"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I immediately deposited $100 into the school account where my younger brother was studying. He is in Form Three, and this support lifted a significant burden off my shoulders. I had been relying on savings from casual labor to pay his school fees, but this transfer made things much easier. With the school fees taken care of, I used $130 to invest in livestock farming. I bought two sheep and 25 chickens to expand my poultry farm. My goal was to create a steady source of income now that I have received all the scheduled transfers. I plan to generate revenue from selling eggs and, in the future, selling sheep once the flock has grown. Additionally, I diversified my farming activities by investing $100 in watermelon farming. Previously, I only focused on maize farming, but with this capital, I decided to try something different. The money covered the cost of seeds, land preparation, pesticides, and irrigation for one acre of watermelon. I am hopeful for a good harvest since watermelons fetch high prices in the market, which will help me generate more income. I used the remaining amount to buy food to energize me while working on the farm. This support from GiveDirectly has allowed me to invest in sustainable projects that will help me generate income for the future."

"Most of the challenges I am currently facing are brought about by the lack of safe and clean water for drinking. It is only about one or two months in a year that we can get lucky and collect some rain water. But in most cases, we are forced to trek long distances to fetch the rare and precious commodity both for our livestock and domestic use. Consequently, my husband and I are not productive enough since more time is wasted on the arduous journey. Moreover, the water we get has caused teeth discoloration and weakening of gums."

"The primary goal that has been on my mind for some time is to build a better house. The current one no longer accommodates my two wives, children, or myself. To make matters worse, one side of the house has even collapsed, forcing me to live in a makeshift shelter. To achieve this dream, I have been saving my transfers and plan to continue setting aside portions of my future transfers. Once I have saved enough money, I will use it to buy building materials and finally construct the two-roomed house that I have always wanted. Once this new house is complete, I will no longer have to worry about my family's safety. We will be able to live comfortably and host visitors without the concerns we had before. Afterward, I plan to invest a portion of my transfers in goats. My hope is that these goats will multiply, increasing in number and value, so that in the future, I can trade some of them for cows, which are more valuable. Having cows will provide me with a reliable source of income and security, especially once this program comes to an end. I am filled with hope and determination as I work toward these goals, and I am truly grateful for the support that is helping me move closer to a better future for my family."

"I ventured into livestock farming as a way to secure a future source of livelihood for my family. I used my previous transfers to buy livestock and my plan for this coming year and beyond is to continue growing this venture. To achieve this, I intend to continue using a portion of my transfers from GiveDirectly to buy more goats. I hope that these goats will multiply, increasing in number and value, so that in the future, I may be able to trade some of them for female cows. These cows will not only multiply but will also provide us with milk, adding valuable nutrition to our diet and helping to improve our health. Additionally, cows are more valuable, making them a significant asset. I believe that the animals I am raising will become a reliable source of income, especially once this program comes to an end. I am deeply grateful for the support I have received. It is helping me work toward a more secure and sustainable future, and I feel hopeful knowing that I am building something that will benefit my family for years to come."

"It is embarrassing to admit that we do not have a latrine in our homestead where we can relieve ourselves but instead go to the bush. This has been a source of discomfort, and I have decided that this year, I will build one for my family. I plan to use a portion of my transfers to buy the necessary building materials and build it. Once it is completed, I will feel a great sense of relief and happiness. I also have a big goal of building a new, larger house to better accommodate my family. The one I live in is too small and in poor condition, and not conducive to hosting relatives during special occasions. With a portion of my future transfers, I plan to gradually buy building materials to construct a spacious and comfortable home. This new house will allow us to warmly welcome guests and ensure that everyone has enough space to feel at ease. Once this house is built, I will use my transfers to buy goats, hoping that they will multiply and increase in number. This will help provide a reliable source of income, especially when this program comes to an end. Having livestock will give me something to rely on for the future. I am truly grateful for the support."

"I have children who are in school, and in the coming years, my greatest hope is to ensure that they receive the best education possible. I truly believe that education is the key to their future, as it will empower them to become responsible, independent members of society. To help make this a reality, I ventured into sheep farming where I used my previous transfers I received from GiveDirectly to buy sheep. My plan is to continue using a portion of my transfers to buy more female sheep. These sheep will multiply, increasing in number. My strategy is to sell the male sheep and allow the female sheep to continue multiplying. The proceeds from selling the males will go towards my children’s education and supporting my family. My dream is to see my children grow into confident adults who can stand on their own and make positive contributions to the world. As a parent, there would be no greater source of pride than knowing that I have provided them with the foundation they need to build successful lives. I am deeply grateful for the support from GiveDirectly, as it is helping me work towards this dream."

"With the transfers from GiveDirectly, I ventured into turkey farming, and my plan is to continue using future transfers to expand this venture. Recently, I sold five of my turkeys to support my children's education, though sadly, I lost another five turkeys to illness. I am now left with 12 turkeys, and I am hopeful that these remaining birds will continue to multiply, growing both in number and value. This way, I will be able to sell them in the future now that my son also helps with marketing them through social media. Looking ahead, I plan to trade some of the turkeys for goats, hoping that they will also multiply and increase in number. In the future, I hope to trade some of those goats for milk cows, which will provide milk for my family’s consumption. I also expect these cows to multiply, allowing me to sell some in the future. My goal is to have a variety of livestock on my farm, so I can sell some and use the proceeds to start a kiosk, where I can sell non-perishable goods and generate a daily income to support my family. In the longer term, I plan to build a rental house, which will serve as a consistent source of income. I will use the proceeds from selling some of my livestock to fund this project. This investment will help provide for my family’s needs, even once the transfers come to an end. I am filled with hope and determination as I take these steps toward securing a better future for my family."

"As I had previously mentioned, I had plans to invest in livestock. Therefore, I ventured into this journey using my previous transfers and am excited to see it progressing well. My plan for this year and beyond is to continue my livestock investment. To achieve this, I intend to continue using a portion of the transfers I receive to purchase more livestock, adding to the ones I already have. My goal is to allow these animals to multiply, so I can sell some in the market while others continue to reproduce. This approach will provide me with a steady source of income and allow me to reinvest in more younger livestock, raising them to maturity and selling them at a profit. On top of that, I am in the process of renovating my house. One of my main projects is adding a new room to give my children their own separate space, so they can enjoy privacy and comfort. In the future, I also plan to put in a cement floor to replace the current earth floor, which will help reduce the dust that often causes discomfort. I am filled with gratitude and hope as I work toward a better future for my family. Every step I take brings me closer to my goals, and I am confident that these investments will lead to growth and stability."

"I work as an electrician, repairing radios and phones for people in my village. However, I have been facing a challenge that limits my ability to earn a good profit: I don't have advanced equipment to make my work more efficient. My goal is to purchase quality tools by next March. These new tools will help me speed up my work, allowing me to serve more customers. I plan to achieve this by using my personal savings, along with some funds from my monthly income, to buy the necessary equipment. Once I reach this goal, it will be much easier for me to provide for my family. The lack of proper tools currently slows me down and makes repairs take longer than they should."

"My primary focus now is on the education of my two children, one in secondary school and the other in primary school. I believe that education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty we have been living in. I never had the opportunity to go to school, and I don’t want my children to face the same struggles I experienced. I am determined to ensure they have everything they need to succeed, which includes paying their school fees on time to avoid the embarrassment of them being sent home, as has happened in the past. To achieve this goal, I plan to set aside a portion of my monthly transfers and the small savings from my charcoal business to cover their school fees and other expenses. Once I accomplish this, their success will not only benefit them but will also uplift our entire family."