"My top objective when I got the second financial transfer was to build a bigger house because the one I had was cramped and undersized. Before, it was challenging for me to build a house because I relied primarily on generating charcoal and the little money I made was insufficient to even buy food daily. I was able to construct the exterior of a three-room, mud-walled house thanks to the initial transfer; all that was left to complete it was the roof. After receiving the second transfer, I spent $400 on 40 pieces of iron sheets. The roofing is now finished, which makes me glad, and I am presently repairing some doors and windows. Due to the difficulty and cost of obtaining fresh water. To get any water, I used to have to go a long way. I, therefore, felt it necessary to apply for a water connection at my house. Taking that into consideration, I spent $60 on some plumbing supplies. As of right now, I'm organizing the fitting so that the connection may happen. As a result, this will reduce the burden of traveling and the cost to source the same."

"I spent a portion of my second transfer on paying for my son's medical bills. He was involved in a road accident that almost paralyzed him. This happened when I was going through financial problems, and for a second, I thought he wouldn't be treated. He has been the family's breadwinner, and I was worried that it would be difficult for me to provide for the family's basic needs since I am jobless. I only survived with some help. I am at peace now because he was treated and is recovering well. The doctor also assured us that he would soon be back to his normal condition with time. If it were not for them, my son would still be in agony and lying in the hospital untreated. To add to that, I bought a dairy cow, which cost around $190. I am planning to spare some litres of milk for my family's consumption and sell the surplus to the dairy shops. I believe that by selling milk, I will earn an income that will help me cater to my basic needs, which has been a challenge. Finally, I was able to construct a pit latrine. Previously, my family and I used to relieve ourselves in the bushes, which was unhygienic. Therefore, most of the time, we were exposed to the risk of being infected by diseases like cholera. Having the pit latrine has ensured safety for me and my family from contracting waterborne-related diseases. What I have accomplished, words are not enough to express my gratitude towards GiveDirectly."

"Three months ago, I underwent a surgical operation, which impaired my ability to work to fend for my family. This forced me to solely rely on cash transfers for my basic needs like food and water. Moreso, as I recover, am required to take more nutritious meals including fruits and milk to regain stability. So, I set aside $14 from the recent transfer to meet my food needs. Also, whenever I receive the money, I usually save $20 through a merry-go-round club in my community. I hope to grow these savings and obtain a lump sum in a few months' time, which I will use to buy iron sheets. I want to build a new three-room house in place of the current one, which was constructed back in 1990. Am not pleased with how damaged my old house looks as it may collapse anytime from adverse weather conditions. The entire project will cost around $500, which I plan to raise through cash transfers as I do not have any other source of income. "

"When I got the transfer, my son started seventh grade for his junior high school education. The cost of attending school was high; this included paying for tuition, new uniforms, and stationery. I spent about $100 of the transfer doing that. In addition, I used $100 of the money to pay for my daughter's school fees because she also ran the risk of dropping out of her third-year university course. With the remaining funds, I purchased sand and cement to raise and cement the floor of my home. I've wanted to do this for a very long time, but I've never been able to because of money issues. My house used to be uncemented and have water leaks because of its low floor level. Since the water that could flood the house could be intolerable in the winter, especially during heavy downpours, we used to look for accommodations elsewhere."

"Old age sometimes denies one the energy to fend for the family, and therefore one has to think of alternative sources. Since I am now old, I cannot walk for long distances so as to fetch water for the household, and therefore, I plan on purchasing a 3000 liter water tank for $200 to harvest and store rainwater. I have not been able to save enough money from the milk sales, as all of the $0.8 goes toward household food and there is no surplus to attend to other needs such as this water tank. Currently, my family uses the water from the water pan to attend to all the household chores, including cooking. This water is sometimes unfit for human consumption as it predisposes one to waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and typhoid. Furthermore, even the animals drink from these water pans, and other people wash their clothes and pour back the dirty water into the water pan. If I own the water tank, then my health will not be at stake, and I will utilize the energy that I use to fetch the water to attend to other family needs."

"As the only breadwinner in my family of six, I face significant financial pressure to meet everyone's needs. My elderly husband is unable to work, so I run a small business selling vegetables and silver cyprinids. Unfortunately, extreme weather conditions have caused a shortage of vegetables, and my business is not doing well. When I received my April transfers, I decided to use the entire amount to buy food and water. Unfortunately, a 20-liter jerrican of water costs $0.5, which is expensive given how much water we use for daily chores like washing utensils, clothes, and bathing my children. Our nearby water sources have dried up, forcing us to walk up to 30km in search of water. However, I am grateful that the transfer money helped avert a hunger crisis in my family. The food I purchased will last for more than three weeks, and I am waiting to earn enough money from my business to buy more food."

"Two months ago, heavy winds blew off the roof of my house, leaving me homeless. Thankfully, my son has been kind enough to let me stay with him. However, as the rainy season approaches, I am eager to have my own home again before the rains become too intense. Although I appreciate my son's hospitality, I feel that I am infringing on his privacy, and it's time for me to find a place of my own. When I received my April transfers, I immediately spent $20 on re-erecting the building pole and started planning to purchase other essential building materials such as new iron sheets, sisal twine ropes, additional building poles, and water for mixing the mud. I am excited about the prospect of having my own house again and look forward to moving in soon. I saved $10 of the remaining funds to buy new iron sheets to replace the old and worn-out ones that let rainwater seep in during the rainy season. Finally, I spent the remaining $4 to purchase two packets of maize flour. I am grateful that the transfers came just in time to help me quickly rebuild my house. It's a relief to know that I'll be able to have a roof over my head again very soon."

"My top priority when I got the second transfer was to buy some meals. This is because I am powerless to defend myself. I mean, I'm blind. Aside from that, my five children, who I rely on, are unable to raise food crops due to the extreme farming difficulties caused by the drought in my region. To help us buy food, do casual labor to make ends meet which has been a challenge. They occasionally need to take a break because of weariness. Sadly, as we live hand to mouth, each break results in a string of missed meals. To allow them some time to rest, I chose to spend $130 to buy two sacks of maize to ensure that we have some food at home. I also used $30 to pay school fees for my grandchild who had been sent out of school for fees. Thereafter, I bought a storage water tank of 400 liters capacity for @35. I also opted to buy some furniture since I had none. I bought a medium size table and two chairs for $25 and $15 respectively. For the remaining amount, I opted to save it for the family,s emergencies."

"The past year has been challenging for me and my family as we have struggled to meet our basic needs. However, when Give Directly enrolled me in their cash program, it was a huge relief. The money has enabled me to provide a good learning environment for my youngest son, who is in his final year of secondary school. Upon receiving my April transfers, I used $10 to pay his school fees, which means he has no outstanding balance and can sit for his end-of-term exam without any worry. I also saved $20 in a savings group to use in the future to improve the condition of my house, which is in a dilapidated state, with rusty iron sheets that let in rainwater during heavy downpours. With the remaining $4, I bought two packets of maize flour to feed my family. I feel happy knowing that every month, I have something to look forward to that will help me meet my family's daily needs."

"Farming on a leasehold has proven to be a challenging task, as poor management practices often lead to significant losses. The harsh weather conditions, characterized by prolonged droughts, have made it even harder for me to irrigate my crops fully due to a lack of a generator. To address this issue, I plan to save up from my farm's proceeds and purchase a small but efficient generator that can pump enough water to irrigate my crops adequately. This investment will not only benefit my farm but also other farmers who may hire my generator for their farms."