"The tough financial times I have experienced this year have been a great learning point for me. It is also clear that I cannot earn enough from the grocery business I operate to cater for all my financial needs, and if I need to improve my living standards and give my children the best education, I need to improve my earnings either by bringing in several other items or opening another business to run concurrently with the current one. After carefully thinking about it and doing a bit of research, I have decided to open a hotel business in a nearby centre. I will be operating the hotel business concurrently with the grocery business in order to improve my earnings. To achieve this, I have been saving part of my monthly transfers in local savings group consisting of 33 individuals and at the end of the year, we will be getting back our savings which I will then use to set up the business. Having only a few left to end of this wonderful program., I need to do my best to ensure that by the time it ends, I will have a stable source of income and live a much better life than I was when I was enrolled. The transfers will also be of great help in terms of improving the hotel business and purchasing all the necessary equipment."

"You've worked well to enable us relocate. You've performed well"

"I am optimistic about the business's progress in the future. Once it gains momentum, I will consider exploring alternative businesses based on the ideas I will have thought of. Currently, I'm in the process of obtaining a medical insurance to ease the financial burden of my son's medical expenses. This will also allow us to comfortably manage my Six year old children's school fees."

"We currently live in a one roomed mud house, with my family of six. It's difficult sharing one room with my children and wife. There's no privacy. I need a separate house for me and my wife. The children and visitors can share the current one. A separate house gives us privacy and enough room for our children to even read at night with minimal disturbance. Sharing one room is difficult for everyone."

"This year, my foremost priority is to settle all pending school fees for my children. I aspire for them to finish their final year free from the stress of outstanding dues. My wish is that they dedicate themselves entirely to their studies in this concluding semester. With numerous children, ensuring timely payment of all their school fees has been a constant source of strain for me, and this has unfortunately impacted their academic progress over the years."

"Food insecurity is the biggest challenge due to persistent drought. Since I am getting older and weak, fending for myself is difficult hence I rely fully on people donations and assistance to be able to feed myself and my grandson. We take one meal a day , which has rendered me weak and prone to diseases because of lack of proper nutrition."

"I have always wanted to construct a bigger house since our one-room apartment was getting too small for my family of six, which consists of my husband, four growing kids, and myself. When GiveDirectly came into the picture, I saw it as a golden opportunity to fulfil this dream. I used part of the second transfer to purchase some of the necessary materials. When I received the third transfer, I used the entire amount of $450 to acquire more materials like iron sheets, building nails, metal rods, and frames. Additionally, I paid for construction labor. I am delighted to share that the new house is now complete. It offers us much-needed space, featuring a sitting room to welcome visitors and our bedroom. This upgrade not only enhances our living conditions but also provides us with dignity and privacy, a luxury we didn't have while sharing one room with our growing teenagers."

"I have been renting out my property for a while now since I don't have the money to invest in farming. This was a necessary choice given the significant financial demands of farming and my little earnings from irregular casual labor. I dreamed of creating my own successful tomato farm while working on other people's tomato fields. The most recent transfer gave me the chance to realize this goal. I allocated the entire amount to this endeavor, investing in land preparation, purchasing essential inputs like tomato seedlings and fertilizers, and paying for labor. I am delighted to report that my tomato crops are thriving, and a promising harvest is anticipated. The income generated will contribute to a larger, more comfortable dwelling for my family, as our current one-room setup serves both as a kitchen and bedroom."

"I spent all my money building my good house and some home items such as a bed, chairs and a table among others. These are some of the items I have been lacking for a while."

"My husband was not responsible and I had to part ways with him many years ago. This has forced me to live my own life at my maternal home although he sometimes visit us, maybe after a period of 2 year. Raising my son single-handedly yet I have a husband who is not responsible is a very tough life. This means I have to assume all the household responsibilities and I am required to engage in casual jobs to earn some cash for food. In addition, my house collapsed and I can not construct a new one because I do not have money. This has compelled me to seek refuge in my brother's house, a situation that has worsen my social status. What a life!"