emergencies or give us a chance to invest in something meaningful later on. I also used $15 to pay school fees for my child in primary school, as education is crucial for a better future. With the remaining $12, I bought food to keep us nourished and healthy. These transfers have been a blessing, helping me meet my family’s immediate needs while planning for the future."

"In the coming year and beyond, I want to focus on educating my children. I know that education is the key to their future, and I am determined to give them the best chance in life. To make this possible, I’ve been saving $20 monthly to buy more goats, steadily growing my herd. Once the herd grows, it will be easier for me to sell goats when needed, making it less of a strain to cover school fees and other expenses. This plan gives me hope that I can secure a brighter, more stable future for my children without constant financial worry."

"In the coming year and beyond, my primary focus is on my children's education because I want them to become independent and successful in the future. To ensure this, I plan to start saving little by little to buy sheep and goats. These animals will be a valuable investment that I can sell when needed to cover their education costs. By building up my livestock, I will create a steady source of income that will stand in for my children’s school fees and other needs, helping me secure their bright futures."

"I am a father of six, relying on charcoal burning to support my family. With my three most recent transfers, totaling $102, I decided to invest wisely for the future. I used $50 to buy a goat, adding to the eight I had making the number of my goats nine. I chose to invest in goats because they are affordable to maintain and can survive the harsh climatic conditions we often face in our area. Goats also have a ready market, and I know that when the time comes, I can sell them to meet bigger financial needs like school fees or emergencies. After securing this investment, I focused on my children's education. I paid $26 for their school fees to ensure they stayed in school and continued their studies without interruptions. Finally, I used the remaining $26 to buy food for my family. Ensuring that my children are well-fed and healthy is a top priority, and this helped us meet our daily needs. These transfers have been a great relief, allowing me to plan for the future while still taking care of the present."

"Receiving $450 from GiveDirectly has truly transformed my life, and I am deeply grateful for this support. The first thing I did was use $190 to buy three sheep, as I didn’t own any livestock before and saw this as a great opportunity to start. My goal is sustainability; with time, I know the sheep will multiply and provide support for my family, especially in emergencies. They will also be a source of food through milk and, eventually, income. Next, I used $100 to pay school fees for two of my children in private primary school—a boy and a girl. Ensuring a good education for my children is my responsibility, and it brings me peace of mind knowing that there are no unpaid fees now that the term has ended. With $85, I was able to return to farming after the devastating flood. I planted maize and vegetables on a one-acre plot, and I’ve already started selling the vegetables. The income from this helps me maintain the maize farm, covering the costs of irrigation and ensuring a future food supply for our family. Any surplus from the maize will also generate additional income. Finally, I used the remaining money to buy essential food items and to fulfill a promise I made to my children: to buy them new clothes. They were thrilled, and it was a joyful moment for our family. This support has not only addressed our needs but has filled our home with happiness and renewed hope."

"I really appreciate the unconditional cash, which has allowed me to address my most pressing need—school fees. This support has relieved a significant burden and brought me peace of mind. I have no recommendations for changes, as the program has been truly helpful exactly as it is."

"My plan is to grow my livestock by breeding the animals I currently have and using my monthly transfers from GiveDirectly to purchase more. This approach will help me generate income to support and educate my six school-going children. In the coming year, I intend to focus on expanding my sheep and goat rearing. Once they multiply, I can sell some to cover my children’s school fees. So far, I have purchased three sheep and five goats, and I am thankful for this progress. My spouse and I also burn and sell charcoal to support our family, but the income is minimal. This is why I decided to start a livestock project that will provide additional income in the future."

"This coming year, I am determined to start building on a plot of land I bought a while back, situated in a safe area where it doesn’t flood. I plan to fund the construction from the proceeds of my tomato harvest, which I’ve worked hard to cultivate. With a good yield, I’m looking at around $5,000 in sales, which should be more than enough to cover the building costs I need for now—about $2,000 to get things started. The remainder, after the building expenses, will be set aside for my children’s school fees, ensuring they can continue their studies without interruption. I’m genuinely excited about both goals, as they’re steps towards building a better future for my family."

"First of all, I am deeply grateful for the support. I felt truly supported during a challenging time, as I was affected by severe floods that took away many of my belongings and disrupted my farming. Receiving $450 has been a blessing in helping me rebuild. As a farmer, my work was on hold due to the flooding, but now I’m back to farming on one acre of land. I invested $150 into this venture; since I had already bought kale seeds with the first transfer, this amount covered the cost of land preparation, planting, and repairing my generator. This generator is essential for irrigation, allowing me to manage the crops even if there’s no rain and reducing the risk of crop loss. I am already selling some of this produce and saving the earnings for future farming. My next plan is to grow beans on two acres. After setting up the farm, I focused on school fees for my three children. I used $150 to clear their unpaid fees. One of my children is preparing for the national exams, and now they can do so without the worry of debt. I am very grateful for this, as I value education deeply. With $70, I bought a goat, my first one, which will be helpful in the future, especially for school expenses. Finally, I used the remaining amount to buy food, ensuring my family has this essential supply, especially once the support ends. I didn’t know where to start after the floods, but this support has truly made a difference. I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to rebuild and provide for my family’s needs."

"My plan for this year, and in the years to come, is to invest more in agribusiness, focusing on both crop farming and livestock keeping. By growing this venture, I aim to establish a consistent source of income that will allow me to improve my household’s standard of living. This income will help me cover essential needs like school fees, food, and other immediate household expenses. I intend to use the remaining GiveDirectly transfer to make this dream a reality. Building a meaningful business that can provide stable income fills me with satisfaction and hope. I look forward to the day when I’ll be able to support my family with this venture and continue improving our quality of life."