"When my husband passed away 15 years ago, life became a constant struggle. Suddenly, I was alone, raising five children and trying to keep food on the table. Every day felt like a battle just to provide for them through casual jobs, with no stability and little hope for the future. But with this cash transfer, I finally had the chance to invest in something lasting. I used $250 to buy five sheep, which I see as a future investment. In hard times, if I need money, I can sell them to meet our needs or pay for my children’s school fees. Having livestock now gives me hope and a sense of security I didn’t have before.Farming has also been a dream, something I’d never been able to achieve without enough capital. Now, I’ve used $140 to plant maize on two acres, something that brings me both pride and relief. Farming means we’ll have food at home, and with any luck, some extra to sell, providing us with steady income. It’s a comfort knowing that this maize will help support us in the coming months, bringing a stability I could only wish for in the past.Finally, I spent $60 on food to make sure my children don’t go hungry. I’ve been through many days where we barely managed, relying on what little I earned. Being able to buy food feels like such a relief, and I can see it in my children’s smiles when they have full plates. This support has given me the chance to start building a better future, and seeing my children happier is worth everything to me."

"We are going through incredibly tough times right now. The dry spell has stretched on and on, bringing severe drought, and leaving us all facing hunger. This year, with things as they are, my priority is to keep using my transfers to buy food and water so my family can get by until the rains finally come and we can hopefully harvest enough to fill our stores again. Also, looking ahead, I dream of building something sustainable for my future. Once the drought conditions improve, I plan to use a portion of my transfers to buy more goats, adding to the small herd that I already have. I envision these goats multiplying over time, giving me a source of income that I can lean on in the future when this program eventually comes to an end. Additionally, managing my health is another important goal. I plan to keep using a portion of my transfers to buy my monthly medication so I can take care of myself and stay strong. I cannot say enough how grateful I am to GiveDirectly for this support. It is not just helping us get through these challenging days but it is also giving me hope and a chance to build a future I can rely on."

"I have always dreamt of having a proper bed and a mattress to rest on, especially since I am currently sleeping on a bed made of ropes with no mattress on it making it very uncomfortable. Finally, I managed to pay off the bed, but now I’m focused on saving up for a mattress. Recently, I was able to complete payments for the bed that I wanted. Now, my plan for this coming year is to set aside a portion of my transfers, little by little, until I have enough to buy a comfortable mattress. Just imagining having a comfortable place to sleep fills me with hope and gratitude. After that, I want to use part of my transfers to buy goats, adding to the few I already have hoping that they will multiply and increase in number and value so that in the future I may have something to rely on. Additionally, with my health being a concern at my age, I also plan to dedicate part of my transfers to seeking medical care and ensuring I can manage my nutrition so I can live as healthily as possible. I feel incredibly thankful for the support I get from GiveDirectly."

"With my dream of owning livestock, my plan for this coming year and beyond is to save a portion of my transfers that I receive from GiveDirectly so that once I accumulate enough funds, I may use them to buy more goats and chicken, hoping that they will multiply and grow in both number and value, providing me with a reliable source of income support in the future. In the meantime, given the ongoing drought and hunger we are facing, I plan to continue using another portion of my transfers to continue buying food and water. This is very crucial for us to avoid going hungry until this drought passes. I am determined to secure a better future for my family, and I truly appreciate the support that makes this possible."

"With the current drought and hunger impacting us in our region, my top priority is ensuring my family's health and nutrition. I therefore plan to keep using a portion of my transfers to buy food and water until the rains come, and we can finally harvest and put an end to this hunger crisis. Additionally, I intend to invest another portion in acquiring more goats and chicken, hoping they will multiply and grow in both numbers and value. These animals will become a valuable asset for me which I can rely on in the future, especially when this program concludes. I am truly grateful for the support from GiveDirectly as it has been a lifeline for my family during these tough times."

"My house is quite small and needs some repairs, along with an extension of one room to make it more comfortable and provide me with a private space. My plan for this coming year and beyond is to continue saving a portion of my transfers in a merry-go-round group. Once I receive the pooled funds, I intend to use them to renovate my home and add that much-needed room. Additionally, I want to buy a bed and mattress with the pooled funds because right now, I am sleeping on a bed made of ropes without a mattress, and it is very uncomfortable. Having a proper place to sleep would make a world of difference in my life especially with my age and condition. Once I achieve these improvements, I will continue saving a portion of my transfers and use the funds to buy goats. My hope is that they will multiply, providing me with a reliable source of support when this program comes to an end. I am excited about these plans and the possibilities they hold for my future!"

"The roof over my home has seen better days because it is filled with holes and badly needs repair. This coming year, I am determined to renovate it so that I can have a safe and comfortable place to live. To make this happen, I plan to keep setting aside a portion of my GiveDirectly transfers in our local savings group until I have gathered enough to fix the roof. Just the thought of having a well-roofed home fills me with such hope and excitement. Once I complete this renovation, I want to keep saving that same portion, but this time, I will invest it in buying goats. I dream of watching my small herd grow, multiplying over time, and creating a sustainable source of income for the future knowing that I could rely on it even after this program ends. I am incredibly grateful for the support from GiveDirectly; it has given me the chance to build a safer, more secure future for my family, and for that, I am beyond thankful."

"Receiving my first transfer was a relief, and my first priority was to pay for a school trip for our two children, who were on the verge of being locked out due to unpaid fees. The trip cost $15 per child, and I could not imagine how they would feel if they missed out on this opportunity. Additionally, I gave my wife $40 to buy clothes for the children since their clothes were worn out. I also gave her $60 to purchase a bed and mattress for our children, as they had been sleeping on the floor on a worn-out mattress, which was unsafe due to the risk of snakes. Now, I no longer have to pray for their safety every night. Knowing they are sleeping well on a new bed and mattress gives my wife and me peace. With the remaining $70, I addressed another pressing concern: food. After we were displaced by the floods, starting over has been challenging, especially since my wife is currently unemployed and my income is limited. We bought food that sustained us for a while, and I am grateful to say that we still have some left. For the first time in a while, I did not have to worry about food, allowing me to focus on other needs. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"A year ago, I bought an acre of land in a nearby location for $1,500, though I managed to pay only half the amount. My current location is prone to floods, and this year, despite my maize being destroyed by the floods, I was fortunate to harvest 300 kg, which I expect will bring in about $200 to $300. When I received my second transfer, my maize was ready for harvest, so I spent $70 on harvesting it. I had initially planned to use some of the money to reduce the balance on the land, but the owner insisted on full payment. As a result, I now plan to use the income from the maize along with my final transfer to clear the arrears. Additionally, I used $300 from the transfer to construct a pit latrine and a birth room on the new land, as sanitation is essential since I plan to relocate there. I also spent $30 on labor for the construction and used $15 to cover transportation costs for the construction materials from town. Lastly, I spent the remaining $35 on food items like legumes to balance our diet, as we only had maize, and my children, being young, need proper nutrition. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"My second transfer came just at the right time. My daughter, who is in secondary school, had been sent home due to $300 in unpaid fees just two days before the transfer. I honestly had no money to send her back to school, so I used $100 from the transfer to reduce her arrears, which gave me peace of mind. Additionally, my home is a single-room house, and with five school-going children still living with me, space is a big challenge. We are forced to squeeze together, and I can't even add more household items due to the lack of space. Two of my children sleep on the floor, which worries me because our area is prone to snakes, and I fear for their safety. I decided to buy 20 iron sheets for $240 to start building an additional room for us. I plan to use my final transfer to buy the remaining materials and complete the construction. I also used $50 to buy clothes for myself and the children since our old clothes were worn out. The remaining money went towards buying food, including maize and condiments, as we were really struggling to put meals on the table at the time. My husband has another wife, and he spends most of his time there, leaving me with the responsibility to provide for our children, especially when it comes to food. Yet, I rely on casual jobs and sometimes crop farming, which has been unreliable due to droughts and floods. This cash transfer has been a great support for us. Thank you, GiveDirectly."