"For the past three years, there has been a consistent drought. I have not harvested anything from my farm since 2019 forcing me to purchase food staff. I do casual jobs to make ends meet and the $ 2 I earn per day is only enough to purchase maize flour. My children sometimes fail to go to school when they do not get something to eat for a day. It pains me when I see them crying due to hunger yet I cannot do anything to put enough food on the table."

"With old age comes a lot of challenges since I cannot fend for myself. I depend on my children to provide for all my basic needs. Sometimes it is difficult to get three meals a day and other days I sleep hungry. This has affected my ability to do simple chores since I lack enough strength. Food insecurity is the main challenge."

"Food insecurity is the greatest challenge die to the prolonged drought. I do casual jobs to earn a living, and this earns me an average of $9 a week. With the high cost of living, it's not enough to sustain all my needs including food. Sometimes I am forced to take one meal a day and this has deteriorated my health. If I had a well-paying job, I would be able to purchase enough food, and also with consistent rain I can harvest enough maize from my small farm."

"As a pastor of my church, my heart was not at peace seeing my congregation worshiping in a grass-thatched building. Upon getting the second transfer, I opted to donate to the church by buying 20 pieces of iron sheets costing $200. I felt I had fulfilled my calling since the congregation now worships under an iron sheet roofed building which has brought a nice image of the church. I also bought 10 plastic chairs for $70. These chairs not only serve me at my home but also assist the church members on Sundays since the members used to seat on logs. Thereafter, I bought a mattress for $140 because I used to sleep on a tattered empty sack. As of now, I am happy that I sleep well courtesy of GiveDirectly. For the remaining amount, I made shopping for some maize flour and rice so that I have food security at home. This eased the burden of my son whom I depend on and he is just a casual laborer."

"In the next one year and beyond I will be concentrating on payment of school fees for my two children who are at a very critical stage in their studies. One of them is in form four while another one is in form three. I also have a third one that is joining secondary school as from next year. I will keep relying on loans that I take from loan lending institutions to pay their school fees in time and award them an opportunity for a better life ahead. I am so grateful that I can always rely on the monthly transfers that I receive to make such commitments. This is a huge help to me and my family and a change that we will never forget nor take for granted."

"Food shortages and raising fees have been my major financial challenges, which the transfer has so far helped me overcome. The little earnings from the casual construction jobs that I normally do have not been enough to effectively buy food as well as school fees for my children. I have eight children, and two completed their primary education, but due to a lack of money, they couldn't join high school. I was hoping for a sponsorship, but it failed. I am planning to enrol them in a vocational training college to pursue a tailoring course, in which I believe they will gain some skills that will enable them to be self-reliant in the future. Three of my children are also currently in school, and my goal is to ensure that they complete their primary and high school studies as I continue receiving the monthly transfers. I do not want them to end up like their older sisters. I am currently engaged in farming since the rains are now adequate, and I am hoping to get a good harvest. Once I have enough food in my household, I will no longer spend much on food. This will give me an opportunity to fully educate my children through the transfers."

"I have been burdened with a debt that has accumulated from my late mother's medical expenses. It has been a constant source of worry and stress, but I am determined to finally complete paying it off in a few months. In addition to clearing my debt, I have a plan to expand my farming activities. I have been considering buying some sheep to add to my livestock. My goal is to have three healthy and productive sheep by the end of the next year. I believe that having sheep will not only diversify my farming ventures but also serve as an asset in times of emergency. As a single mother, my daughter's future is of utmost importance to me. Currently, she is in class eight, and my dream is to ensure that she receives a quality education. Therefore, I am determined to save enough money to send her to high school next year. Education is the key to a brighter future, and I want to give her every opportunity to succeed."

"I aim to save enough money to acquire five goats for rearing purposes. Additionally, I plan to sell these goats at the local market. This will provide me with additional streams of income and help me achieve greater financial stability. To facilitate the transportation of the animals to the marketplaces and increase my income opportunities, I aim to secure a motorcycle on a loan basis. With a motorcycle, I can transport livestock to the market more efficiently. Furthermore, on other days, I can utilize the motorcycle to operate a taxi business, supplementing my overall income. "

"Currently, my primary goal is to complete the construction of my house. It has been damaged for the past year, and I fear that it may completely collapse from the ongoing rains. Building a new structure is the only thing that is on my mind right now. I would be happy if I built a shelter with at least two rooms, that are made of mud walls and a tin roof. Once this objective is achieved, I can consider pursuing other endeavors. However, building the house is my current focus, and it occupies my thoughts more than anything else."

"I hope that the current rainy season persists, allowing us to have a bountiful harvest. This would enable me to utilize the cash aid I receive to invest in either goats or chickens for rearing. Previously, I had goats, but I had to sell them all to cover the educational expenses of my children. Presently, I have one child in secondary school and another in primary school, both of whose expenses come with their financial burdens. My husband retired from his job a long time ago, resulting in a reduction in our cash flow. Therefore, engaging in goat and chicken rearing could potentially serve as a viable source of income to support the education of my two children."