"I have three school going children, my first is in grade five, my second is in grade 2 and my youngest is in PP2. I used my September transfers to sort out their school fee payments. I spent $20 to pay for school fees for the three of them. I set aside $10 to my village savings group and $4 went into buying sugar and soap. In October I got a goat at $30 and the $4 that was left was used to buy sugar. A bulk of November transfers will be going to a mattress purchase that I am saving towards for my children this is $30 while the $4 went into buying chicken and sugar. The mattress is to replace the old worn out mattress my children sleep on."

"I am now a proud owner of 62 fully grow chicken and 13 newly hatched chicks. I have reared chicken sold them and it has facilitated my buying goats. I now have six goats. I am working towards a bigger goal with this animals. I plan to continue with this business as long as the project continues until I am able to buy a bull and a dairy cow to ensure I am able to make an income from this two animal. The bull will be rented out during ploughing season while the dairy cow will give milk that I can sell daily."

"Five years ago, my husband tragically lost his life in a road accident when he was hit by a car. In an instant, life underwent a profound transformation for me and my seven children, as I assumed sole responsibility for their well-being. Meeting their needs became exceptionally challenging due to the struggles my soap-selling business was facing. Despite my determination to provide education, it proved to be a big struggle. Fortunately, GiveDirectly came to my rescue through financial transfers, enabling five of my children to complete their schooling, with only two left to support. Using the funds received, I allocated $39 to purchase a goat and two chickens as a contingency for emergencies. Additionally, $27 went towards acquiring food for my family, as our supplies had depleted. Recognizing the importance of self-care, I allocated $12 for new clothing, replacing worn-out and tattered garments. The remaining amount was wisely saved for future use in purchasing building materials. I am grateful for the invaluable support I have received."

"Following the short rainy season, I had to take a break from my donut-making and selling business to focus on farming. This period of inactivity shifted most of the financial responsibility to my husband, who runs a hawking business in town to provide for our four children. Fortunately, the cash transfers enabled me to contribute, alleviating some of the burden on his shoulders. I allocated $21 to cover school fees for my three children, settling the balances required by the school before closing to ensure they receive their exam reports. Additionally, I invested $23 in acquiring 10 hens along with $14 for coccidiosis medicine and spent $10 on chicken feeds for the chicks to promote healthy growth. Unfortunately, six hens succumbed to coccidiosis disease, but I remain hopeful that the remaining ones will survive and breed, eventually growing the flock. The plan is to sell them to meet the needs of my children. As Christmas approached, I used $15 to purchase clothes for the children, upholding our yearly tradition with greater ease due to the assistance from the cash transfers. The remaining funds were directed towards acquiring food items like sugar, ensuring that my family could enjoy tea for breakfast."

"Living with only my mother, who is advanced in age, has made me the primary provider for our household. I run an electronic repair business from home, but the lack of necessary equipment hampers its success, making it challenging to cover our daily expenses. The cash transfers have provided much-needed relief, helping me ensure that my mother and I have daily meals. Over the past three months, I allocated $68 for food, primarily maize flour, ensuring that hunger is not a constant concern in our home. With the Christmas period approaching, I spent $26 to purchase food supplies for the festive day, taking advantage of buying early to avoid potential price hikes as the holiday draws near. Additionally, I invested $5 in chicken feeds and $3 in coccidiosis medicine to safeguard my chickens from the outbreak in the region, preventing losses."

"I look forward to my son completing college next year, a development that will provide a welcome relief from his educational expenses. With an ample supply of food at present, my intention is to use my transfers exclusively for acquiring goats. Currently, I have two, and I aspire to expand this number with the proceeds from my ongoing chicken project. The establishment of a goat-rearing business holds the promise of significantly enhancing my income, thereby fostering greater financial stability. The anticipated outcome brings a sense of peace of mind and security, for which I am truly grateful."

"I aspire to establish a lasting legacy, a testament to the years during which I have received these transfers, persisting even after the project concludes. My intention is to construct a shelter and raise goats and chickens until they reach maturity. The forthcoming transfers will be instrumental in realizing this objective, creating an additional source of income for my family. I am genuinely pleased to have been given this opportunity to positively transform my life."

"I depend on burning charcoal and selling them for livelihood. With the money that I get from this work and my transfers, I usually support my spouse in paying for some of our bills. From the recent transfers, I spent $ 28 to pay school fees for our child who had been sent back home and my husband did not have money to spare. In addition, I used $ 30 to pay for a deposit of a sewing machine and used $ 4 as my transport when going to pick it. I'll be paying the remaining amount in monthly installments. I settled on buying a sewing machine since it has always been my desire to be self employed. Watching my husband sew and mend clothes always has also helped me develop some passion in sewing and I hope that I will be a great designer one day. Aside from this, I used $ 20 to hire the services of oxen to help in land preparation purposes in readiness for planting. Using the remaining amount, I bought two chicken at $ 8 as a way of investing this money and spent $ 12 on food to last my family for some time."

"In the upcoming year, my objective is to enhance the growth of my chicken business by expanding my flock. I view this as a worthwhile endeavor, as it not only contributes to the current success of my business but also serves as a stepping stone for acquiring goats and eventually cows in the future. I plan to allocate subsequent transfers towards realizing this goal. The progress I have achieved in this business this far brings me satisfaction, and I am eager to further stabilize and fortify it in the coming year."

"I recently spent my latest transfer wisely. I allocated $200 for buying essential food items for my family of five. Additionally, I invested in crop farming, specifically maize, and bought four chickens for subsistence farming, with plans to expand into commercial poultry. The surplus from my farming endeavors will contribute to covering school fees for my four children who are currently attending school."