"Due the poor state of my current house, I plan to build another one. This one leaks during rainy seasons. I will build a 2-roomed house at the cost of $700. I will also cement it for easy cleaning and high hygiene conditions. Meaning my family can sleep well during rainy seasons. Additionally, I plan to invest in my farm. Planting green grams will fetch me extra income through sales. Green grams do well and fetch good prices. It will also ease our food burden. Will use approximately $60. Goats do well here. Currently, I own 20 goats. Plan to add 5 more. Will use $300. A large stock gives one security during emergencies, for fees, or even for food. It supports us in a big way. They also grow faster meaning they're dependable."

"Sometimes in May, we received an adequate amount of rainfall and we were able to plant maize crops. The rains had failed for 3 consecutive seasons and it had resulted in severe food insecurity. We are so happy and optimistic about harvesting enough maize sometimes in August since the crops are doing good. We are so hopeful that we will be food secure and be relieved of the pain and stress of having to purchase foodstuffs at high prices as it is the case at the moment."

"For the past four months, I have been using my transfers to buy food and pay school fees for my four school-going children. I have a family of eight members. Because I am an ardent believer, I always pay my tithe. Due to the rise in food prices, life has been hard, and whenever I get my transfers, I always spend $10 on a merry-go-round. I use $10 to pay school fees for my two children in Primary school, Tumaini, and Emmanuel. I used the rest to buy food to supplement my household's nutritional needs. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly because I have been experiencing positive change in my way of life."

"I plan to establish my own tailoring business. This would not only provide for my own needs but also contribute to household expenses, reducing my dependence on my parents. Specifically, I aim to run the business in Mariakani, where the demand for tailoring services is high. Unlike in the village, clients in Mariakani are willing to and can afford to pay better prices, making it a more favorable location for my business. In the short term, I am focused on saving a portion of the cash transfers to acquire a sewing machine by the end of the year, which will be a crucial step toward realizing my goal."

"Life has been a challenge indeed. I am left alone to fend for my children since my husband passed on some time ago. It is a life of uncertainty and we only depend on God. Food insecurity is a major issue that is disturbing us a great deal, this has been occasioned by the depressed rainy season and as a result, the food crops that we had planted dried up because of adverse heat. We have been forced to buy at high prices that we sometimes cannot afford. It seems to get even worse as the cost of a 90 Kg bag of maize that used to retail at $36 goes for $70 at the moment, almost double the initial price. It breaks my heart a lot when I am not able to provide food for my children yet they look up to me."

"I shoulder the responsibility of being the sole provider for my family, consisting of three children. My livelihood is derived from farming and selling charcoal. However, these occupations yield limited income, often leaving me with insufficient funds to meet my family's needs, including purchasing food, paying school fees, and providing clothing. A challenging situation arose when, two weeks prior to receiving my May transfers, my three children were sent home from school due to their significant outstanding fee balances. Upon receiving the transfers, I allocated $10 towards partially settling their school fees, ensuring their return to school and enabling them to resume their studies alongside their peers. With the remaining amount of $34, I purchased food to sustain my family. The past few months have been financially demanding, primarily due to the soaring food prices. Regardless of my health condition, I exert myself tirelessly to ensure my children have something to eat. Thanks to the monthly transfers from Give Directly, I no longer experience the immense struggle I once faced in providing for my family. These transfers have alleviated a significant burden and provided a sense of relief in fulfilling our basic needs."

"Due to my old age, physical disability, and blindness, I rely heavily on my two wives to care for me as I am unable to work. Both of my wives support our family through farming and selling charcoal. However, their income is not sufficient, causing them to struggle to meet our family's needs. Consequently, I used $14 from my May transfers to purchase food for us. Unfortunately, the high prices at the shops make it difficult for us to have an ample food supply, and we often miss or skip meals to help cope with the situation. Nevertheless, I am grateful that my family now has something to eat for a week because of this contribution, considering my inability to provide for them due to my inability to work. Additionally, I used $20 from the remaining transfers to buy building stones. The current state of our two-room house is in disrepair, with weakened building poles and cracks that indicate a potential collapse. By acquiring the stones, my intention is to strengthen the house's pillars and ensure its safety, alleviating my worries about becoming homeless in the near future."

"The biggest change in my life has been being able to feed my family of four without necessarily having to sell a goat from my flock. Because there is a shortage of food, the drought has had a serious negative impact on us and raised food prices. My goats, including the one I recently bought, will be helpful in the future when it comes to providing for our other requirements."

"With the participation of my five other family members as program beneficiaries, we each contributed $10 and acquired two bundles of 12 kg of maize flour for our entire family's consumption. The soaring prices of food items are causing us significant distress, as adverse weather conditions prevent us from producing our food. Nonetheless, we remain hopeful that we will have an ample food supply for the next few months, given the promising signs we are currently witnessing. We are actively engaged in farming activities such as planting and weeding, anticipating a bountiful harvest. In addition to purchasing food, I invested $24 in buying two sheets of iron. For the past eight years, I have been residing in a modest structure that serves as our kitchen, where meals are prepared for the family. Due to unemployment, I lack a home of my own and rely on my parents for support. However, my parents, who are subsistence farmers, earn a meager income from farming and have additional obligations, such as paying my younger sister's school fees while she is still in secondary school. Now that I have acquired this financial position, I am eager to purchase building materials like iron sheets, poles, and nails. I anticipate that by early next year, I will have a spacious dwelling where I can reside."

"Life has been incredibly challenging due to the soaring prices of commodities and a decrease in financial resources. My means of earning a living, driving a motorbike, offers little respite as each day's earnings, roughly $40, bring uncertainty for tomorrow. Amidst these difficulties, receiving my transfers provided a small glimmer of hope. I immediately chose to spend $5 on new clothes, as my previous ones were worn-out and tattered. This simple act of self-care uplifted my spirits and instilled a renewed sense of confidence. With the remaining $25, I purchased food, which brought not only sustenance but also a precious sense of unity as my family shared the meal together. Though the struggle is arduous, my resilience remains unwavering. I hold onto the belief that through perseverance and resourcefulness, I can transcend these challenges and forge a brighter future for myself and my loved ones."