"In the coming year and beyond, I plan to invest in buying goats. My goal is to sell them in the future to earn money for food and school fees, especially as their numbers increase. I have already purchased seven goats and two sheep using my monthly savings. My children are still in school, and as they progress, their school fees continue to rise. I want to stay ahead by preparing for this financial need. Currently, I have a total of eight goats, three of which are expecting. I've witnessed my goats reproduce, and I am confident they will keep multiplying. This will ensure that when the need for school fees arises, my husband can sell some goats to provide the necessary cash. Additionally, I want to be able to buy them school uniforms and shoes as needed, which will also be supported by the sales from these animals."

"I've been living in a grass-thatched house for years, but my dream has always been to have an iron-roofed house. To make this dream a reality, I've been setting aside a portion of my monthly income to gradually purchase building materials. So far, I've managed to acquire 22 iron sheets and some building poles, and I'm hopeful that I can begin construction soon. My primary focus is achieving this goal, as an iron-roofed house will provide much-needed protection from the rains, which have been a constant challenge in my current home. I plan to continue saving to buy the remaining building poles, timber, and nails, as well as to cover labor costs. Alongside this, I am also using part of my transfer to boost on my poultry and goat business , which will support me in finishing up the building work and achieving a more secure future."

"My goal is to revive my restaurant, where I used to serve a variety of dishes like chapatis, beans, tea, and ugali. Running my own business is more fulfilling than working for someone else, as it allows me to invest extra effort into ensuring its success. Currently, I am doing hairdressing at clients' homes for a small fee after having to close down the restaurant due to several challenges. I am determined to bring the restaurant back to life, fulfilling my entrepreneurial dreams. The prolonged drought led to a severe water shortage, forcing me to temporarily close the restaurant. The nearest water source was far from my shop, and water was being sold at $0.55 per 20-liter container, making it unsustainable to keep the business running. This situation caused losses and reduced customer visits. However, I am planning to reopen the restaurant soon. Until then, I am sustaining myself by offering hairdressing services to clients in their homes."

"With my transfer, I first bought two goats for $50 and $70 each, which will help provide fresh milk for my eight children. Milk has been quite expensive, and having these goats means that my young children will get the nutrition they need. As the goats multiply, I can also sell some of them to help pay for my children's school fees. I have two children in high school, and I paid their cumulative arrears of $150 to avoid them being sent back home. Additionally, our living situation was challenging after floods destroyed many of our household items, including our sofa. To improve our comfort, I purchased a new sofa for $55, which was necessary since we had limited seating. To ensure we have enough food, I bought three bags of maize for $70, 15 kilograms of beans for $21, and spent $14 on other food items, especially after losing our maize crop to the floods. Getting food was a challenge. At the time I received my money, one of my children was unwell, so I spent $15 on his medication. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"We currently live on less than an acre of land where I manage all our activities, including keeping goats, sheep, and chickens. Unfortunately, these animals often ruin my crops, making it difficult to sustain our farming efforts. Since our land is near the river, it’s ideal for crop farming; however, I realized I needed to buy another piece of land to build our house and keep the livestock separate. I paid $200 for half an acre of land, and I plan to clear the remaining $100 with my final transfer, ensuring I can dedicate our original land purely to crop production. Additionally, our living situation had become quite uncomfortable; we’ve been sleeping on old maize bags because we did not have a mattress, which made our nights rough. The bed board has hurt our backs for years, so with part of my transfer, I purchased two mattresses, one for me and one for my children, each costing $50. Food has also been a challenge since I lost my maize to floods earlier this year. I had to rely on casual jobs and charcoal production to provide for my four children, so I used some of the funds to buy maize for $38 and condiments for $30, addressing our immediate food needs. To further support our food security, I rented half an acre of land for $25, where I plan to plant maize. I hope this will help us reduce our food costs in the future. Moreover, I realized how long it had been since we bought new clothes, as we had been relying on secondhand items. I spent $50 on new clothes for my children, and their joy was noticeable. The remaining $7 went toward transporting these items home from town."

"As a dedicated crop farmer, I have been focusing on my current planting of butternut squash and green grams, which I expect to be ready for harvest in about two months. Witnessing the success of my wife's business has inspired me to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams. I plan to start my own business focused on buying and selling charcoal, which I believe has significant potential. My strategy is to open a store in town where I can purchase charcoal for around $7 and sell it for approximately $10 per bag. especially since charcoal is readily available due to the legalization of harvesting from the prosopis tree, which is known for producing high quality charcoal. This investment not only aims to enhance my financial stability but also to contribute to our family's overall economic growth."

"Together with my family of five, we have been living in a cramped one-room house with an iron roof and walls. The space was too small for us, making it difficult to store even our essential household items. When we had visitors, we often had to accommodate them in my mom's house, which was not ideal. After receiving my second cash transfer, I decided to build an additional one roomed house with iron walls and a roof, which cost $350. Now, thanks to GiveDirectly, we finally have some breathing space in our home. To ensure we have enough milk for our children, I also bought a goat for $50, adding to the five goats we already had. This will help us secure a steady supply of milk, and we can also sell some to address any future emergencies as they multiply. Additionally, I spent $10 on food, as we were facing a significant food shortage after losing our crops to the floods. I gave my wife $30 to buy new clothes for our children since theirs were worn out, and I allocated $10 for labor to clear and prepare our land for planting. I am grateful to GiveDirectly."

"In the coming year, my plan is to focus on crop and livestock farming, which I believe will provide a sustainable income for my family. I intend to use my next transfer to buy more sheep as they multiply quickly. Alongside livestock, I am planning to plant butternut squash, a crop that thrives in our area and promises good returns. The profits from these investments will be crucial for prioritizing my children's education. With eleven children to care for, my ultimate goal is to ensure that all of them finish school and have better opportunities for the future. I didn't have the chance to go to school myself, but I have seen firsthand the difference education can make. Those who have had the privilege of an education lead more stable and fulfilling lives, and I want the same for my children, not just for their sake but also so that they can support me in my old age."

"When I received my unconditional cash transfer, I decided to prioritize my children's education and the well-being of my family. My son is currently in junior secondary school, and I enrolled him in boarding, which cost me $105. His school recommended boarding due to the long distance and the dangers of crossing the river, especially after the recent flood incident. Additionally, I have a daughter in high school who had accumulated $200 in unpaid school fees. I had no idea how I would settle her fees, but with this transfer, I was able to clear the arrears, which brought me peace of mind. As a crop farmer, I used $50 for land preparation, intending to plant maize on my one-acre farm. The proceeds from this harvest will help sustain us in the future. To create a lasting memory of the support I received from GiveDirectly, I bought a goat worth $60, which will also help us in the long run. With the remaining funds, I purchased food items like beans and maize to keep us going as we wait for the crops in the field to mature. This cash transfer has truly relieved a great burden and allowed me to plan for our needs with confidence."

"GiveDirectly has done an excellent job in ensuring that the enrollment process is fair and transparent. What I appreciated most was that the enrollment was independent, with no involvement from community leaders, which made the process unbiased and gave everyone an equal chance. The officers were very patient throughout the process, taking time to ensure that we understood everything clearly before moving forward. After enrollment, an audit was conducted to verify that all details were correct, which gave us confidence that the system was being properly managed. The mode of receiving transfers was also effective, as everyone received the money through personal phones, making it reliable. In my opinion, GiveDirectly's approach is highly effective, and I haven't identified any areas in need of improvement. I hope they continue with the same methods moving forward."