"I have been facing problems with my farming activities, especially during rainy seasons, due to inefficient farming tools. This delay forces me to hire oxen from my neighbors, which is expensive considering that I have four acres of land to cultivate. To improve my farming activities, I plan to buy more chickens and goats, breed them, and sell them later to have enough money to purchase my own pair of oxen. Owning oxen will help me with early land preparation and reduce the costs of hiring oxen during planting season. Utilizing my acreage fully will solve food shortages in my household as well."

"I'm planning to change my sleeping arrangement as it has not been comfortable. I have been using an old traditional bed, mats, and rags as my bedding, which have not been able to offer me a good sleep. To achieve this, I have started saving by joining a merry-go-round group where I contribute $10 every month. My goal is to purchase a new bed and mattress to replace the old bedding. Having a good quality sleep is not only beneficial for my health but also an improvement to my living standard. Once I have achieved this, I plan to invest in more livestock, such as chickens and goats. They are valuable assets that I can rely on in case of financial needs. Currently, I own four chickens and four goats."

"Living with my three grandchildren in a small house has presented numerous challenges, as the limited space often forces me to sleep on the veranda to ensure their comfort indoors. My primary objective for this year is to complete the room extension I've been working on, providing us with the much-needed additional space to live comfortably. To accomplish this, I will utilize the funds from the transfers, supplemented by the income I generate from selling firewood. Furthermore, I have invested in goats and chickens, with the hope that this venture will flourish, offering an additional source of income to support my family. The support I have received fills me with profound happiness, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities it has provided."

"My aspirations are tied to building a sustainable future for myself through poultry farming. While I am currently in college, I recognize the importance of laying the groundwork for financial stability once I graduate. My plan involves utilizing the monthly cash assistance from GiveDirectly to save up and kickstart my poultry farming project. With diligent care and strategic planning, I aim to grow my poultry business to the point where I can exchange the chickens for goats, gradually building up assets that will serve as a foundation for my future endeavors. This venture represents not only a means of income but also a pathway towards self-sufficiency and independence as I navigate my journey beyond college."

"My goal is to construct a concrete skirting around my mud-walled house. Currently, I share the space with my two goats, and their horns sometimes damage the mud walls. Also, the recent rains have added to the deterioration of the walls. Since cash transfers are my primary source of income right now, I plan to invest in this project to ensure a stable and secure house. I also have a plan to start rearing chickens. I used to own a large flock, but unfortunately, it perished due to a coccidiosis outbreak in my area. However, I am confident that when I resume rearing, I will be able to take necessary preventive measures to avoid losses like I experienced in the past."

"I am currently relying on monthly transfers to educate my five children. One of them is in high school, while the others are in primary school. Given the difficulty in securing casual construction jobs these days, I believe it's the transfers that will ensure that my children stay in school. Raising their fees, particularly for my son in high school, has been a challenge for me, especially while trying to provide for other essential needs such as food. Therefore, I plan to use these transfers to pay the school fees on time and ensure that my children are not sent home due to a lack of fees. I also plan to invest in rearing more chickens and letting them multiply. By doing so, I will be able to supplement my meagre earnings from casual jobs since I can readily sell them to meet my financial needs."

"I have been living in a grass-thatched hut for many years, but my dream is to live in a house with an iron roof. At first, this seemed impossible due to our poor financial status. I make a living by selling charcoal, while my husband does casual construction work, and we also have two children to support, one in high school and one in primary school. However, since we started receiving monthly transfers, the burden of paying for our children's school fees has been greatly reduced. As a result, I have been able to use $50 of the recent transfers to purchase four pieces of iron sheets for our new house. I plan to buy more building materials as we accumulate more funds, with a target of at least 30 iron sheets. I am happy to say that I have already managed to buy 15 iron sheets, and I am confident that my husband and I will be able to achieve our goal of building a decent iron-roofed house. In addition to this, I used $34 of the recent transfer to pay for my children's school fees, and I am glad to see them comfortably studying. I also bought four chickens, which I am breeding to sell them and buy goats. So far, with the money I earned from selling the chickens, I have been able to buy five goats. Lastly, I spent the remaining amount on buying food for my family, ensuring that we have enough to eat and can comfortably have three meals a day."

"My everyday goal revolves around ensuring that my child's education remains uninterrupted, ensuring timely payment of fees and providing all necessary school supplies without delay. However, my long-term aspirations extend to owning a substantial herd of livestock and expanding my grocery business. As the project's conclusion approaches, my priority is to achieve complete financial independence, supported by a stable income and lasting investments. To realize this, I plan to expand my grocery business by diversifying my stock and introducing new products that are in high demand within the community. Currently operating from my home, I envision constructing a centralized shop in the future to attract a broader customer base and enhance profitability. Regarding livestock, I view it as a long-term investment strategy. While direct purchases of larger animals like goats and cows may be out of reach initially, I have adopted a gradual approach by starting with more affordable options such as poultry, including chickens and geese. These birds are eventually sold to accumulate funds for acquiring goats. In the future, these goats will serve as a financial safety net, providing a means to raise funds during times of economic hardship. By combining short-term business expansion with long-term livestock investment plans, I aim to secure my financial future and achieve self-sufficiency as the project draws to a close."

"Despite possessing a stretch of land fit for conversion into a farm, my advancing age renders me unable to utilize it fully. Nevertheless, I wish that this land could still prove beneficial if I were to introduce livestock, allowing them to graze and utilize its productivity with minimal effort on my part. In the coming year and beyond, my focus will be on nurturing the few livestock I currently have, comprising chickens and goats. These resilient animals thrive even in harsh conditions, and I am hopeful that they will multiply, serving as a valuable asset for buying foodstuff in the future when I am no longer able to work actively."

"My goal for the coming year and beyond is to become a successful goat farmer. I'm taking steps toward this dream by starting with chicken farming, knowing that five grown chickens can be exchanged for a goat. Right now, I have two goats, but by the end of this year, I aim to increase my herd by adding three more. With determination and careful planning, I believe I can achieve my dream of expanding my livestock and building a sustainable livelihood through goat farming."