"I have been selling charcoal in town to support my family. However, despite my efforts and investment, the business has not been as profitable as I had hoped. To supplement my income from charcoal sales, I decided to start a tailoring business, which I believe will help increase my earnings. I purchased a sewing machine for $400 and spent an additional $100 on textile materials to stock my tailoring shop. Since I lack adequate tailoring skills and I'm also advanced in age, I plan to hire someone to assist in the shop. With the increased income I expect from this new venture, I believe it will be easier to sustain myself and my family, making it less challenging to meet our basic needs."

"Before I joined the program, my husband’s motorbike, which he relied on for his taxi services, broke down. We couldn’t easily afford the repair costs, so he had to take on casual jobs, working on other people's farms. Unfortunately, that paid much less than his income from the motorbike, making it tough to provide for our family. Saving enough money for repairs seemed impossible. Receiving the transfer was a huge relief for us. With that support, we managed to fix the motorbike, and now it’s back on the road, bringing in a daily income that helps us care for our family of four. Additionally, I’ve started a poultry project where I’m raising over 40 chickens. My plan is to breed them and sell them during the busy December festive season when demand is always high, providing us with extra income as well."

"Before I joined the program, my husband’s motorbike, which he relied on for his taxi services, broke down. We couldn’t easily afford the repair costs, so he had to take on casual jobs, working on other people's farms. Unfortunately, that paid much less than his income from the motorbike, making it tough to provide for our family. Saving enough money for repairs seemed impossible. Receiving the transfer was a huge relief for us. With that support, we managed to fix the motorbike, and now it’s back on the road, bringing in a daily income that helps us care for our family of four. Additionally, I’ve started a poultry project where I’m raising over 40 chickens. My plan is to breed them and sell them during the busy December festive season when demand is always high, providing us with extra income as well."

"In the coming year and beyond, I am determined to focus on investing in goat farming to secure my future. I plan to continue saving $10 monthly at the merry-go-round group that we formed. As I accumulate the money, I will buy goats once my turn of getting the money reaches. The choice of goats over cows is a strategic one; goats are more affordable to acquire and maintain, making them an ideal investment for my current financial situation. My passion for goat farming fuels my drive, and with careful planning and consistent effort, I am confident that I will achieve my goals and create a thriving agricultural venture."

"The biggest challenge I grapple with is the lack of a steady income to support my family’s daily needs. Our survival hinges on casual labor, but when work is hard to come by, which is often, it becomes incredibly difficult to make ends meet. The scarcity of opportunities frequently leaves us with no choice but to go to bed hungry, as this is our primary means of sustenance."

"One morning when I woke up, I saw a message on my phone showing I had received money from GiveDirectly, and I couldn’t believe it at first—I had to read it twice to be sure! I felt this wave of happiness wash over me, and the first thing I did was tell my wife, who broke into a big smile as soon as I shared the news. She was just as excited as I was because, finally, we could begin working on the house we’d been dreaming about for so long. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off our shoulders, and at that moment, we knew things were about to change for the better."

"When we received the cash from GiveDirectly, the biggest change we noticed was the peace that came into our home. Before, it was a constant struggle—some days we had to skip meals, and it hurt to see the kids go without basic things like decent clothes. My wife especially took it hard; she felt like she wasn’t fulfilling her role as a mother, and that frustration would sometimes boil over into arguments between us. But now, with enough food and the children well-dressed, we’re all more at ease. You can see it in the kids—they’re happier, and it brings us joy just seeing them like that. Our relationship as a couple has also improved a lot. Back then, every small problem felt bigger because of the stress we were under. My wife and I would argue about things we couldn’t control, like what to eat or how to pay for school supplies. Now that those worries are behind us, we argue less. We laugh more, spend more time together, and support each other in ways we couldn’t before."

"For this year and the years to come, my wish is to get married and have a wedding, and I believe this will be possible if my farming succeeds. I’m hopeful because I’ve already leased land in the Parkera Irrigation Scheme, where I plan to grow maize. The thought of everything coming together fills me with satisfaction and joy, as marriage and family are highly valued and respected in my culture. In our society, staying single is not seen as ideal, and having a family is a sign of honor and respect. That’s why I’m determined to do everything I can to get married and have a wedding, fulfilling this important cultural expectation."

"For this year and the years to come, I am determined to focus on farming and move away from the hand-to-mouth lifestyle of doing odd jobs. I have already leased a farm, and I’m eagerly awaiting the third transfer to fully invest in my farming plans. Farming has always been my dream, but I never had the capital to make it a reality. Thanks to the support I’m receiving, I now have the opportunity to pursue this goal. I believe that farming will provide me with a stable income and allow me to save money for my children's school fees. This marks a significant step toward building a more secure and prosperous future for my family, and I am excited to see these plans come to life."

"I am really struggling right now because I do not have an income-generating activity. I have to rely on my husband, who is an electrician, but he is currently not employed and only gets calls for work occasionally. On a good week, he might do one job, and that income barely covers school fees and food for our family of five. On the days when there is no work, it is incredibly stressful not knowing where our next meal will come from. Casual jobs on the other hand are unpredictable as they are occasional so I cannot always rely on them."