"Two months ago ,I lost all my livestock to floods and I have not recovered from it. We used to depend on it in order to pay school fees for my son in secondary school. I have an arrears of $100 for two terms and he is sent home frequently to collect fees. I am saddened because he misses out on classwork which may affect his general performance."

"Financial constraints is the biggest challenge in my life. I do casual jobs to earn a living and due to its uncertain nature,it is difficult to meet all the basic needs. My children are often sent home to collect school fees and it worries me because they miss alot of school work when they stay at home. I am hoping that things will change and life would be better."

"The recent floods swept away all the crops in our farms and we have not yet recovered from it. My husband and I depend on farming to make ends meet and after loosing what we had hoped would sustain us for the whole year we resorted into casual jobs. It is difficult to sustain our needs because it is not reliable and this has left us with debts."

"Since I don't have any other source of income and rely entirely on GiveDirectly transfers, my aspiration is to start my own business and provide for my family. I envision opening a shop that offers a variety of products, such as vegetables and charcoal. I am currently saving a portion of my monthly transfers to help me launch this business. My ultimate goal is to not only generate enough profit to support my family but also to save for future endeavors, such as paying school fees, buying food, and purchasing clothing for my children and myself. This business venture is crucial for securing our future and improving our quality of life."

"As I was working as a school cook, it was around 4 pm when I saw a message on my phone indicating that I had received the unconditional cash transfer from GiveDirectly. Overwhelmed with excitement, I shared the news with my three colleagues, who quickly checked their phones and discovered they had received the money too. We celebrated together, feeling a sense of relief and joy, knowing that our plans were finally coming to fruition. For me, the first thought that came to mind was how I was going to use the money to build a house for my sons, a dream I had cherished for a long time."

"Before the support, I was struggling to keep my small potato chips business afloat. I had borrowed the capital to start it, and the repayment obligations meant that my profit margins were very small. Most of the money I made went straight back into paying off that debt, leaving very little for anything else. But now, thanks to the transfers from GiveDirectly, I was able to inject new, debt-free capital into my business. With the money I make from selling potato chips, I can finally afford to buy school requirements for my children. In the past, when they came home and asked for something, I often had to tell them we couldn't afford it. The guilt and frustration of not being able to provide for their needs weighed heavily on me. I can now buy them what they need, and it's such a relief to see their happiness and to know that their education and well-being are no longer compromised because of our financial struggles."

"Initially, my goal was to start a food selling business. However, because this required a lot of movement, I had to abandon it after developing health issues due to the cold. So, I shifted my focus to buying a cow for rearing instead. I'm already saving part of my transfer towards this project and I have hope that I will achieve it. This new venture presents an opportunity for me to generate income, which will enable me to support various needs within my family, including covering school fees, buying food, and acquiring essential household items. Currently, my husband struggles to generate sufficient income through selling locally sourced toothbrushes made from medicinal tree twigs. Therefore, through this new initiative with the cow, I hope to contribute in some way to our household finances as well."

"My maize farm is struggling due to a lack of funds for irrigation. I lack money to buy fuel and HDPE pipes essential for watering the crops. Animal attacks on the farm are a recurring issue, compounded by the inability to fence the farm due to financial constraints. With no sustainable employment, providing food for my family of 4 is a daily challenge. Additionally, I am facing difficulties paying for my theology course and covering school fees for my child. Moreover, essential furniture for my house remains unaffordable due to financial limitations."

"I'm facing challenges in expanding my newly started small business in the village. Selling goods in the open air leads to spoilage since i lack the resources to build a structure. Additionally, seeing my one-acre farming land unused gives me stress; I wanted to plant watermelon but could not due to financial constraints. Moreover, after experiencing flood damage to my home, I intended to relocate it to higher ground within the compound, but financial limitations prevent me from doing so."

"I currently have 1 acre of farming land that remains unused due to financial constraints, preventing me from purchasing essential farm inputs such as a gasoline generator, pipes, seeds and fuel. My family's primary income sources are charcoal burning and support from our children, which are insufficient to cover our food expenses and school fees for our two children. Moreover, our household items were destroyed by floodwater, and I lack the funds to replace them."