"I acquired a solar panel on credit, which has become a primary source of lighting in my home. Before, I used old kerosene lamps, which were costly due to the daily fuel expenses. I'm delighted that the solar panel has relieved me of the daily burden of purchasing kerosene. Whenever I receive funds, my top priority is to repay the solar panel debt, reducing the amount I owe. Over the past few months, I've managed to pay off $55 after receiving recent transfers. Additionally, I've been saving $5 every month to invest in valuable assets, particularly goats. Since I don't have any income-generating activities, I believe that owning goats will be a beneficial project that can help improve my financial situation. I also currently own and raise some chickens, and my goal is to expand into poultry farming. Lastly, I was once on the verge of malnutrition due to a lack of nutritious food. I couldn't afford three meals a day, and my health was deteriorating. I am immensely grateful to GiveDirectly because their assistance has not only transformed my household but has also restored my health. I can now enjoy three meals a day, despite the financial challenges I face."

"I allocated a significant portion of the recent transfer towards the purchase of various building materials, including building poles, with the intention of constructing a decent, iron-roofed house. I had been residing in a grass-thatched house for several years, and the journey towards building a proper home had been quite challenging due to financial hardships. Additionally, I had the responsibility of supporting my children's education, as my husband, who is now elderly, could no longer work. I relied on casual jobs to provide for the family. The recent transfer has brought a glimmer of hope into my life, as I can now begin realizing my dream of building a comfortable house. I am currently in the process of accumulating all the necessary materials to kickstart the construction. Furthermore, I utilized a portion of the funds to clear school fees for my four children, amounting to $40. Witnessing them attend school without disruptions due to fees brings me a sense of peace. Another investment I made was purchasing six chickens for $18, which I am currently raising. My aim is to establish a thriving poultry project that will serve as a source of income for me and my family. Lastly, I used the remaining funds to procure essential food items and cover the medical expenses for one of my children who had been hospitalized. The transfer played a crucial role in ensuring that I could meet these urgent needs."

"My parents have 7 children, I am among the few that have cleared school and are recipients of the Givedirectly transfers. I have been able to contribute to family needs as a result. I have been able to pay my school fees in August at $30 and bought stationery for myself, I also got stationery for my siblings and paid their school fees in July at $24. I have also been able t contribute to food purchases in the house at $10 in July and $17 in September. I was also able to buy myslef 3 chicken at $17 in September."

"I am the eldest my three siblings, my mom is a widower. My two siblings are school students and we are all dependent of my mother for financial support. I am already done with my basic education and that means that I help around financially. I used a part of my transfers to pay for my siblings school in July, I spent $15 for my brother who is in form one and $500 for my sister who is in class 6. I also was able to take my brother to hospital in September when he fell ill at $16. I also assisted with food purchases, spending $10 in August and $14 in September. I was also able to buy two chicken in August, one at $5 and the other $4. I save some amount monthly on my mobile money savings account, I saved $10 in July, I saved $15 in August and $4 in September."

"I will be finishing my secondary school education this year. I needed to have a ball in motion to ensure that I could go further that high school education. This is why I am buying chicken while making savings in the informal savings group. I would want to have more than 15 chicken and be able to grow them for sale. I would want to be a good farmer, being able to have a large flock that is healthy and is earning me an income. I also started a small grocery stall which I hope to build using this cash transfers."

"I am the second-born in a family of seven children, and my parents have worked tirelessly to ensure that my siblings and I receive an education despite our financial challenges. Despite my mother's unemployment and my father's occupation of selling water in town, my family's commitment to education is unwavering. I recently completed secondary school, but my dream of attending college has been hampered by financial constraints. Thanks to the transfers, I invested $25 in purchasing five chickens, which I intend to raise until they reach maturity. The plan is to sell them when I eventually go to college, providing me with a source of income for any necessary expenses. Additionally, I allocated the remaining $77 from the transfers to clear my siblings' school fees arrears. They had been sent home due to accumulated debts, and it brings me immense joy to report that these transfers have not only helped me but also my family in settling our outstanding debts, providing much-needed relief for my family."

"As a single mother with sole responsibility for my two-year-old child, my primary goal is to establish a reliable source of income that can support both our needs. Currently, I run a donut-baking business, and I plan to expand this venture. Additionally, I aim to start a new business focused on buying and selling charcoal, which I believe has the potential to generate greater income than my current business. To achieve these goals, I will continue my efforts to save money, as I have been doing with the previous month's transfers. Alongside my business endeavors, I also intend to build on my livestock holdings, which currently consist of two goats and ten chickens. I am confident that rearing livestock will contribute to my long-term financial security and my ability to provide for my child."

"Our home has been in a state of disrepair for many years, and I've been unable to upgrade to a better one. Instead, I've been living in a grass-thatched hut, but I'm determined to change that by building a new house. My long-cherished dream has been to live in a decent house with a sturdy iron roof. My family and I have decided to gradually purchase the necessary building materials, including iron sheets and building poles, to turn this dream into reality. To make this happen, I've been buying three iron sheets every month for $26 each, saving up for the construction of our new home. I'm planning to acquire 25 iron sheets, which should be sufficient for building our new house. Additionally, I have two high school children who had accumulated outstanding tuition fees that were putting their education at risk. I'm delighted that I was able to pay $40 towards their fee arrears, relieving them of any further interruptions due to unpaid fees. With the remaining funds, I made another investment by purchasing two chickens. I intend to raise these chickens and eventually sell them as part of a poultry project. The income from this venture will contribute to the construction of our new house, bringing us one step closer to realizing our goal."

"I am a young man with a young family. I needed to figure out how to make some money to ensure that my family was well taken care of. I had initially began a business rearing chicken but their was a Newcastle outbreak that lead to the loss of a large number of my broilers. I then decided to sell the rest off to reduce my losses and used the money to set up a retail shop. I have now been directing my attention to stabilizing this business. I used my entire July and September transfers to restock the business while in August I only spent $19 on the business, I used the rest of the money to shop for my house buying toiletries and some food items."

"Previously, I earned my livelihood as a fisherman, but the income from that occupation often fell short of meeting my essential needs. Fortunately, Give Directly has provided me with invaluable assistance by enabling me to establish a small shop in my village, where I sell basic necessities. With the transfers I received, I wisely invested $54 in acquiring goats and a chicken, which I intend to rear to maturity and sell at a profit. In addition to securing my financial future, I used $14 to purchase food for myself, as the maize we had harvested for sustenance had run out. Lastly, I utilized $34 to replenish the stock for my business, enhancing its stability and ensuring a steady source of income. I am happy that this opportunity has significantly improved my economic prospects and instilled a sense of hope for a brighter future."