"Since we plan to start a fruit project on our family farm, the transfers will be of great assistance. We have been able to purchase three water tanks of about 13000 liters and with the transfers, we plan to add one more. This will ensure that we have enough water for irrigation. Additionally, we plan to purchase gutters which will assist in fetching the rainwater from our roof. To be able to attain this we plan to use about $300 of the transfers. For the remaining transfers, we plan to pay for our children's school fees. We have two children Boniface and Brian who are in different colleges. The transfers will ease our work a lot and we thank God for GiveDirectly and the hope they have brought us."

"When I was young I got burned on my right leg. This has affected my ability to work like other people. It means I cannot do manual work fully. Affecting my ability to acquire some income, and also till my land. I can only depend on my goats. It's also difficult fetching water with this leg. This has made my life difficult."

"In the last month, there has been rainfall, and I am very happy. We now have plenty of water in the river for domestic use and livestock at the same time we have planted our farms. Even though we are not sure of the consistency of the rain, we hope that this year we shall harvest adequately which will save us the agony of purchasing food for the last three years."

""I am extremely grateful for the monthly stipends I receive from GiveDirectly, as they have been a financial lifeline during this difficult time. I earn a living by rearing livestock, with only five goats standing between my family of five members, including two sons and two grandchildren, and extreme poverty. Providing three meals a day has been a major challenge due to the limited income I earn from rearing livestock. When I received my April transfer, I spent $14 on purchasing food for the family, including five packets of 2kg maize flour, 1kg of beans, and 1kg of sugar, as well as some water for my own use at home. The remaining $20 was saved in a home savings group consisting of six members. Each member contributes $20 every month, and the total amount of $120 is given to one member to undertake a big project that they desire. My plan is to use the saved money to buy new pieces of iron sheets and repair my grass-thatched house. The grass on the roof is in a terrible state, leaving wide openings that allow rainwater to seep in. Building a new roof with iron sheets is a long-term solution, as they last longer. I am thrilled that with this money, I will finally have a decent house that I have been longing for, for a very long time. Once again, I would like to express my deep gratitude to GiveDirectly for their continued support, which has significantly improved my family's well-being."

"As an elderly couple with most of our children moved out and only the two youngest attending school, household tasks like fetching water from the river have been difficult for my wife, who is over 60, and myself at 74. However, when we received the second transfer, we saw an opportunity to improve our situation. We spent $210 on a large water tank that now collects rainwater from our roof, providing us with water for a whole month when full. Additionally, I used $200 to buy a heifer to add to the one I had borrowed from a neighbor, with plans to breed and sell the offspring in the future to pay for our children's school fees. I also bought construction materials for a chicken coop, and once completed, we plan to start a poultry project. Finally, the remaining amount was used to buy food for our family of five."

"Since maize farming does not thrive well in this area, I opted to farm vegetables in a green house under irrigation. I often sell the produce to the vegetable vendors in the market at a profit of $3.5 daily, which I use to support my family of ten. To extend the profits, I hope to use $300 to purchase a 10,000-liter water tank to harvest and store water for irrigating these vegetables during dry seasons. I will be happy to be recognized as the greatest supplier in this area and therefore earn more income for the family."

"Fresh water was hard to come by and pricey. I used to have to walk quite a ways to get any water. I felt the need to apply for a water connection at my home as a result. Based on that, I purchased all the plumbing supplies, completed the fitting, and paid for the meter. Even though the water has not been fixed yet, this cost me $300. They will not take long, I am sure, and I will soon have running water in my house. As a result, traveling will be less expensive and burdensome. I am thankful that GiveDirectly gave me the ability to fix a fresh water tap at my residence. Then, as my three children's end-of-term exams drew closer, I paid a $100 arrear in school fees for them. In addition, I added a $70 stock to my shop's inventory and utilized the leftover money to buy some meals."

"Since there is a water shortage in our area, I set a goal in that direction and intend to see it through. Fixing fresh tap water at my house is the next thing I want to do. At the moment, I have to travel a larger distance—nearly 90 minutes—to reach a water source. In addition to the distance, purchasing water daily is extremely expensive."

"Over the past year, my health has been deteriorating, making it challenging for me to provide for my family through my work. I suffer from teary, swollen eyes, which causes a great deal of discomfort and has affected my daily routine. As a casual laborer who sells charcoal to earn a living, I struggle to earn enough money to meet the growing needs of my family. In some cases, my family goes to bed hungry because we don't have enough money to buy food. When I received my February transfers, I was able to purchase five packets of 2kg maize flour, a kg of beans, and green grams, spending a total of $18 on food. I also bought water for personal use because water has become scarce and expensive due to the harsh weather conditions. Additionally, I was able to pay $12 towards my son's secondary school fees, which helped to reduce his outstanding balance. It always worries me when he is sent home because of the huge fees owed. Lastly, I bought a new pair of clothes to replace my two old, worn-out ones. The new clothes make me look presentable, and for a moment, no one can tell that I am facing difficult economic times."

"I depend on farming to make a living, I am married and have been blessed with five children. When I received my second transfer, my wife and I decided to prioritize paying our children's school fees, as it was the most pressing need at the time. Getting school fees for all of them at once has been challenging, so we used $300 to settle the fees for our children in university and secondary school. I also purchased a water tank for $200 to save us from the long trip to the distant stream. With the remaining funds, we spent them on food. I'm immensely grateful for the support from GiveDirectly, which has made it possible for me to achieve my goals in a short period, which was previously impossible due to financial constraints."