"Since goats do well here and we also have enough grazing land. They are also very expensive and easy to sell. We plan to buy about 10 goats, they breed faster here. This will support us in the future. One goat costs about $50. I also have a leaking roof. We need to repair it and buy some materials. It will cost about $50 to complete. I also need some household items such as a bed, mattress and others. That will cost an additional $100. To also ensure we have a constant supply of milk for domestic use. We need a cow, one costs about $200. This will help us make tea daily and reduce the cost of buying milk."

"After receiving our second transfer, my wife and I recognized the need for a dairy cow in our household. The high cost of purchasing milk daily, at $0.7 per liter, was a significant financial burden. The cow we had previously was still too young to provide milk, and it would have taken years for it to mature. Therefore, I invested $400 in acquiring a cow, a step that was previously financially out of reach for us. We rely on our farm for our livelihood, and our limited income was primarily spent on essential needs. We are blessed with five children. Additionally, I used $130 to complete the construction of our house, which had been left incomplete due to a lack of funds after the first transfer. I am now filled with joy and relief knowing that we have our own cow, which will help reduce our daily expenses significantly."

"I bought cows because they can help keep my safe."

"I want to have built a house and sell my cows to buy a motorcycle."

"My biggest worry is educating my children. I am a window with two children in university and college. It's difficult paying their school fees. I depend on casual labour to support them and also through selling my livestock. This has led me to loose most of my cattle. I now have only 6 cows. It's really difficult educating children, but it also gives them a better future."

"For many years, my primary means of making a living was through the production and sale of charcoal. However, this livelihood was far from dependable. It demanded considerable physical strength, which, given my age, I am no longer capable of sustaining. Now, faced with the absence of a reliable source of income, I have a plan to secure my financial future: I intend to invest in more goats, raise them, and capitalize on their reproduction to generate income. Currently, I am the proud owner of ten goats and a few cows that I am diligently caring for. These animals provide me with a financial safety net, ready to assist in times of urgent financial need. Additionally, even when the program concludes, I will possess valuable assets to fall back on. To achieve this financial stability and transformation in my life, I am committed to saving a portion of the monthly transfers I receive. This strategy will help me work toward my goal of buying more goats and securing a brighter future for myself."

"The Givedirectly transfers are allowing me find ways of generating income. My husband had cows which I rear but since I started receiving this transfers I have been able to invest into getting my own animals. In July I got a sheep at $25. I also was able to pay for my children school fees over a number of months, I spent $10 in July, I bought uniform worth $20 in August and paid school fees again in September of $14. I have also saved in August and September towards a big project I have laid our, I have saved $10 in August and $20 in September."

"Upon receiving the third and final transfer from GiveDirectly, I had a lot of plans in mind and was determined to make the most of it. I decided to invest $280 in purchasing a cow, which I hope will prove valuable not only for milk production but also for covering school fees for my three children through the sale of her offspring. My family and I were excited to upgrade our wardrobes, so I spent $50 on buying new clothes for my wife and children, replacing our old ones. Additionally, I spent $105 on acquiring three more goats to add to our existing herd, viewing it as a long-term investment to help cover school fees for my children and other household expenses. With the remaining $15, I purchased household goods, which served as a supplement to my earnings from casual labor, since finding such work had become increasingly challenging in recent times."

"We have lived in a dilapidated house for a long time. It's a matter of urgency that we build a better one. As a family, we intend to build a 2-roomed iron sheet house. Additionally, we want to cement the floor for easier maintenance and cleanness. This means we can sleep well and also host our visitors worryless. The house will cost approximately $600 depending on the cost of materials and labour. To also secure our futures, we need to buy a cow. Cows produce more milk which we can also sell. They fetch good prices, one liter costs about $1. A good cow is sold for approximately $200. Their numbers will also grow leading to future sales to solve other emergencies. Due to food insecurity and the elongated drought. We must buy some food items such as maize, beans, sugar and other essentials.This will give us stability and reduce our stress of buy food daily. The cost of food has been rising. We plan to spend the rest of the transfer for food safey."

"Due to the poor state of our current house. We plan to build a 2-roomed whole rounded house. It's our intention to use iron steel poles. This will ensure that termites do not destroy the structure. It will give us peace of mind having such a house. It will cost approximately $700. I also have enough grass on our farm. It'll be easier feeding livestock, and also milk is expensive. We plan to buy two cows, to provide us milk for sale. One liter of milk costs about $1. Their numbers will also grow which we can sell for extra income. One cow sells at approximately $200. We believe we can sustain ourselves with livestock farming."