"I depend on subsistence farming which has been affected by the prolonged drought experienced in our area. Currently, I rely on charcoal burning owing to the 4 failed seasons. As a widow and the soul breadwinner, it is difficult to feed my family of 8.Therefore, food insecurity is the biggest challenge at the moment."

"Lack of reliable source of income is the current challenge I am facing in life. This has made me unable to build a spacious house for the family and also pay school fees for the children on time. The children have school fees balance of $40 . I do casual jobs which are rarely accessible."

"My top priority right now is to acquire more goats. Increasing the number of goats will provide a crucial safety net in case of financial emergencies for my family. They will also be instrumental in supporting my grandchildren’s education as they advance to higher studies. I’ve been their guardian since their mother, my daughter, relies on casual jobs. Education is vital, and I want to ensure my grandkids have the support they need to succeed so they can help us in the future as we age. Educating them is also the key to breaking free from the cycle of poverty that has affected our homestead."

"My goal for the upcoming year is to establish a livestock business, focusing primarily on goats, as I now have six of them. I believe this venture will generate enough income to sustain me through school and support my brother’s education, even after the project ends. This will help me continue pursuing the mechanical course I recently started, and I’m excited to soon acquire the skills that will enhance my life. I’m looking forward to building a future for the family I have yet to start. I know that once I graduate, I won’t have to struggle as much in my daily hustle because I’ll have the skills needed to find better job opportunities. This is the key to transforming my life and my household’s future, ensuring that my children won’t have to endure the hardships I’ve faced."

"The main goal that has been on my mind is to use the upcoming transfers to buy more goats for my homestead. I've been considering this because goats reproduce twice yearly, which means they can multiply quickly and boost my investment. These goats will also provide a steady source of income that I can rely on whenever I face financial challenges. Right now, I depend on subsistence farming to support myself and my five school-going children. My top priority is to keep them in school without the risk of being forced to drop out due to unpaid fees. By raising more goats, I aim to ensure their education isn't disrupted."

"The first challenge that I am currently facing is lack of fees for my children. I am a house wife depending on my husband who works as a construction casual laborer. The job is very hard to getby and sometimes he stays for two months without finding one. He earns $3 per day which is not enough for a family of 7 members. Consequently, all of the wages go to buying food only leaving other expenses out. Infact, it has been tough to take 2 of my sons to college two years since they completed their secondary education. Besides, other 2 who are in primary always miss classes due to money. I am afraid of the performance of my kids if this situation continues. The other Challenge is a spacious house for all of us. Both of my sons and daughters share a room which is not nice according to the culture here. There is a need to build two more rooms to make it four. This will offer comfort and privacy even when I host visitors."

"I sell sugar and small fish from home, as I don’t have a shop. I currently own twelve goats, which I view as a valuable investment because they can multiply and be sold to help me reach my goals. I plan to use the proceeds to purchase a piece of land and start building rental houses. Alternatively, I might exchange some goats for a cow, which could also be a good investment. Once the cow matures, I can sell it to raise enough money to begin construction on my house. This will improve our living standards and provide my family with a stable income from renting out the property."

"I am currently in school and have many goals, but I am unsure how to achieve them due to our challenging living conditions. Living in poverty is difficult, as we struggle to meet even our basic needs. My immediate goal is to study hard and earn good grades that will allow me to attend a good college. With a solid education, I hope to secure a well-paying job that will improve our family's situation, lift us out of poverty, and help us start living a better life."

"In my family, no one has ever completed secondary school. After finishing eighth grade, I was unable to continue with my studies due to financial challenges. I feared that my fate would mirror that of my family. Despite achieving a good score of 321 out of 500, I had to stay behind to earn money and support my four siblings, who are currently in school. When GiveDirectly came into our lives, I was overjoyed. With their support, I was able to enroll at Mnazi Mwenga Secondary School, something I had always dreamed of. The school fees are affordable, and the teachers are very understanding. I spoke to our school bazaar about my situation and informed him that I would be paying in installments, and he agreed, which has allowed me to continue with my studies. Although life has been very difficult and at times I had lost hope, GiveDirectly’s assistance renewed my optimism. My goal now is to complete my studies and become the first in my family to finish school. I pray to God to help me advance to college, graduate, secure a good job, and improve my family's living standards."

"When I received $200 from GiveDirectly, my family and I decided to carefully budget the money based on our most urgent needs. At that time, we had no food to eat, and with two kids to take care of, this was our top priority. I allocated $80 to buy enough food for my family, and now we have plenty to eat. Our lives have greatly improved because we no longer worry about where our next meal will come from. Before receiving the money, I didn’t have a bed and had been sleeping on the floor. It was uncomfortable and tiring. So, I decided to use $50 to buy a bed. Now, I can enjoy a good night’s sleep with comfort. Another challenge we faced was having no chairs in our home. It was sometimes embarrassing when visitors came, and we had nowhere for them to sit. I spent $21 to buy three plastic chairs, and now when we have guests, they can comfortably sit down. With our immediate needs met, I used the remaining money to boost my small business, which was struggling at the time. I sell snacks, and the additional funds have helped me keep the business running. Thanks to this, I can now meet my daily needs and continue supporting my family."