"With 6 children in various levels of education, I have already spent more than $1000 this year alone. Being a single mother, this money was hard earned from casual jobs in the village together with the sale of my goats. With less than ten goats remaining, I am worried about how I will get the same amount of money for their school fees next year."

"I have always wanted a house of my own, where I can truly feel a sense of belonging. The one I currently live in is small and was kindly given to me by my daughter because I had nowhere else to sleep. Therefore, I gradually started purchasing building materials using a portion of the transfers I received from GiveDirectly. So far, I have accumulated ten iron sheets, left with a balance of ten more, along with other necessary building materials. My heart is set on building a two-roomed house that will be spacious and comfortable. My plan for this year and the years to come is to continue dedicating a portion of my transfers toward this goal until the house is complete. I know that the day I step into my new home will be one of the happiest moments of my life. Once I have achieved this milestone, I intend to redirect part of my transfers toward purchasing goats. I believe these goats will multiply over time, increasing in number and value, and will provide me with a sustainable source of income in the future when this program comes to an end. They will also keep me active and engaged, as I plan to personally take them to the grazing fields and care for them. I am profoundly grateful for the support I receive from GiveDirectly. It has not only given me the means to pursue my dreams but has also filled me with hope for brighter days ahead. With each step I take, I feel closer to a future where I can stand tall, proud of what I have accomplished."

"My son who was in his final year of High School had a huge debt in tuition fees. Since I wanted to avoid any distractions for him during his exams, I went ahead to spend $200 and settle the debt. Also about a decade ago, I had begun building a better house for my family and I. My husband and I assisted one another with funds when it came to building the house. Unfortunately with our kids in school, we had to put up a pause on the house because we felt that school was more important. Although our house was unfinished, we thought we could sustain living inside it as long as our kids pursued any education. Therefore, upon receiving the transfer's, and after a proper discussion with my husband, we decided to finally finish up on our derailed project. From the transfers that I received, I spent $350 on our home. This same money also allowed me to build a small home for my son as well because according to our customs and traditions he was now of age and we could not live in the same house as we did with his siblings."

"My son who was in his final year of High School had a huge debt in tuition fees. Since I wanted to avoid any distractions for him during his exams, I went ahead to spend $200 and settle the debt. Also about a decade ago, I had begun building a better house for my family and I. My husband and I assisted one another with funds when it came to building the house. Unfortunately with our kids in school, we had to put up a pause on the house because we felt that school was more important. Although our house was unfinished, we thought we could sustain living inside it as long as our kids pursued any education. Therefore, upon receiving the transfer's, and after a proper discussion with my husband, we decided to finally finish up on our derailed project. From the transfers that I received, I spent $350 on our home. This same money also allowed me to build a small home for my son as well because according to our customs and traditions he was now of age and we could not live in the same house as we did with his siblings."

"Before the peak of covid I had a job in town. This job allowed me to sustain my family and also allowed me to finally build a house as I had wanted. Unfortunately in 2020 at the height of covid-19 I lost my employer and that is how my job ended. Meanwhile I was not down building my house. That is why the minute I got these transfers I felt there was no better time than now to finish up on my house. Therefore, the first transfers allowed me to start this process but they were done before it was complete so I proceeded to use the second transfers as well. I went on to spend 113 dollars on the flooring, plastering and installing doors as well. My next move was to finally build a toilet. I know it sounds unbelievable but for the longest time my family and I haven't had a toilet and this was quite unsanitary not forgetting that we were quite prone to diseases as well as snakes every time we did not use a toilet. Building a toilet was the most important task that I had and that is why I proceeded to spend $357 on this process. Lastly, I spent the remaining $80 on a plough which would come in handy during the rainy season."

"I invested a bigger chunk of my transfer on my agri-business. I have been growing vegetables and also rearing livestock for sometime. I spent $200 on buying a water tank to store water for irrigating my vegetables. I previously struggled since I would have to rent a machine after every two weeks to be able to irrigate my vegetables and fruits which was very expensive. I used $200 to pay for my high school child so that I could lessen the fees burden. I used $100 to buy goats for rearing as an investment for future use. I used the remaining $50 to buy new school shoes and clothes for my children because most of their clothes and school were worn out"

"One evening, I was working with my fellow villagers, we were emptying our village dam to prepare it for the ongoing rainy season. We usually pump out the dirty stagnant water that on the onset of every rainy season so that we can store clean water for consumption. I was extreme happy after receiving the transfer message. I rushed home and shared the news with my family and they were all so happy. The first thought I had was that I will be able to clear my debts and fulfill my agricultural business dream."

"I have many goals in mind, but the one at the top is owning a pair of oxen. It has been my dream for a long time, but I couldn’t afford them because they are so expensive. This has forced me to prepare my farm by hand or, at times, hire someone to do it for me. Now I plan to use my savings from the Merry Go Round to purchase the bulls. These bulls will not only help with daily farm activities but also generate income for my family, as I can hire them out to neighbors for a fee. This investment will ensure we produce plenty of farm products, as I will be able to cultivate the entire farm with the help of the bull. Additionally, the income generated will be used to support my children’s education by directly paying their school fees."

"In the coming years, I plan to fulfill my dream of renovating my house. The current structure, made of old sticks, is in poor condition and at risk of collapsing at any moment. With the rainy season fast approaching, I live in constant fear of what might happen. As a mother of four children, I am deeply concerned about their well-being, as our current shelter is not safe or conducive for a healthy living environment. To bring this dream to life, I intend to sell some of my goats and use savings from the Merry Go Round initiative to gather the necessary funds for the renovation. Achieving this goal will make me the happiest mother alive, as I will finally be free from the constant worry and stress about our living conditions. It will bring peace and stability to my family, which we have long yearned for."

"In the coming year and beyond, I plan to allocate a portion of my transfers to purchase more goats, with the hope that they will multiply and grow in both number and value over time, as they typically reproduce quickly. I envision these goats becoming a significant source of income for my family. When financial needs arise, I can sell one or two goats to address them. As my children transition to higher levels of education, I intend to sell some goats to cover their school fees and other related expenses. Additionally, the income generated from selling the goats will help me address my family's various needs, including providing daily meals and managing emergencies, such as sickness."