"I have a wife at home, but, well, I haven’t paid her dowry yet. It’s something that’s been weighing on me for a while now. You know, it’s not that I don’t want to—I do. I want to honor her family and make everything official. But, life… life hasn’t been easy. Right now, where we’re staying, every time it rains heavily, we’re on edge because of the flooding. I plan that once the tomatoes I planted are ready, I’ll sell them off and use the money to buy a small piece of land. That’s my ticket to moving out of this place and into somewhere better—somewhere safe. After that, I’ll keep planting, keep working hard. Once we’re settled and life feels a bit more stable, I’ll finally take the step I’ve been meaning to take for a while. I’ll pay the dowry which is important to all of us and I want to do it right, make our marriage official in the way it should be. We’ve been through a lot together, and I want to honor her properly."

"I used $380 of it to buy a plot that costs $610 for half an acre. This was an important step for me because the land I had before was destroyed during the floods, and I didn't want to stay there, given the future risks. The 1.5 acres I already have will be left for farming, which is a good way to ensure my family’s food supply and some income. With some of the remaining money, I paid $20 to cover my daughter’s school fees for Grade 2. She had some arrears, and I wanted to make sure she could stay in school without any interruptions. Education is really important to me, and I am trying my best to ensure all my children stay in school. The rest of the money, $40, was used to buy clothes for my children and my wife because many of their clothes were damaged during the floods. I used the remainder of the money to buy household food items to make sure we had enough to eat. This cash transfer has really helped us rebuild after the flood and start planning for a more stable future."

"Since my husband passed away two years ago, I’ve had to take on the full responsibility of covering our children’s school fees, clothing, food, and other essentials. The house was already in poor condition when he passed, and it’s been a struggle to meet all their needs with the limited profits from my charcoal business. With the recent increase in the cost of basic commodities, the situation has become even more difficult. My children were often sent home for unpaid fees, so I decided to dedicate all my transfers toward paying their school fees. Renovating the house is my second priority. Although I replaced the roof, the house is still unsafe as the cracked walls let in insects and rain. My immediate goal is to rebuild the walls, and I plan to save $4 each month to buy construction materials. I can’t save more than that right now due to other basic needs. Once my children finish their education, I intend to invest in goat and chicken rearing projects. These projects will generate more income, as they multiply when well taken care of, increasing their financial value. I'm confident that once these projects are established, they will provide security. In case of a financial crisis, I’ll be able to sell some animals to support my family."

"Moving forward, my primary focus is to use my transfers to help my child, who has a deformed leg. I am determined to ensure that he receives the necessary medical attention so that he can have a good leg and enjoy a normal life like other children. In addition to my child's medical care, I plan to use part of the transfers to buy goats. My hope is that these goats will multiply and increase in number over time. I then intend to trade some of the goats for cows, which I can train to help plow my farm. In the future, I may be able to sell some of the cows as they multiply and use the proceeds to fund my children's education. I am excited to see these plans come to fruition with the help of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, and I am hopeful that I will be able to provide my children with the best possible opportunities."

"I decided to spend $300 on tomato seeds because tomatoes grow well in this area. Last season wasn’t great—the prices were low—but I’m optimistic things will improve. I planted them on half an acre, hoping to make a good profit this time around. The plants are coming along nicely, and I’m currently weeding the farm to keep them healthy. With another $190, I bought a cupboard for storing utensils, medicines, and important documents. My old cupboard was broken and not safe, especially with kids around. Now, I can organize everything properly, and I don’t have to worry about the children accidentally getting into the medicine or misplacing our papers. To afford the cupboard, I had to sell six of my roosters to top up the deficit from what the transfers could cater for. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was necessary. The new cupboard has already made a difference in how we manage things at home, and I feel more at ease knowing everything is in its place. Now I can focus fully on my tomatoes and hope the market works in my favor."

"Upon receiving the cash transfers, I used $550 to purchase building materials, including tiles, cement, ceiling boards, and all the necessary labour charges for completing my permanent house. This project had initially started, but I had run out of cash and had to stop construction. At that time, the house was only partially completed, allowing my family of two to sleep in it, but I was always stressed about where I would find the money to finish it. I had borrowed a loan for the construction, and the lender was causing me sleepless nights because I had not yet repaid it. Therefore, it would be hard for me to borrow again, as I needed to repay the previous loan. This situation could mean it would take years for me to finish this decent project and provide a happy home for my family. Now, however, I am a happy and hopeful mother, free from worry, as this financial support has enabled me to complete the house I’ve always desired."

"Previously, I operated a poultry farming business from my home, but then I faced a significant challenge with a vital chicken disease that claimed the lives of my flock, bringing my business to a standstill. This was a huge loss for me, as the business had been crucial in paying school fees for my child and sustaining my daily food needs. Therefore, upon receiving the cash, I used $529 to buy chicks, feeding mash, growers mash, and all the requirements to start poultry farming. I am glad to report that the chicks are thriving, as I am knowledgeable about how to care for them due to my experience. In time, I will start selling them to my valued customers, whom I already have and am in contact with. I am certain that I will no longer struggle to meet the needs of my six family members as I did before. Additionally, with $21, I paid the fees for my youngest son, who is currently in grade two at the nearby school. He was at risk of being sent home, as the teachers had warned me that he would be sent home if the fees weren't cleared. I’m relieved that I received the cash in good time, and he is now back in school without any disruptions."

"I was preparing myself to go to work as usual at exactly 5 in the morning when I heard my mobile phone ringing very loudly. I was a bit nervous; it was unusual for me to receive a call at that hour. So, I stopped what I was doing and decided to check who it was. I felt so happy to see that I had received my first cash transfer from GiveDirectly. This was my happiest moment, as I knew it would bring a positive change in my life; I would be able to revive my poultry farming business, which I used to operate some years ago."

"Financial constraints are the greatest challenge. Both my husband and I rely on casual jobs to earn a living, it is not sustainable because what we earn only meets our basic needs halfway through. We borrow loans to be able to pay school fees for our children and repay slowly. If we had a better source of income our lives would have been better."