"I hope to have built a better house and also buy more land"

"In the coming year, my focus is on renovating my house. The roof is in terrible condition, with many holes, allowing rainwater to enter and exposing my family to cold infections. Before I can begin the renovation, I need to gather building materials and hire someone to repair the roof, specifically requiring at least ten sheets of iron. Since I lack a stable source of income, I hope that the upcoming cash transfers will enable me to complete this project. This is an opportune time to address this issue because concerns about hunger have been alleviated since we harvested enough food that I believe will sustain us until the end of the year and beyond."

"My top priority is meeting the basic needs of my mother and myself. Given our advanced age and the absence of anyone actively providing for us, we frequently experience food shortages, leaving us hungry for days. I'm glad that this planting season has provided us with enough food to last until next year. This presents an opportunity for me to invest the cash transfers in something that can generate funds for future food expenses once our current food supply runs out. Specifically, I want to invest in goats. To achieve this, I plan to save the transfers through a self-help group, accumulating enough money to buy at least three goats at once to start this venture."

"As a single mother, providing for my three children is becoming increasingly challenging, especially with the rising cost of living. I am grateful that the cash transfers have helped cover most of our basic needs, especially food and school fees for my children. Since I know the transfers will eventually come to an end, I aim to have established some wealth by that time. Specifically, I am focused on raising goats, which I plan to prioritize in the coming years. I'm relieved that the recent harvests have provided my family with enough food, which means that the upcoming transfers will give me a better opportunity to acquire goats. My goal is to have bought four goats by the end of the year."

"Over the next four years, my goal is to support my grandson Robert's education. Because his father is mentally challenged and unable to work to support him, the responsibility falls on me to care for Robert and his five younger sisters. Unfortunately, my income from charcoal burning is not sufficient to cover all his expenses. This is why I rely on cash transfers as the primary source of funds to pay for Robert's education until he completes secondary school. With the recent harvests, I believe that food security won't be a concern in the coming months, which will free up funds to support the education of these children. Additionally, I plan to start acquiring goats as a means of building wealth that can be used to generate their tuition fees in the future."

"In the upcoming years, my goal is to expand my livestock herd by acquiring more goats. I am particularly interested in goat rearing because of their resilience in harsh weather conditions, such as drought, which makes them a suitable choice compared to other livestock. This has been a long-standing goal of mine, but financial constraints and hunger have hindered me from achieving it. Now that we have harvested and hunger will be less of a concern for my family in the next few months, I see this as an opportunity to use the cash transfers to purchase goats. Given my advanced age and inability to engage in work to support my family's needs, building wealth through livestock keeping is the most practical way for me to contribute to household expenses."

"I have a deep passion for farming, and it brings me great joy to work on the land. Looking ahead to the coming years and beyond, I plan to expand my farming activities by increasing the number of sheep in my herd. Additionally, I intend to shift from maize farming to cultivating more drought-resistant crops such as millet and green grams. My aim is to achieve a bountiful harvest to meet our household needs and sell any surplus to continue supporting the children's education."

"GiveDirectly has made a significant impact by providing us with substantial transfers. These transfers have empowered us to make substantial investments that we once believed were beyond our reach. Thanks to these transfers, I was able to construct a comfortable house for my family, a dream that seemed distant as I lacked a stable income source due to my reliance on sporadic casual work in the village."

"I have harboured a long-standing desire to possess livestock, specifically goats, which currently stand as my sole assets. Regrettably, I lack a stable source of income, and in times of financial turmoil, I used to seek assistance from my neighbours, often leading me into debt. Even affording basic medical expenses was a formidable challenge. However, with my recent financial aid, I was able to acquire four goats for $140, which I am currently tending to. These goats represent the most valuable assets in my possession. As they reproduce, I can anticipate selling their offspring to address pressing financial needs, such as medical expenses. In addition to this, my dwelling was originally constructed from mud, and my aspiration was to enhance its durability and comfort. The interior was often dusty, necessitating plastering and flooring. Consequently, I purchased cement, and sand, and paid for labour costs to undertake the reconstruction. The house has now been transformed into a more respectable and stable abode than before. Moreover, I allocated some of the funds to buy essential food items, ensuring that my children could enjoy consistent and ample meals. Since receiving this financial support, our household has not experienced food shortages as it once did. Gone are the days when I had to skip meals due to insufficient provisions."

"I used my most recent transfers to complete the construction of my house, which I had initially started with my first transfer. I had been living in a grass-thatched hut, and my lifelong dream was to have a comfortable house with an iron roof. The grass-thatched hut was constantly leaking, requiring me to replace the grass roof regularly, which was not only tiring but also impractical due to its small size. Thanks to the recent transfer, I was able to purchase iron sheets, and timber, and pay for labour to fulfil my dream. I am profoundly grateful to GiveDirectly for transforming my life; I now have a sturdy and decent house to call home. With the remaining funds, I invested $200 in buying a cow, which I am currently raising. This cow will soon provide me with a source of income through milk sales. Additionally, it serves as an asset because I can breed it and sell the offspring if I ever encounter a financial need. Furthermore, I used part of the funds to ensure that my family never went hungry by purchasing food supplies. GiveDirectly's support has made a significant difference in my life, and I can't express my gratitude enough"