"This year, my primary goal is to complete the construction of my new house. My previous home was very small and on the verge of collapsing. With the support of the transfers from GiveDirectly, I have been gradually purchasing building materials, and I intend to use a portion of my future transfers to continue buying the remaining building materials needed to finish the house. I am very excited about the progress we are making, and I am very hopeful that soon enough we will move into our new house. Once we complete the house, my focus will shift to livestock farming. I intend to invest another portion of the transfers into buying goats, with the hope that they will multiply and increase in value over time. This will allow me to sell some of them in the future and provide for my family’s needs. With these livestock, I will have created a sustainable asset that I can rely on in the future, especially when this program comes to an end. I am genuinely grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has provided me and my family. Their assistance is helping me build a brighter future, and I am optimistic that my plans for both house and livestock farming will come to fruition. Each step I take brings me closer to achieving my dreams, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds."

"I had a simple yet profound dream - to build myself a house. Unfortunately, my financial resources were insufficient, leaving my ambitious project in limbo. To make matters worse, my living conditions were far from ideal. I slept on an old traditional bed and worn-out mats that were anything but comfortable. My struggles seemed endless until GiveDirectly came to my aid. With renewed vigor, I set out to change my life, starting with completing my mud house. I spent $150 to ensure it was not only finished but also spacious, providing the peace of mind I had longed for. Understanding the importance of a good night's sleep, I invested $100 in a new bed and mattress, replacing the old, uncomfortable bedding I had been using for years. Restless nights turned into periods of serene slumber. Food insecurity was another battle I faced, often going to bed hungry. Determined to ensure my family never experienced this again, I spent $250 to buy enough food. This ensured that my family was well-fed and never lacked food again. I spent the remaining amount on covering medical expenses. I received treatment in a good hospital, a luxury I hadn't experienced in years."

"After receiving the second transfer, my priority was to settle the $400 debt I owed to a neighbour who had sold me a piece of land (1 acre). I’m glad I was able to clear this debt and now have peace of mind, something I had been yearning for. I don’t have a steady income, as my husband works as a driver, but his job is temporary. My family of three used to live at my grandfather's compound, and I feared what the future would look like, especially since my family is young and growing. I also used $100 to buy some building materials like poles and nails, and since I already had the other materials, I was able to build a new house on this piece of land. I will always be thankful to this organization for making my dreams come true. I now live happily in my place that I can call home, with no more stress about where my children will stay in the future. We are currently experiencing a hot and dry season, and food has been a challenge for us, as my husband isn’t paid daily. This has caused us to run out of food most days. I used $30 to buy enough meals to last us for a while, and for once, we enjoyed good meals."

"My plan for the coming year and beyond is to provide my children with the best education possible. By investing in their education, I am providing them an opportunity to have better lives in the future. With three of them currently in secondary school, the financial burden is quite heavy, but I am determined to see them through. This year, two of them will complete their final exams, which will ease the pressure of school fees and allow me to redirect the transfers toward livestock. I aspire to build a herd of livestock that will be a valuable asset in the future. To achieve this, I plan to invest a portion of the transfers in buying goats. My hope is that they will multiply, increasing in number so that I can sell some of them later. The proceeds from these sales will help me take care of my family and support the education of my younger children, as well as assist my older ones as they transition to college.I am truly grateful for the opportunity that GiveDirectly has provided us, and I remain hopeful that these ambitions will come to fruition."

"As a single person, I am focused on securing my future, knowing that I will settle down eventually. To achieve this, I aim to build a large herd of diverse livestock that will be a good asset in the future. To achieve this, I have been using a portion of my previous transfers that I have been receiving from GiveDirectly to buy goats, and I plan to continue allocating a portion of my future transfers for this purpose. My hope is that these goats will multiply, increasing both their numbers and their value so that in the future I may be able to trade some of them for female cows. I believe that these cows will also reproduce increasing in number and value and also provide milk for my family. My long-term plan is to sell some of the cows and goats to buy a piece of land and build a house for myself and my future family. I want to have my own place, something I can proudly call my own, rather than living in my family's home. I am optimistic that these dreams will come to fruition, all thanks to GiveDirectly."

"Upon receiving the cash transfers from GiveDirectly, I decided to make some important purchases. Firstly, I bought two goats for $100. I chose goats because they reproduce and mature quickly, which means I will have more of them in a short period. This will provide me with a valuable asset to rely on in the future. Additionally, I purchased two mattresses for $80 and a bed for $60 for my children and myself. Previously, we used to sleep on the hard floor, which caused a lot of discomfort and even physical pain. Now, we can enjoy a good night's sleep and the comfort we've been missing for years. Furthermore, I spent $151 on building materials to construct a kitchen. Previously, I used to cook in an open area due to the small size of my house. Now, I have a proper space to cook, and my food is no longer exposed to germs or other hazards. With the remaining $141, I bought food for my family of two. This has relieved a significant source of stress for me, as I now have enough food to last us."

"Upon receiving my recent transfers, I used $370 to complete the construction of my two-room house, which I had started building with the first transfer. I paid the mason and bought the remaining materials, such as the iron sheets. I am glad that the house is now complete, and I have moved in. Initially, I stayed at my brother's house, where I was not comfortable at all, as I had children and was a single parent. I was always worried about my future and wondered how I would secure a place that I could call my own. Luckily, with the help of GiveDirectly, I was able to buy the land and build a house. Now the stress is over, and I am sitting comfortably and happily with my four children, no longer worried about where they can call home as they grow. Additionally, I am a tailor by profession and have been operating this sewing business in the village. However, I was running low on materials since I was selling items like school uniforms and others. After receiving the funds, I boosted my business with $130 and bought more materials. I am now a happy entrepreneur, earning good profits, which has helped me provide for my family with ease. Finally, I used $50 to ensure that my two children were well-settled in school and paid their arrears. As of now, there are no more disturbances about being sent home."

"Upon receiving the cash transfers, I immediately knew where I wanted to allocate the funds. Having suffered for many years, I used $300 to install tap water in my compound. This had been a long-standing desire of mine, but I couldn't afford it until now. Previously, I had to make long trips to fetch water due to the lack of funds and my health issues. I often had to hire someone to fetch water for me. The installation of the tap has significantly eased the burden as I no longer need to trek for water. Additionally, I've started selling water to generate income, which helps cover the monthly water bills. I also used part of the funds, $180, to purchase seven iron sheets and poles to renovate my house and make it more spacious. The construction is currently underway, and soon we will enjoy the luxury of living in a spacious house for the first time in our lives. It was quite challenging before. With the remaining $70, I purchased food. As a widow unable to work due to health issues, my farms have not been productive, leading to occasional meal shortages. Buying extra food has alleviated the burden on my daughter, who has been my caregiver."

"As I approach the completion of my secondary school education, my goal in the coming months is to use my transfers to clear any remaining school fee debt. This will ensure that I can sit for my end-of-year exams without the stress of having an outstanding balance. Once the results are out next year, I hope to continue my education and move closer to achieving my goal of becoming an engineer. I plan to use my subsequent transfers to pay the rest of my school fees, which will give me peace of mind and help me focus on my studies. I am very grateful for the financial support, as it has helped me pursue my dreams and continue striving toward my goals."

"The joy I felt when I learned I had received funds from GiveDirectly is truly indescribable. I was on my way home from the farm when my phone suddenly rang. Curious, I checked the message and was thrilled to see the uplifting news that GiveDirectly had provided me with financial support. Immediately, I called my son to share the exciting news, and he was just as delighted as I was. I realized that with this support, I could finally pursue my dream of harvesting maize from the farm. I am deeply grateful for this cash transfer, which was given to me without any discrimination. The way GiveDirectly ensures equal and respectful treatment for everyone is commendable. This support has opened up new possibilities for my family, and I can't thank them enough for their help."