"My transfers for this quarter(past 4 months) aided me during the farming season by helping to purchase farm inputs, hiring of labour and purchasing of foodstuff for the family. Our farm is too wide for us to till on our own, so we had to hire cow-driven plough for tilling and human labour for weeding. As we were busy on the farm throughout the farming season, we did not have enough time to engage in our normal income generating activity which is charcoal making and selling, so we had to fully rely on the transfers for our basic household needs. We were also forced to purchase foodstuff on credit which would again be paid for when we received the money. During this period, the transfers also ensured that our children's school requirements were catered for therefore securing their full stay in school because without remitting the requirements, they would have to be sent out of school. The transfers have been of great help to my family during this period because without them, we would not have managed to realize such a generous harvest as we would not have managed to hire the required labour and would also have to split our time between farm work and earning our daily income. It is also not a secret that without the transfers, the effects of the prolonged famine would have been clearly visible on my children through malnutrition. With enough food in our granaries, we can now focus on other projects such as constructing a better house."

"Was weeding her sweet potatoes in the garden, felt excited,slept, and the following day went to withdraw Thought of iron sheets and a cow for rearing"

"My family is very huge, but the piece of land that we own is very little. As it is, there is 7 acres to be divide among 7 sons which means each will receive only an acre or less. Considering that each of the sons also have many children, my family not exempted, it is important that we acquire extra portions of land on our own if our children to have plots to construct their homes and farm in future. Fortunately, land is still very affordable in this locality with an acre going for as low as $400, meaning with proper planning, I can acquire a parcel through the transfers. To achieve this, I must invest wisely hence the reason I am currently purchasing goats using my transfers with an aim of later selling them to purchase cows as they are easy to manage especially during drought. With single cow fetching up to $200, all I need to have is at least 2 large cows to be able to purchase my first acre after which I will start the process all over again. It would make me very proud to have such an investment by the time this project comes to an end as it will be a lifetime proof of the project's impact in our lives."

"My aspirations involve expanding my current entities. I have a vision to grow the vegetable-selling business into a kiosk. Currently, there are no kiosk shops in my community, and people have to walk more than 20 minutes to reach the trading center. This presents an ideal opportunity for me to enter this business and serve my community. Additionally, I am keen on expanding my livestock holdings to include goats and cows. Through the poultry I am raising, I plan to sell some of them to purchase goats. As the goat herd grows, I intend to sell some to acquire cows eventually. I hope that future cash transfers will continue to support these goals, which are all aimed at generating income to sustain my children's education and relieve some of the financial pressure on my husband."

"Running my business is a responsibility I take very seriously. It's not just a source of income; it's my livelihood, and I'm determined to make it thrive. I've put in a lot of hard work and dedication to ensure its success, and I have big plans for its future. One of my major goals is to expand the business further. I believe that by scaling up my operations, I can increase my profits and financial stability. This growth will also bring more employment opportunities to the community, which is something I'm passionate about. I want to contribute to the economic development of my area and create jobs for others. Additionally, my business aspirations extend to the point where I can save up enough funds to purchase a dairy cow. Having a dairy cow would be a significant asset for my family. Not only would it provide us with a steady supply of milk for our consumption, but it would also open up opportunities for us to sell surplus milk and generate additional income. To achieve these goals, I plan to continue managing my business diligently, exploring new strategies, and staying informed about market trends. With a lot of humility, I am grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me to make all these possible within the shortest time, and will uphold this newfound status going forward."

"After receiving the second transfer from GiveDirectly, my spouse and I were determined to make the most of this final chance. We went to the nearby shopping center with a well-planned budget of $200. Our first investment was in a heifer, which we hoped would boost our milk production in the future. We also purchased a sheep for $30, with the idea of using it to generate income for us. Our ultimate goal was to acquire another cow, considering our successful history in cattle rearing. To diversify our income streams, we bought six chickens for $39. These chickens were already laying eggs and provided us with a steady source of income to cover our daily expenses. We also allocated $50 for new clothing, including a sweater, a dress, two shirts for my husband, and two pairs of trousers. With $210 left, we decided to save it for household goods, including food. Our family had dwindled to just the two of us, as our children had embarked on their own journeys. These investments and improvements have brought us a sense of security and stability, ensuring a brighter future for our small household."

"I want to farm and have a cow."

"Over the next year and beyond, my objective is to focus on farming, with a specific plan to specialize in cultivating cowpeas and beans to generate additional income through their sale. To realize this dream, I intend to sell some of my goats and invest the proceeds in farming later on."

"I would like to have a long term investment, but what would that look like in a rural setting? My question since I was enrolled into this program. Now that I have straightened my life and set up a small sardines business that helps take care of my daily needs, I now have the freedom to invest my transfers in a long-term project or items that will be of great benefit to my children. After thinking long and hard, I have decided that a cow would be most ideal in this environment, but honestly I may not be discipled enough to save my monthly transfers to a point that am able to afford a cow, so I will be channeling the transfers to something more affordable. Goats. Yes, the $34 I receive monthly can comfortably buy a goat old enough to reproduce within a year of its purchase. So, while I keep purchasing more goats that I can eventually sell to raise enough money to purchase a cow, the heard I already have would be helping in the realization of my goal through reproduction. Managing a single or 2 cows is much easier than managing 10 goats and they also come with other advantages such as large scale milk production that can also be a source of income. This is why it's important to sell the goats once the number is big enough to raise enough money to purchase a cow."

"Given my paralysis in one leg, I am unable to engage in strenuous activities to generate an income. Therefore, livestock rearing remains my primary means of livelihood. My ultimate goal is to revive my livestock trading business, which was adversely affected by the drought. This drought led to the loss of vegetation and the death of some cattle and goats that I owned at that time. I aim to restart this venture as it represents my best opportunity for income generation. To achieve this, I have started by purchasing chickens, with plans to gradually expand to include goats and cows."