"I've been living in a grass-thatched house for years, but my dream has always been to live in an iron-roofed house. To reach this goal, I've been saving a part of my monthly income to gradually buy the building materials. So far, I've managed to get 22 iron sheets and some building poles and hope to start construction soon. My sole focus is achieving this goal, as an iron-roofed house will protect me from the rains, which have been a nightmare in my current house. I plan to save more to buy the remaining building poles, timber, and nails, and also cover the labor costs."

"In the upcoming year and beyond, my plan is to purchase a sewing machine valued at $170. With my coursework completed, I am now able to open my own shop. This venture will serve as a source of income to support my family. Additionally, I intend to rent a shop near my location and stock a few additional items alongside my tailoring business. I am happy to report that I have saved up $100 towards the purchase of the machine, leaving only a small percentage remaining. I am truly grateful to Give Directly for their generous financial support, as it has given me renewed optimism in achieving my dream goal."

"Persevering in this house has been quite a challenge, especially during the rainy season. I built this house a long time ago, and since the roof is made of grass, it leaks a lot, making it feel like I’m sleeping outside even though I’m inside. My main focus for the upcoming year and beyond is to build my dream house. I’m happy to have acquired 16 iron sheets and am working hard to get the remaining materials to start the construction work."

"I am living an unbearable life, skipping a meal is not new to me. I am a casual labourer and I earn about $3 a day which is not enough to meet my daily end. My struggle does not end there, getting casual jobs is also another problem. I sometimes opt for charcoal burning to earn a living. An unstable source of family income has reduced my dignity as a man. I sometimes borrow food and other basic needs to survive which is heartbreaking. Truth be told, I am not happy with my life. I am hoping that one day I will get out of this unbearable life."

"My son Bidson Bartingat is pursuing a diploma course at Tambach teachers college. We are required to pay $230 each term to facilitate his studies. Apart from this, I am also working tooth and nail to pay school fees for my two sons and a daughter in secondary school. We rely on charcoal burning and subsistence farming to earn a living, this is not a stable source of income and has made our life difficult. Putting food on the table is another setback for me and my husband. We sometimes skip meals or borrow food from my neighbors. I feel unhappy as a parent and that I have failed to be a responsible parent."

"I have started preparing to cultivate my land as the rains are about to set in. I have two acres, and since we didn't harvest anything last season, I want to start early this time. If all goes well and we have a good harvest, it will greatly benefit our family and relieve my husband from the strain of burning and selling charcoal to support us. I really appreciate Give Directly for the financial support, which has been a great help to our family. Additionally, it has significantly contributed to our well-being, especially in enabling my children to continue attending school."

"Since separating from my spouse, I shoulder all the responsibilities. I plan to open a small shop to generate additional income to support my son's school fees. However, I haven't been able to start this project yet because we are currently facing hunger due to a poor harvest caused by the scorching sun. The little we get is spent on food. Once I have a good harvest, I will divert my monthly income towards this project. I am optimistic that once this idea becomes a reality, the extra income will allow me to comfortably provide for my son's education, bringing me peace of mind. I am grateful to be part of this program."

"Last year, my daughter finished high school but left with arrears of $240, which prevented her from obtaining her certificates. She received an admission letter to a university; she is supposed to report next month. Clearing her arrears had been a significant challenge for us. We rely entirely on seasonal farming, and with two other children in high school, covering their fees and providing for our family's needs stretched us. Thankfully, with my second transfer from GiveDirectly, I spent $10 on her transport and cleared her arrears, allowing her to finally obtain her certificates. Additionally, I used $60 to reduce the fees for my other two children, paying $30 each. I also invested in buying two goats at $60 each, totaling $120, to support future school fees for my children. Prioritizing their education is essential for us, as my husband and I did not have the opportunity to attend school ourselves, so we are determined to ensure our children do. Their success tomorrow will be our win. The remaining $20 was used to purchase a few essential food items."

"I intend to go back into crop farming. After losing my land to the lake, I stopped. I have approached a relative who has offered me half an acre of land near the river. I intend to focus on planting vegetables, which grow quickly and have a ready market. I will use the income from the vegetables to provide for my seven children, ensuring they have enough to eat and saving any surplus to cover their school fees. With one of my children set to join high school next year, this investment is crucial in ensuring I can meet their educational needs while sustaining our household."

"After losing my kitchen and latrine due to the recent heavy rains accompanied by heavy winds, I was devastated and unsure of what to do next. Depending on casual jobs and with my husband working as a boda rider, repairing these essential structures seemed impossible. However, thanks to GiveDirectly's support, my washroom has already been fixed, and work on rebuilding the kitchen is in progress. I am really grateful to GiveDirectly for saving me stress and restoring my home again."