"I WAS AT MY HOUSE LISTENING TO THE RADIO, I FELT SO GOOD AND HAPPY BECAUSE I FELT I HAD BEEN REMEMBERED. TO AVOID MISUSE, I MADE SURE I AVOID EXCITEMENT"

"The construction of a kitchen became a pressing need as I had been cooking in an open-air makeshift area that was often disrupted by rain and wind. Investing $150, I purchased essential materials, including iron sheets, poles, and nails, and also covered a labor charge of $50. The result is a comfortable space where I can cook without being affected by the weather. This area now not only functions as a kitchen but also provides a bed space for my children. Livestock farming, especially goats, is a prevalent practice in our region due to their resilience in harsh conditions and ability to forage for food even when feeds are limited. With an initial herd of 100 goats, I used $95 from my third transfer to add two more, reinforcing the backbone of our family's support. This additional livestock allows us to cover school fees for my four children and address various household expenses. Furthermore, I utilized the remaining $155 to partially pay the school fees for my son in college and three others in secondary school. I appreciate GiveDirectly's financial support, empowering us to make choices in allocating funds, prioritizing education, and preserving our goats for future opportunities."

"For everyone, GiveDirectly has had a profound impact on our daily lives, especially during challenging economic times when affording more than one meal a day was a struggle. . GiveDirectly's program has stood out as an open and transparent process that required no payment, bribes, or any deceptive tactics for enrollment. The fairness of the program is something we all appreciate and commend the organization for. The monetary support provided is deemed the best, allowing us to make timely investments based on market prices. Overall, the entire process has been commendable, and I express the wish that GiveDirectly continues with the same approach in subsequent villages."

"Despite the challenges of aging and the difficulty in maintaining our previous level of provision for our families, we persistently strive in various sectors like livestock and subsistence farming to improve our livelihood. Utilizing part of the second transfer, I invested in a heifer, foreseeing it as a future asset for both milk production and the potential sale of offspring when the need arises. Looking ahead to the coming year and beyond, my primary focus is on sustainability through small-scale farming and livestock production. I aim to ensure that the modest harvest from these endeavors is sufficient for my family of four and can also contribute to covering school fees for the two grandchildren under our care. I appreciate the significant impact of the support I have received, evident in the addition of a cow and the installation of a water point, streamlining water access for us at a reduced cost."

"Until recently, my primary livelihood depended on subsistence farming, primarily for household consumption. Struggling without a consistent source of income, I decided to venture into poultry farming. The objective behind this was to establish a reliable income stream that would contribute to covering my son's college fees. Through the sale of some chickens at $4 each recently, I successfully raised a substantial amount, enabling my son to enroll in college. My current focus is on expanding this poultry venture. I plan to invest in acquiring more chickens, improving the structures, and ensuring an adequate supply of feed for the poultry. This goal is driven by the belief that cultivating such a project will significantly transform my financial situation. The ability to sell chickens presents an opportunity to generate income consistently, contributing not only to the sustainability of the poultry project but also to the overall improvement of my livelihood."

"As I said I am saving towards going to college. I have saved since being enrolled monthly. I have been in the program two years and my hope is by next year much I will have enough to take me through the first semester as I need $600 to start my first semester and complete it. I will be joining school to study masonry professionally to allow me get into opportunities that now I am unable to go for as I do not have the skills or qualifications but thanks to Givedirectly transfers this dream is not far fetched."

"I want my kids to go through school. It now feels like an impossible task as my husband has no work while my business of selling charcoal is almost non existent. I want my children to have a fighting chance through getting a good education and I want to help them go through school and advance their studies beyond primary school so that they have opportunities us as their parents never had. I also want to invest in animals to help facilitate this dream hence from time to time I plan to invest my transfers of buying animals."

"I have a small business selling a type of tuna locally referred to as "omena", my husband sells bread. These businesses do not make enough to sustain family needs. My main concern at the moment is my house, it is falling apart and I do not have the finances to build a new house. I would like to use Givedirectly transfers to buy iron sheets which are becoming expensive by the day. As at now I have 4 sheets of iron and I need 16 sheets more. I am planning to use my cash transfers to ensure that this new house is completed and am able to move out of this delapitated space."

"I have 3 school going children, one in grade 6, another in grade four and the other in grade two. My husband and I both sell charcoal to make ends meet. This business of selling charcoal has been greatly affected by the drought and then the heavy rainfall. We have an almost nonexistent income with school going children. It is difficult to predict if we will be able to cater for their schooling but we hope through the transfers we can get them through school and also buy a number of chicken that can be sold to make an income to be used to educate my children."

"My oldest cleared primary school and would like to join secondary school. I have no job to earn an income I do casual jobs to make a living. My husband came back home in October and also has no work he is engaged in now. Secondary school is expensive and with no income we are not sure we can facilitate our child's schooling, Our goal is to have her join Secondary school if the money becomes available or wait and join a technical training when we get enough money to facilitate this."