"My goal is to revive my restaurant, where I used to serve a variety of dishes like chapatis, beans, tea, and ugali. Running my own business is more fulfilling than working for someone else, as it allows me to invest extra effort into ensuring its success. Currently, I am doing hairdressing at clients' homes for a small fee after having to close down the restaurant due to several challenges. I am determined to bring the restaurant back to life, fulfilling my entrepreneurial dreams. The prolonged drought led to a severe water shortage, forcing me to temporarily close the restaurant. The nearest water source was far from my shop, and water was being sold at $0.55 per 20-liter container, making it unsustainable to keep the business running. This situation caused losses and reduced customer visits. However, I am planning to reopen the restaurant soon. Until then, I am sustaining myself by offering hairdressing services to clients in their homes."

"With my transfer, I first bought two goats for $50 and $70 each, which will help provide fresh milk for my eight children. Milk has been quite expensive, and having these goats means that my young children will get the nutrition they need. As the goats multiply, I can also sell some of them to help pay for my children's school fees. I have two children in high school, and I paid their cumulative arrears of $150 to avoid them being sent back home. Additionally, our living situation was challenging after floods destroyed many of our household items, including our sofa. To improve our comfort, I purchased a new sofa for $55, which was necessary since we had limited seating. To ensure we have enough food, I bought three bags of maize for $70, 15 kilograms of beans for $21, and spent $14 on other food items, especially after losing our maize crop to the floods. Getting food was a challenge. At the time I received my money, one of my children was unwell, so I spent $15 on his medication. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"GiveDirectly has truly impressed me with the way they conduct their work. The officers were consistently humble and respectful during the enrollment process, making us feel valued and appreciated. One aspect I particularly love is that enrollment is optional; no one is forced to join, which creates a sense of empowerment among community members. Additionally, the follow-up support helps ensure that recipients use their cash transfers appropriately, leading to positive outcomes in our lives. I suggest that GiveDirectly continue with their current approach, as it is clearly effective, and, in my opinion, there are no areas for improvement."

"As a dedicated crop farmer, I have been focusing on my current planting of butternut squash and green grams, which I expect to be ready for harvest in about two months. Witnessing the success of my wife's business has inspired me to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams. I plan to start my own business focused on buying and selling charcoal, which I believe has significant potential. My strategy is to open a store in town where I can purchase charcoal for around $7 and sell it for approximately $10 per bag. especially since charcoal is readily available due to the legalization of harvesting from the prosopis tree, which is known for producing high quality charcoal. This investment not only aims to enhance my financial stability but also to contribute to our family's overall economic growth."

"In the coming years, I plan to expand my crop farming activities from the half a acre of land I currently cultivate to two acres. This expansion is crucial because, with the additional space, I can grow more maize and increase my yield, which will allow me to better address my family's needs. I intend to use my final transfer from GiveDirectly to fund this expansion. By planting a variety of crops, I can create a more sustainable farming practice that protects against market fluctuations and increases my income. Ultimately, my goal is to stop leasing land and purchase my own, enabling me to invest in a diverse range of crops and secure a stable future for my family."

"In the coming year, my plan is to focus on crop and livestock farming, which I believe will provide a sustainable income for my family. I intend to use my next transfer to buy more sheep as they multiply quickly. Alongside livestock, I am planning to plant butternut squash, a crop that thrives in our area and promises good returns. The profits from these investments will be crucial for prioritizing my children's education. With eleven children to care for, my ultimate goal is to ensure that all of them finish school and have better opportunities for the future. I didn't have the chance to go to school myself, but I have seen firsthand the difference education can make. Those who have had the privilege of an education lead more stable and fulfilling lives, and I want the same for my children, not just for their sake but also so that they can support me in my old age."

"When I received my unconditional cash transfer, I decided to prioritize my children's education and the well-being of my family. My son is currently in junior secondary school, and I enrolled him in boarding, which cost me $105. His school recommended boarding due to the long distance and the dangers of crossing the river, especially after the recent flood incident. Additionally, I have a daughter in high school who had accumulated $200 in unpaid school fees. I had no idea how I would settle her fees, but with this transfer, I was able to clear the arrears, which brought me peace of mind. As a crop farmer, I used $50 for land preparation, intending to plant maize on my one-acre farm. The proceeds from this harvest will help sustain us in the future. To create a lasting memory of the support I received from GiveDirectly, I bought a goat worth $60, which will also help us in the long run. With the remaining funds, I purchased food items like beans and maize to keep us going as we wait for the crops in the field to mature. This cash transfer has truly relieved a great burden and allowed me to plan for our needs with confidence."

"I am a farmer, and this is my main source of income. However, in the past, I planted crops without considering several important factors, like market demand, because I didn't have the necessary irrigation equipment. As a result, I limited myself to short-cycle crops and those that required little water. Now that I have bought a generator, I am planning to expand my farming operations. I used to plant only on 1 to 1.5 acres, despite having a larger tract of land, but with the generator, I plan to increase this to over 3 acres. I also intend to be more strategic in choosing which crops to plant, focusing on marketable and profitable varieties. To achieve this, I will use my final transfer to cover the expansion costs and undergo farmer training to help me acquire new skills and become a more professional farmer, better equipped to succeed in the future."

"When I received my second transfer from GiveDirectly, I knew I had to make decisions that would secure a better future for my family. Our area is prone to floods, and since my house is located in a flat area, we have often been disrupted by these floods. This year was no different. To solve this, I decided to purchase a plot on higher ground for $400, and I paid a deposit of $250, planning to clear the balance later. My goal is to build a house there and move, which will save us from the constant flooding in the future. In addition, I bought a goat for $70. I have always wanted to add to my goats because they are valuable during emergencies, and like crop farming, they can be easily moved when the weather becomes harsh. My children’s clothes were old, and they didn’t have nice ones for special occasions, so I used $30 to buy clothes for my four children. At that time, two of my children were sick from living in our damp house; they had pneumonia. I spent $40 on their medication to help them recover. With the remaining $60, I bought a 90-kg bag of maize and condiments since food was a big challenge. After the floods, we lost our crops, and now we have to buy everything, and we solely rely on charcoal production to make ends meet. Thank you GiveDirectly for your support."

"I am a fisherman and for the longest time I have been using a hand made canoe to fish. Recently, the water levels in the lake have risen making it difficult to manuvour hence a reduction in the quantity. Also, getting raw materials for making a bigger one has been hindered by floods. This has greatly reduced the amount of money I earn hence hindering my plans."