"I have always wanted to keep livestock, which do well in our region, but I could not afford to buy them on my own. I rely on casual jobs for my livelihood, and I have always considered livestock as assets that I can rely on for my financial needs. When I received my first transfer, I bought a sheep for $60. I plan to keep it and intend to buy more of these to grow a herd. In addition, I also paid school fees amounting to $50 for my sibling, who is currently in high school. This has allowed him to stay in school and no longer face interruptions due to fees. Lastly, I spent the remaining amount on buying foodstuffs that could last us for weeks and also did shopping for new clothes for my family of four. The recent floods destroyed our belongings, including the foodstuffs we had stored and clothes, and we could only salvage a few items. I am glad that as the situation returns to normal, my family has enough food to last, even as I look for a job to sustain my family."

"In the coming year and beyond, I am eager to plaster the interior of my house to enhance its durability and appearance. I have already obtained the necessary plastering materials for this phase of the project. Once I finish the interior, I will take a brief break to save up again for the next phase of plastering. This renovation will strengthen the long-term stability of my house and elevate its attractive. After completing this task, my intention is to venture into livestock farming. At present, my primary focus is on nurturing my five goats, which play a pivotal role in my future endeavors. Regrettably, I experienced significant losses due to disease in my chicken flock previously. My immediate aim is to ensure the multiplication of my goats, creating a reliable source of income through sales when necessary. Concurrently, I am in the process of constructing my envisioned brick house. Once this construction is finished, it will facilitate the expansion of my livestock investment, particularly in goats. This carefully planned approach ensures that once my house is completed, I can seamlessly transition to expanding my goat farming endeavors without encountering unnecessary obstacles."

"In the near future and beyond, my main focus is on paying school fees for my children. As a peasant farmer, my income is not consistent, so I need to plan carefully to ensure my children can continue their education and meet their basic needs when external financial assistance ends. Before GiveDirectly came to our area, life was challenging, and my children were often sent home from school due to unpaid fees. This was because I lacked a reliable source of income. As the external support is soon coming to an end, I am considering expanding into livestock farming. Currently, I have five goats, and I'm delighted to see that they have multiplied since starting with just two. Investing in goats is beneficial as they can reproduce quickly, providing a simple path for growth. My aim is for their numbers to increase, allowing me to eventually trade them for cows and sell some to generate income for my family's needs."

"In addition to the charcoal business I am currently running to support my family, my plans for this year are to open my own tailoring workshop. I attended tailoring college and acquired all the necessary skills to start my own workshop. My plan is to acquire a sewing machine that costs $120, purchase some materials, and eventually launch my own business. To achieve this, I started saving a portion of my transfers in our merry-go-round group, hoping that once I receive the pooled funds, I could use them to acquire the machine. However, after some time, I realized that this strategy would take me longer, so I decided to restrategize. Currently my plan is to continue saving a portion of my transfers in our Merry Go Round group and then use my pooled funds to buy goats, hoping that these goats will appreciate in value and also increase in number. In the near future, I will sell the appreciated goats and use the proceeds to buy the sewing machine. Having my own tailoring business will not only provide me with a stable income but also allow me to better take care of my family. The prospect of achieving this goal fills me with hope and determination for the future."

"As I look ahead to the coming year and beyond, I aim to expand my livestock venture. I plan to continue using my transfers to purchase more goats, with the hope that they will multiply and increase in both number and value. Eventually, I intend to trade some of these goats for cows. My aspiration is that these cows will also grow and increase in value, providing me with the financial means to support my children's education as they transition to higher levels of schooling. I am genuinely excited and grateful for the opportunity that GiveDirectly has provided. I believe that once this program concludes, I will have established a sustainable source of income that will enable me to care for my family and secure our future."

"I work as a cook in a nearby school, and my main goal is to provide for the education and daily meals of my four children. I am thankful for the cash transfers that have been crucial in helping me achieve these goals over the past few years, but I am aware that this support is not permanent. To establish a sustainable source of income, I have devised a plan for the upcoming year and beyond to create a livelihood through livestock farming, with a focus on raising chickens and goats. I aim to sell the offspring of these animals to generate additional income to support my children's needs in the long run."

"I am looking forward to joining a teaching college because that's where my passion lies. I have been saving the money I earn from various short-term jobs, such as selling goods, as well as income from GiveDirectly transfers. Currently, I have saved three-quarters of the required amount for admission, but I am still striving to increase my savings. Since the college is far from my home, I will also need to pay for hostel fees. I am hopeful that with the assistance of GiveDirectly transfers, I will be able to enroll in the college, although I am uncertain about the exact timing. My parents are unemployed, which is why I am working hard to save, but I believe they will contribute a small amount on top of my savings. They currently rely on casual jobs to support our family. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support because without them, I wouldn't have dared to dream of going to college."

"The teachers strongly emphasized the need for me to choose a course, but I am still weighing my options. Currently, I am strongly considering becoming a mechanic, and to support this goal, I am diligently saving in a chama, especially since my parents are currently unemployed. I am eagerly looking forward to the day when my older brother completes college, as that will mark the beginning of my own educational journey. With the unwavering support and guidance of my high school teacher, I am determined to pursue a career in mechanics, a field that truly ignites my passion. Each penny I save brings me one step closer to a secure future. Pursuing a career in mechanics is not just about realizing my own aspirations, but also about creating opportunities that will uplift not only my life, but also the future of my family."

"I am currently focused on completing my education. It is important to me to be of service to those who have sacrificed so much to send me to school. After completing my education, I plan to start animal farming to generate income. This will also allow me to support my younger brother, who is currently making sacrifices for my education. In the coming year, my major focus will be on my studies. Getting the opportunity to attend college was not easy, coming from a humble family. I am determined to perform well to honor the sacrifices my parents have made. I am confident that performing well in my studies will lead to job opportunities and enable me to support my family. Once I complete my education, I intend to invest in goat farming, as goats multiply quickly and are easy to manage in our environment. This initiative will serve as my future financial security and will also support my younger sibling."

"My husband's masonry work usually takes place within our local trading centers. This job attracts a daily payment of $5.4, an amount that we spend on food. This means, we lack money to cater for other needs like school fees, decent housing among others. On education, I feel it is much affected because my four children lack quality learning. Oftenly, they are sent out of school, a situation that has affected their studies. This does not go well with my plan of ensuring best education to them. Thus, I find finacial constraints to be my biggest challenge."