"In the coming year and beyond, my primary focus is on my children's education because I want them to become independent and successful in the future. To ensure this, I plan to start saving little by little to buy sheep and goats. These animals will be a valuable investment that I can sell when needed to cover their education costs. By building up my livestock, I will create a steady source of income that will stand in for my children’s school fees and other needs, helping me secure their bright futures."

"In the coming year and beyond, my goal is to expand my livestock by purchasing more goats, as I currently have nine. This is a crucial step toward securing my family's future. I plan to save at least $10 each month from the GiveDirectly transfers to gradually build my savings for this investment. Having more goats will enable me to sell them when necessary, providing a steady source of income to cover my family's needs. Although it's a long-term plan, I am determined to achieve it and ensure financial stability for all of us."

"It was in the morning when I woke up and checked my phone. I found a message informing me that GiveDirectly had sent me $200. I was so happy and immediately shared the good news with my whole family. My first thought was to use the money to find somewhere safe away from the floods. However, thanks to GiveDirectly's unconditional cash, I later decided to focus on other pressing needs instead."

"My plan for this year and beyond is to permanently protect my family from future floods. I aim to begin by paying off the remaining balance to secure a new piece of land in a safer area and building a home there. With a safe, permanent home, my family will have security and peace of mind. Once this is accomplished, I will continue farming on our current land, with a focus on generating income. This income will enable me to support my family by ensuring my children get a good education and that we always have food on the table."

"My goal for this year and the years to come is to focus on farming to fully recover from the effects of the recent floods. With the support from GiveDirectly, I am committed to approaching farming differently by trying new crops like tomatoes and watermelons, which are in high demand and can generate more income in the market. Making this vision a reality fills me with happiness and hope. Challenges like floods and drought may come, but I am determined not to give up. I will keep trying, working toward a more stable and prosperous future for my family."

"When I received $180 from GiveDirectly, I felt a deep sense of relief and happiness, as this money arrived at a very difficult time. I was unwell and unable to provide for my family, so this support was a true blessing. I used $45 to buy food, ensuring that my family had enough to eat, which brought us comfort and energy. I then used $120 to buy essential household furniture, including a bed, mattress, and plastic chairs. This addition not only brought comfort to our home but also improved our overall well-being as a family. Having a comfortable bed and mattress has been especially helpful for my healing. I used the remaining money to pay for my medication, and now I am feeling stronger each day. I am immensely grateful to GiveDirectly for this support, which has made a positive difference in our lives."

"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I immediately allocated $210 to buy construction materials, including iron sheets and building poles. My current one-room house is too small for my family of five, so my goal is to add an extra room to better serve our needs. I am waiting for GiveDirectly’s final transfer to make this plan a reality. I then used $200 to buy four goats. Goats thrive in our hot climate and reproduce quickly, which will provide my family with milk and, if needed, an emergency income source. Finally, I used the remaining funds to buy grains, as floods recently swept through my farm, leaving me no harvest. Thanks to GiveDirectly, my family has food security, even in these challenging times."

"Upon receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I felt happy and grateful, seeing it as a chance to address my most pressing needs. I have two children—one daughter in secondary school and a son in university. Covering their school fees has been a heavy burden, and I often rely on their older siblings for help, though they don’t have stable jobs either. So, I used $310 to pay for their school fees, which has brought me a huge relief, as I no longer feel the stress and pressure of unpaid fees. With that settled, I used $80 to buy two beds—one for my daughter and one for myself. Previously, we only had mattresses and were sleeping on the floor, but now we sleep comfortably, and it has also improved our privacy at home. Finally, I spent the remaining amount on food to meet our immediate needs, as it’s a constant struggle to provide food, often relying on casual labor to get by. This support from GiveDirectly has made a tremendous difference in easing my worries and improving our quality of life."

"When I recently received $450 from GiveDirectly, I felt both happy and deeply grateful to GiveDirectly and to God. I decided to invest $380 in buying a cow. I have always loved livestock keeping, and in our area, cattle thrive. I have wanted to own a cow for a long time, but I never had the means until now. This cow will be beneficial in many ways – it will provide milk to feed my family, and as it reproduces and grows into a larger herd, it can become a source of income. This investment makes the support I received feel long-lasting and meaningful. After buying the cow, I used $40 to purchase food for my family. I had no harvest this season because recent floods destroyed our crops, so it was important for us to stock up on food. This support from GiveDirectly means so much to me, especially in these difficult times, as it has brought hope when we felt hopeless. Now, my family can have enough food even without a harvest. With the remaining amount, I purchased essential daily household items to ensure I could meet our everyday needs without struggling. GiveDirectly’s support has truly made a difference in our lives, providing both immediate relief and hope for the future."

"I was at home, and, as usual, when I went to sleep, I left my phone with my children. I have three of them who wake up early to go to day secondary school, and they use my phone as an alarm. In the morning, as they were leaving, they returned my phone and excitedly told me the good news – I had received money from GiveDirectly! When I checked, it was true; I had received $200. I was so happy and grateful. I shared the news with my husband, and together, we started planning how best to use it."