"I have a family of six members with four being children and we all live in a one room house. The children are abit grown up and I feel there is no privacy. My husband does ministry work at church and he has not started gaining any income as for now and I do subsistence farming with very little income. I will use $300 to add one more room to the house so that children can have their own room. I will also use $700 to build a chicken structure and by more chicken to start poultry farming. This has been my dream for quit long but due to financial challenges I could not start this investment. I already have ten chickens and I feel if I add more then I will meet the market requirement and earn a sustainable income. I intend to make $100 per month. This will help me raise school fees for the children and also buy food."

"I am a single mother of five. All my children are school going. My only means of earning money is by burning charcoal. This kind of work can only make you $5 weekly which is not sufficient to take care of all the families financial needs or even investing. Being a recipient of Givedirectly transfers makes life more bearable. I spent $20 in July and September to take care of school fees for three of my five children. I was also able to buy a few animals in this period, in July I bought a single chicken at $5, and a kid goat at $23, while in August and September I bought four chicken each at $5. I bought shoes for three of my children for school in July at $4.5."

"As a housewife, my ability to contribute financially to our family was limited in the past, as my husband, a hotelier, shouldered the financial responsibilities. However, since Give Directly enrolled us into this program, I have found a way to make a meaningful financial contribution. I've taken up chicken farming to supplement our income, investing $25 in quality chicken feed. Additionally, I used $26 to settle an accrued school fee debt, ensuring that our children can continue their education. Unfortunately, I developed a leg problem that required immediate attention, leading me to spend $34 on X-rays and medication. The good news is that I'm on the road to recovery, and I couldn't be happier about the positive changes I've been able to bring to our family's financial situation."

"As the sole provider for my family of seven, which includes my wife and five children, I engage in the buying and selling of poultry birds, particularly hens, in order to generate profit. However, the earnings I make from this venture are insufficient to cover the increasing expenses associated with my growing family. Nonetheless, I am extremely grateful that the funds from the transfers have provided some relief, allowing me to address several important expenditures, such as paying school fees for my children. For instance, I allocated $34 to cover the school fees of my eldest son, who is currently in fourth grade. Unfortunately, he was temporarily expelled from school and spent four days at home, unable to attend his studies. I am relieved that he has been readmitted and is now able to continue his education. In addition, I directed $30 towards boosting my chicken-selling business, enabling me to purchase more birds and increase my potential profits. Lastly, I allocated the remaining $38 to purchase food for my family. With the limited income I earn, it has always been a challenge to provide daily meals for my family. However, thanks to the transfer money, my family had the assurance of regular meals and never went hungry. The financial support from the transfers has been instrumental in alleviating some of the burdens I face as the sole breadwinner, enabling me to fulfill my responsibilities as a provider and ensuring the well-being and education of my children."

"Receiving the cash transfers means so much to me and my family. I plan to use the first cash transfers to provide for my two newborn babies. I will purchase food and clothes for both my children and me. I intend to spend about $10 of the transfers on this. I also intend to lease 1 hectare of land which I will plant maize. With $400 of the transfers, I will accomplish this. Planting maize will provide me with the much-needed food and cash to take care of my children. For the remaining amount, I intend to build an iron sheet house and purchase two goats and some chickens. I'm living in a grass thatched house which is not conducive since it gets destroyed by rains and livestock eat the grass. The goats and chicken will be my investment that I'll sell whenever I'm in need in the future. When I receive the cash transfers I believe my life will surely transform positively."

"The plan I have for the transfers is to purchase food, utensils, and other household products such as sugar, cooking fat, and salt. I intend to use the first transfers on this. Additionally, I will purchase a few chickens which I will rare. This will provide me with eggs that I'll sell to my neighbors and be able to make some extra cash. For the second transfer,r I intend to build a new house which will cost me about $400. This is important for me because the house I currently occupy is in a bad state and whenever it rains it gets destroyed. I don't feel safe in this house since I fear it might fall every time it rains. With the new house, I will live in a good iron sheet house. For the third transfer, I intend to invest in farming. I'm planning to lease a 2-hectare land in which I'll plant maize. This will not only provide me with food but will also offer me a chance to make more money for sustenance."

"I allocated $50 from my recent transfers to cover the educational expenses of my six grandchildren, all of whom are currently enrolled in school. Their father faced difficulties and was unable to meet their tuition fees on time, especially after almost losing his job. I'm delighted that despite their father's challenges, their education continued without any interruptions due to unpaid fees, providing me with a sense of relief. Additionally, I invested $74 in acquiring livestock, including two goats and two chickens, which I am now raising. My long-standing goal has been to invest in livestock, as they have the potential to multiply, ultimately allowing me to generate income from them. At present, I take pride in owning a total of five goats, as they are relatively easy to care for and manage. I firmly believe that beyond addressing my immediate financial needs, these livestock will also serve as a safeguard for my grandchildren's future education. With the remaining funds, I purchased essential food items and household necessities that were lacking in my home."

"I am happy that the recent planting season was a success, providing my family with enough food that should last us for the remainder of the year. This allows me to allocate funds to areas other than food, something that was quite challenging when food was a constant concern for the family. My particular interest is in livestock keeping. With the assistance of the cash transfers, I have been able to acquire nine chickens and three goats. However, my goal is to focus more on raising goats to build a more sustainable form of wealth. Even when the cash transfers come to an end, I am confident that selling these animals will generate the funds needed to meet my needs and those of my family. Besides, this will reduce my dependence on my son."

"The cash transfers impact on my life has been truly transformative, beyond my expectations. Initially, these funds enabled me to establish a poultry-keeping venture, which later bore a vegetable-selling business that I now run in our village. Thanks to this support, I can now actively contribute to our family's needs, including food and school fees for my two children. This has lightened the financial burden that was previously solely on my husband's shoulders, and I cannot express enough gratitude for this change. To sustain and expand both of my ventures, I typically allocate a portion of the cash transfers towards acquiring more stock and chickens. Over the past three months, I invested $28 to purchase seven additional layer hens to enhance the flock, which currently numbers at least 40 chickens. I also used $20 to buy more stock for my business, aiming to increase profits and expand the range of items I sell. Furthermore, I allocated $40 to clear outstanding school fee balances for my children, as I am determined not to let them miss classes due to unpaid tuition fees. The remainder of the money was set aside for potential financial emergencies. I am happy that I now have a source of income, can secure my children's education, and even manage to save a small amount for unforeseen expenses."

"I am filled with gratitude towards GiveDirectly, as their support has made it possible for my daughter to attend college. She is currently in her first year, pursuing a three-year hairdressing course. My main concern has always been the daunting task of raising tuition fees for her education, especially given my lack of a stable source of income. The relief and happiness I felt when receiving this support were immeasurable, as it allowed her to enroll in school. Since I started receiving financial assistance, I have made a commitment to contribute $20 every month to ensure that her education continues uninterrupted. My spouse is also a beneficiary of the program, and together, we have overcome the challenge of financing our daughter's education. It brings me great peace to see her thriving in her studies, and my fervent hope is to witness her achieve her educational aspirations and become self-reliant after completing her course. Furthermore, I allocated a portion of the assistance, $14, to purchase four chickens, which I am now raising at my homestead. I currently own ten chickens, and my goal is to expand this venture, eventually exchanging them for goats as they multiply. Lastly, I used the remaining funds to purchase building poles and renovate my house, which had suffered damage on one side. Thanks to the renovations, my home is now in a habitable condition, and I no longer worry about the impact of rain as I did before."