"As a second wife in a polygamous arrangement, accessing financial resources to support our child's further education is a significant hurdle. My youngest child, Joseph, has been unable to continue his education beyond secondary school, which he completed in 2022, due to lack of funds. This is partly because my husband, a primary school teacher, retired in the same year, severing our primary source of income. With household expenses still to be met and no alternative income streams, I resorted to selling palm wine as a coping mechanism."

"Housing is the challenge I am currently facing in life. I live in a one room house which is semi permanent and the roof is so weak. It can easily be blown by strong winds thus most of time whenever there is strong winds I seek shelter from neighbors. I can not be visited by my relatives because no where to accommodate them."

"My goal in the coming year and beyond is to build my dream house.This is because I do not have one, 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 buy a few 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."

"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."