"My primary objective is to strategically plan and invest in goat farming, a venture I've already begun with the assistance of these transfers. Growing up in a family where steady financial support is hard to come by, careful planning is essential to prevent falling into debt. My husband works as a tout, but his earnings vary based on the number of passengers, making his income unpredictable. This instability is particularly frustrating with school-going children, as we need to ensure their fees are paid on time and meet their basic needs. To reach my goal, I intend to save $20 from my monthly transfers each month. This savings will enable me to invest in goat rearing and establish a more secure financial future for my family. As the goats breed, I plan to sell some to fund my children's fees and manage any financial crises without having to rely on my neighbors for help. Thanks to these transfers, life has become more manageable, and I am committed to avoiding a return to poverty. I am dedicated to using this income to support my children's schooling and provide them with a brighter future."

"Upon receiving my latest transfer, I used $24 to purchase food for my family, as we were in urgent need at that time. I prioritized this expense due to the lack of food in the house. I also contributed $18 to our merry-go-round group, as it is easier to save in a collective than to save individually, where access to funds can be tempting. I plan to utilize my savings to invest in an income-generating venture once it’s my turn to receive. Additionally, I bought one mature goat, as I aim to expand my goat-rearing project, which I consider essential for my financial security when these transfers come to an end."

"When I received my second transfer from GiveDirectly, the first thing I did was clear my son's high school fee arrears of $200. He had been sent home multiple times and often missed classes because we couldn't afford to pay. I rely on charcoal production to make a living, but with a young daughter to care for, I could not go to work. The transfer allowed me to settle the fees, ensuring my son could attend school. In addition, I decided to invest in livestock, as it is something that has helped me in the past, especially when I need to pay fees. Unfortunately, a disease outbreak this year reduced my livestock to fewer than ten. To diversify my income and prepare for future needs, I bought three goats for $60 each. I see this as a long-term investment, knowing that as the goats multiply, I can sell them and use the money for things like school fees and other household expenses. Food was also a major challenge for my family of seven children. With my crops destroyed by floods and my dependence on charcoal production, it was difficult to provide for them. On top of that, my husband has many wives, so he provides very little support. I spent $70 from the transfer on food, which greatly eased the burden of feeding my children and helped us get through this difficult time. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"My primary objective is to make sure my children can pursue their education to higher levels, enabling them to have a brighter future. To reach this goal, I plan to allocate part of my transfers to acquire more goats while using other portions to cover their school fees. I am optimistic that by adding more goats to my resources, they will multiply over time. Eventually, I aim to exchange these goats for cows, which will also appreciate in value. When the opportune moment arises, I will sell the cows and utilize the profits to support my children's education, as they can yield a substantial return. I am very thankful to GiveDirectly for providing me with this chance to enhance my family's assets. This assistance will enable me to establish a sustainable approach to ensure my children can continue their education and achieve a better future."

"One of my sons gifted me a goat 2 months ago. It gave birth to a female kid one week ago and I am filled with happiness because this little miracle is a sign of hope and good things to come. I believe my little herd will grow to support me in times of financial challenges."

"I am committed to managing my health condition with care and following my doctor’s instructions to ensure I live a healthy life. To do this, I plan to use a portion of my monthly transfers to buy the medicine I need, making sure I stay on top of my treatment. At the same time, I have always dreamed of owning livestock, so I also intend to use part of my transfers to purchase more goats and ducks. I am hopeful that over time, these animals will multiply and provide me with a reliable source of support, especially when this program eventually comes to an end. I am truly grateful for the assistance I have been receiving,as it is giving me the opportunity to build a better future for myself."

"I am a crop farmer, and where I live, accessing water is difficult due to the distance, which makes farming unproductive without rains. With my transfer, I rented an acre of land for $100, and I plan to plant maize this month. Additionally, I bought three goats for $65, $62, and $60. I didn’t own goats before, and I have always wanted to have them, but money was a challenge, especially since crop farming sometimes fails. I have also been buying milk, which is costly, but with this investment, I will no longer need to buy milk. To diversify my income, I used my first transfer to buy 30 chicks after losing 35 to floods. They used to help me a lot, especially with daily needs. With this transfer, I bought their feed for $30 and medicine for $50 to keep them healthy. Previously, their coop was made of polythene, and they could roam freely, which sometimes led to losses or attacks by animals. To protect them better, I bought wire mesh for $18 and paid $5 for labor to construct a safer coop. Furthermore, my house needed repairs. The back wall was made of mud, while the other sides were iron sheets. I have had to repair the mud wall frequently, especially during the rains when it kept falling apart. Smearing the wall was also difficult. I bought five iron sheets for $60 and spent $15 on labor to replace the mud wall. The remaining money went to food, as we did not have enough. I bought a bag of maize and other food items to sustain us. Thank you, GiveDirectly!"

"In my community, farming has always been our way of survival, and I wanted to invest wisely in agriculture to support my children’s education. I spent $170 on onion and bean seeds, hoping that a good harvest would provide enough income to cover school fees and our family’s needs. Additionally, I used $100 directly to pay off school fees, which brought me relief, as I usually depend on farming and charcoal burning to raise these funds. We used to plant Kenyan seeds, which always gave us a decent return, but the recent floods destroyed my two-acre maize field, making this transfer a lifeline for our survival.I decided to use $90 to buy two goats, as they’re valuable for both milk and income. When the goats start producing milk, we’ll have enough for our family and some to sell, allowing us to reinvest in farming or cover other school expenses. I also put $45 toward food, as our supplies were very low after the flood wiped out our crops. Without GiveDirectly’s support, it would have been nearly impossible to provide my children with nutritious meals, and I’m truly grateful for this assistance in these tough times.The remaining funds went toward improving our home. I bought a small sofa set for $40, giving us a comfortable place to sit, and I spent $5 on new curtains, making our home feel a bit more welcoming. As a single mother with three children, life has been challenging since my husband passed away. This cash transfer has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders, and I feel motivated to rebuild and improve our lives. Each investment I’ve made has brought us a step closer to a stable future, and I’m hopeful that things will keep improving from here."

"I am unable to take on any job that demands my full attention because I need to care for my sick child. My child has epilepsy, and it’s important for me to be present. Consequently, I spend most of my time on childcare. I want to establish a business that I can manage from home, which will help me balance my household duties while allowing me to focus on my child. I've considered starting a chicken farming business. Additionally, I plan to use part of my funds to purchase more goats. My aim is to raise about 10 breeding goats, and along with the chickens, this will create a source of income for me. Once these projects are up and running, I will feel less stressed, even when my income ends, as I will have an investment to depend on. If I encounter financial difficulties, I can sell some of my livestock to generate money for my support instead of relying on relatives."

"As a mother of two, my greatest joy is witnessing my children receive a quality education and improve their lives. To ensure they can attend a good school, I am pursuing a college education in tailoring. My goal is to start my own tailoring business after graduation, which I believe will provide a better income for my family. Thanks to GiveDirectly's support, I am able to cover my school fees. Once I finish my studies, I intend to launch my business, and I am confident that the income I generate, along with these transfers, will significantly assist in purchasing building materials, enabling us to construct our dream house. Currently, we live with my mother-in-law because my spouse and I got married when he didn't have a house. With over a year remaining in my college education, I am focused on opening my business afterward. Once my spouse and I manage to build our dream house, I plan to invest in livestock, particularly goats, to further secure our financial future."