"I live with my three children in my grandmother's house. By the end of next year, my goal is to have completed building my own house. Once we've settled into our new home, I intend to use the transfers from GiveDirectly to purchase more goats, pay for my children's school fees, and buy food for our daily sustenance. I am hopeful that these goats will multiply and increase in number hence grow into a huge flock which will in future be traded for cows and in turn provide a financial security for emergencies in the future. If needed, I can sell them and use the proceeds to address any unexpected issues that may arise and needed attention."

"At the moment, my family and I are staying in a place we do not rightfully own, but are squatting on a relative's property. My plan has always been to buy my own land so that my family and I can build a home and stay there. As a businessman and charcoal vendor, I plan to work hard and save the proceeds with the aim of buying a piece of land for my young family. I also have quite a number of goats and chickens that are still multiplying. I am hopeful that they will continue to do so, allowing me to sell them in the future and add the proceeds to my savings from my business. My goal is to buy a piece of land where my family can have our own home and achieving this will make me a very happy man"

"My plan is to expand my business and increase revenue to support my family. To achieve this, I intend to use some of my transfers I receive from GiveDirectly to boost my capital and add more stock. I also plan to buy more goats with the transfers, hoping they will multiply so I can sell them in the future and reinvest the proceeds into my business. I am hopeful that this strategy will succeed, as this business has been my lifelong dream and achieving it will mean a lot to me."

"After I got married to my lovely husband, 5 years later he decided to be a polygamous man and added 2 extra wife. The family size increased and his earnings of $35 per week could no longer sustain all our needs. I work as a charcoal burner which gives me an average of $ 14 in a week. Even though it is an additional source of income, we still struggle to meet the basic needs and this has affected the education of my 3 children because they are in and out of school fees. Financial constraints is the biggest challenge I'm currently facing."

"I have been facing significant challenges in obtaining enough food. Being unemployed at my age has made it difficult for me to consistently access three meals a day. I rely mainly on sporadic casual work, which is challenging to secure in the village. Unfortunately, the recent rainy season did not provide much relief, as the harvest I received in January 2024 has already been depleted. I was counting on the March to May 2024 rains to yield a good harvest, but those hopes have been dashed due to the failure of the rains."

"As a mother of 10 children, the loss of my husband in early February 2023 has significantly impacted our lives. The primary challenge I face is unemployment, which has made it extremely difficult to meet the needs of such a large family. Providing for my children's necessities, such as food, school fees, and basic essentials, has become a constant struggle. The weight of caring for my children and managing our day-to-day lives now rests solely on my shoulders. To make ends meet, I have resorted to various coping mechanisms for survival, including taking up casual labor such as charcoal burning, which unfortunately exacerbated my chest problems."

"I used to be a civil servant, but now I am retired and live in the village where I farm and raise livestock. I consider my livestock to be crucial assets that I can depend on. Currently, I have several goats and my goal is to breed them, increase their number, and sell them to generate income. This income has so far helped me pay for my children's education. One of my children is already in university, and the other recently completed high school and plans to join university this year. When I received my first transfer, I spent $200 to buy three more goats, aiming to grow my herd. Since I am not working anymore, I believe these livestock will help me generate money when I need it. I spent the remaining portion of the transfer to clear my children's fee arrears. My son had a large fee balance from high school and was not able to collect his certificates. I thus paid $100 to clear the arrears, and he was then able to collect his certificates and is now ready to join the university. I also paid a full semester's fee of $250 for my other son already enrolled in the university to ensure he continues with his studies without any interruptions concerning fees. I am happy that my children are currently pursuing their academic goals."

"I have always wanted to build a toilet that could serve my family. However, due to my financial situation, I couldn't afford the necessary materials for this project. As a result, my family and I have been using our neighbour's toilet, which has been a challenge for us. I was concerned about the health risks of having many people share one toilet. When GiveDirectly came with assistance, I was grateful because building a toilet was my greatest need. Upon receiving my first transfer, I used it to purchase 5 iron sheets, nails, bricks, and poles, which cost $80. I built the toilet, which not only eliminated the health risks but also improved our living environment. I also spent $50 on purchasing new clothes for myself and my two children. The remaining amount was spent on buying foodstuffs, ensuring that my family had enough to eat. This reduced the burden on my husband, who is the breadwinner of the family and relies on casual jobs. Now, even when he's unable to find work, we still have enough food to eat, and affording three meals a day is no longer a struggle for us."

"In the coming year and beyond, my goal is to get two plowing bulls. These bulls will enable me to transform my farm and secure a better future for my family. I will use them to plow my farm efficiently, increasing the crop yields. Additionally, I plan to lease them out to my neighbors for a small fee, thus providing an income. To make this dream a reality, I have devised a careful savings plan. Each month, I set aside $15 from the money I received from GiveDirectly. Considering that a small bull costs $100, I will be able to buy my first bull in just over six months and the second one shortly after. This disciplined approach will not only bring me closer to my immediate goal but will also pave the way for long-term prosperity and stability."

"School fees for my children is the challenge I am currently facing in life. My husband and I do casual jobs making approximately $30 per month which caters for food and school fees though not enough. My children have been missing classes due to lack of school fees thus dropping in their performances. Some have even dropped out of school."