"My spouse and I rely on casual jobs for income—my spouse hawk toothbrushes, and I sells omena. With four school-going children, prioritizing their education is crucial, as education is widely acknowledged as the foundation for success. Therefore, I allocated $45 of my transfer to cover their school fees, ensuring they remain in school rather than being sent home for fee arrears. Additionally, our household was running low on food, prompting me to spend $3 to ensure we had enough to eat. With the remaining $27, I split the funds between savings for future emergencies and investing in a goat. I chose to invest in a goat because it offers the potential for multiplication, allowing me to sell its offspring in the future to support my children's education fees. This strategic investment helps secure a more stable financial future for my family."

"With $34 of the quarterly transfers, I paid off the debts incurred from giving my late wife a proper send-off last year, bringing me some peace of mind. Investing in the future, I used $35 to purchase a goat, knowing that it would not only multiply but also serve as a financial safety net in emergencies. As a casual laborer repairing local hoes, my income is unpredictable, so I rely on my son, who sells vegetables, for support. Additionally, I spent $10 on buying hens, hoping they'll multiply and provide a source of income. The remainder of the transfer went towards buying flour to sustain our family, especially when my son couldn't provide during the quarter. These transfers have been a blessing, helping me navigate through tough times and plan for a more secure future."

"In the next few months and years, my big goal is to build a new house with two rooms. The one I live in now is really old and rusty. To make this happen, I'm counting on my SILC (Savings and Internal Lending Communities) group savings. This way, I can gather the materials needed for building. By the end of the year, I believe I'll have saved up enough. Once the house is finished, I'll be so happy to expand my flock of goats. They'll help me out financially in the future. I don't expect much financial support from my daughter because she's responsible for educating my youngest kids since am not employed."

"Initially, I had considered starting a small hotel business to generate daily income and support my family. However, I realized that saving enough for this venture would take a considerable amount of time, especially given the financial constraints my family faces. I was concerned that I might be tempted to use my savings for other urgent needs, jeopardizing my goal of opening a shop business. Instead, I decided to invest in livestock, specifically goats, with the money I save. I plan to start with two goats, which will multiply over time through breeding. Once I have a sufficient number of goats, I can sell some to raise capital for my dream hotel business. I am committed to saving a portion of my monthly transfers and combining it with earnings from casual jobs to achieve this goal. Investing in goats allows me to demonstrate serious commitment to this project while building a sustainable source of income for the future. Ultimately, I envision using the profits from goat farming to transition into my desired hotel business, providing a stable and fulfilling livelihood for my family."

"During a challenging phase in my son's education, he faced frequent dismissals from school due to outstanding fees. My husband manages a modest enterprise vending local toothbrushes, generating insufficient income to meet our family's needs, particularly concerning our son's schooling expenses. Unfortunately, my health prohibits me from pursuing labor-intensive employment due to severe chest pains. Consequently, I invested $60 in acquiring a goat and $20 in six hens, anticipating their reproduction to yield funds for future school fees. Allocating $10 for tilling a portion of my two-acre plot in preparation for the upcoming rains, I set aside $5 in a savings collective for potential emergencies. The remaining $41 was utilized to procure essential provisions and detergents for our household, ensuring we never go hungry. I am profoundly grateful for the financial assistance, which has enabled my son to sustain uninterrupted education."

"Livestock holds a special place in my heart, as they offer opportunities for earning income. With my upcoming transfers, I intend to invest in goats, recognizing their potential for multiplying and generating revenue. My plan is to expand my livestock holdings and eventually exchange some goats for an additional bull. Having two bulls will significantly enhance my income-generating capacity, as I can offer plowing services to others in the community. This diversification of income sources marks a significant shift from my previous reliance solely on my son for financial support. I am immensely grateful for the financial assistance provided by the transfers, as they have empowered me to pursue economic opportunities and achieve greater financial independence. This newfound ability to earn money brings me great joy and satisfaction, reflecting the positive impact of the transfers on my life."

"In the coming year and beyond, my primary focus will be on maximizing my farming efforts by ensuring I have all the necessary inputs and conducting timely farming activities to enhance productivity. This is because my son, who is currently in grade seven will be transitioning to high school soon, and that means more money for school fees. So, I need to plan carefully. To secure the funds required for my son's education, I intend to leverage the proceeds from my farming to invest in goat farming. Currently, I already own three goats, which I purchased using the initial transfer. The venture has proven promising, with two of the goats already giving birth. Our warm climatic conditions are good for their multiplication as they reproduce faster, and they have shown resilience even during drought. By expanding my goat farming, I aim to generate sufficient income through their sale to cover my son's school fees."

"I have seen livestock farming doing well in our area specifically for goats, so I opted to borrow ideas from a neighbor who was balancing her priorities well. Instead of receiving money and concentrating on food, I opted to start an investment which by the end of this year I would like to account for it. Therefore, I plan to start goat raring. I chose goats because they are affordable in terms of the cash I receive from GiveDirectly and also they do not require much attention. Their ability to survive in a drought-prone area also encouraged me to invest in them knowing that I will not have a tough time looking after them. I now have 2 goats with hopes that when they multiply they will act as my financial security."

"As a small-scale farmer, I've been carefully planning how to use the quarterly transfers from GiveDirectly to improve my life. With $30, I bought 3 iron sheets, laying the foundation for the house I dream of building; currently, I endure the discomfort of a leaking grass-thatched house. Allocating $4 for a hoe will ensure I'll be ready for the upcoming season, as farming is my main source of livelihood. Investing $15 in 3 hens holds promise for the future; I hope to sell their offspring and eventually purchase a goat, providing financial security. Another $20 went into preparing my land for farming, tilling it with an ox plough in anticipation of the next season's crops. With the remainder, I bought food to sustain myself, as I am alone without a family to support me. As both a subsistence farmer and a casual worker, earning a meager income from charcoal burning, these transfers are a vital lifeline in my journey towards a better future."

"I have got big plans for the goat I am planning to buy and rear. It is going to keep me busy, and I am counting on it to multiply so I can sell them in the future. That will come in handy when my grandchildren need help with school fees or other expenses. As an elderly woman, I cannot work, so these goats and my chili farming are my main hopes. Even though my chili nursery did not produce any sprouts this year, I am not giving up. I still have hopes in the next year when I prepare another nursery and I am happy that my life is now getting a good direction"