"In the few months to come, I set my sights on a great goal: building a new house. It's something I have been dreaming about for a long time now. I'm tired of feeling embarrassed and having people look down on me because I don't have a home of my own. I have been seeking shelter in my relatives compounds, and I feel it's time for me to have my own house. Through the transfers, I'm slowly but steadily buying the materials I need each month, and I can already see the pieces coming together. I believe that in just a few more months, I'll be able to stand tall and proud in front of my very own house, with joy and pride that I had been lacking for years."

"Puting food on the table in my house needs q total devotion at the quarry! I dont have other alternative but only to do the strenuous quary work. Sometimes I go to bed hungry if the quary personnel delays our payments. I am living a hard life but there's no other option."

"I was doing casual labor on a nearby farm when I received a confirmation message that I had been given $200 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy because I was broke and had nothing to eat. I have five kids, and they were equally starving. I was full of stress, but this money not only brought joy but also a sense of relief. I was calm, knowing that with money, I could figure the situation out. The first thought that came to my mind was to pay half of the school fee balance so that my child in high school could continue learning without interruption."

"I am a widow who depends on my daughter, who works as a casual laborer, for sustenance. Upon receiving the second transfer of $550, I carefully planned how to spend it to improve our lives and secure our future. First, I bought two high-breed goats for $120, adding to the two goats I already had. These goats are not just livestock but an investment and security for the future. They will provide milk and procreate, increasing our herd and offering a potential source of income when needed. Food has always been a challenge, so I spent $82 to ensure we had enough. I bought two bales of maize flour for $32 and a sack of maize for $50. This has brought great relief because now we have a steady food supply at home. With the remaining $348, I plan to renovate my house. The mud walls get damaged during the rainy seasons, making the house unsafe. I want to plaster the walls to protect them from rain and prevent the house from collapsing. This will ensure a safe and secure home, giving us peace of mind and stability."

"As a single parent, my current dream is to see my two children excel in their education and thrive in life, as I have nothing to pass on as an inheritance. Right now, I am using GiveDirectly transfers to manage previous-term fee arrears, which has significantly eased my financial burden. With the limited income from my charcoal business, I’m prioritizing my children's education to ensure it continues uninterrupted. I would be immensely proud to see them graduate and advance to higher levels of education, as their success represents my hope for the future. They are my greatest joy and source of hope, and I believe this dream is achievable."

"During the heavy rains 2 months ago, I slid and dislocated both of my legs. I have since recovered but not strong enough to engage in the casual work I used to depend on for survival. Being a single mother and living alone, I also have no land of my own so I find myself surviving at the mercies of my neighbors."

"I have an eye injury that has totally incapacitated the vision of my left eye. Consequently I am not in a position to work in my farm nor tend to my livestock, mostly depending on my wife. Most times she gets overwhelmed with providing for me and my 7 children."

"Currently, I'm facing a lot of challenges including lack of money and the effects from the recent floods that riced our village. Since I depend on casual labor which is not consistent it has been very difficult for me to provide for my family. This has been made more challenging by the recent floods which destroyed our maize farm leaving us hopeless about the future. We had invested all our money on the farm with the hope of getting food and also money from the sale of the crops. However, we are left not knowing what the future will bring since we don't have enough money to replant the maize."

"My biggest challenge currently is where I live. Over the past 10 years we have lived together in our relatives house which we find very difficult because we don't have a place of our own. Recently, they have asked us to look for a place to move to which is challenging since we don't have money to purchase land or even build a house. We have three children which makes our situation even more dire."

"Over the years, my main focus has been supporting my children to finish school. Once they're done, especially with one in high school, I’m counting on them to join forces with me to achieve my dream of building our own house. Living with my parents isn't ideal, but it's a necessary compromise while I prioritize their education. Once they graduate and secure good jobs, we can work together towards our shared goal of having a place to call our own where we can all feel comfortable and secure. I plan to use the transfers and my charcoal business savings to reach this goal, and I believe it will be attainable."