"The primary financial burden that has been adversely affecting me pertains to the persistent challenge of food shortages within my household. Struggling to adequately provide for my family, every coin I received was entirely channelled towards basic needs, leaving me unable to venture into other endeavors, such as livestock projects. Nevertheless, I am now pleased that a successful harvest has alleviated this situation. The bounty from our farm has resulted in a sufficient food supply for my household. This positive development has opened avenues for me to use the money received towards alternative projects. I am now contemplating the acquisition of goats for rearing and keeping. Goats are easy to manage and, importantly, can be sold to generate much-needed funds during times of financial stress."

"I am grateful to GiveDirectly because, through their support, I am now in the process of building a new home. The structure that once provided me shelter collapsed, leaving me incapable of promptly starting on a new construction project. Currently, my five children reside with their grandmother, while I stay at a neighbor's residence. The unsettling sight of my children enduring such hardships disrupts my inner peace profoundly. My aspiration is to erect a spacious house capable of accommodating us all and reuniting my children under a single roof. Thus far, I have successfully procured the necessary building poles. My immediate objective is to secure the acquisition of iron sheets, thereby facilitating the progression of the house's construction. Having a good home where we can all reside in comfort and dignity is what I aspire to achieve."

"My four children, who are currently enrolled in school, have been able to attend classes without any instances of fee-related absences as a result of the consistent transfers. Despite my limited financial resources, my unwavering goal as a parent is to see their educational goals realized. My plan remains consistent in ensuring that they stay in school by always paying their fees on time, protecting them from being forced to leave due to fee arrears. Furthermore, I have been setting aside a minimum of $10, which I intend to use to purchase livestock, specifically goats. My expectation is that these goats will reproduce and multiply, and I can easily sell them to cater for my financial needs. This includes contributing to my children's education and securing their educational journey."

"I am currently a college student, training in welding. As the eldest son in my family, I feel responsible for helping my mother provide for my three younger siblings, who are all still in school. The cash transfers have been a crucial support in allowing me to contribute to our family's needs. I expect to graduate from college in the next two years and plan to establish my own welding business afterward. I am excited about setting up my business in Mariakani town. The town's larger population compared to our village means a bigger customer base, which I believe will give my business a better chance to grow and succeed. This endeavor is not only a way for me to secure my future but also to continue supporting my family's needs."

"My father is our family’s main provider, engaged in trading livestock during market days. However, the income he generates from this endeavor falls short of covering the financial demands of our family, particularly the tuition fees for my six siblings and me. Given these circumstances, I am determined to establish a foundation of wealth that can assist both my family and me, especially during times of financial hardship. My goal is to initiate a livestock-rearing venture, starting with chickens. By allowing them to breed, I aim to eventually sell them to acquire goats and cows, steadily expanding my wealth. Looking ahead, I envision using these livestock sales to fund the start of a vegetable-selling business. I believe this business could also significantly contribute to meeting the various needs of my family."

"I aspire to complete my secondary school education within the next year. This journey has had its challenges, as I had to pause my studies for one year during my first year of high school due to financial constraints. At that time, my parents were unable to afford the required school fees. This unexpected pause threatened to derail my educational dreams. However, the advent of cash transfers in my village became a turning point in my academic journey. Thanks to these transfers, I was able to resume my studies and rekindle my hope of completing high school. Beyond that, I have a longstanding aspiration to enroll for military training. This dream of becoming a soldier has been with me for a while, and I am optimistic that with the support of the cash transfers provided by GiveDirectly, I will be able to take steps toward realizing it."

"In the years ahead, my focus is on consistently supporting my children's education by ensuring their fees are paid promptly. To achieve this, I plan to enhance my blacksmith business and also explore opportunities for casual work within the village. This dual approach aims to secure a stable income that will allow me to fulfill my commitment to my children's education."

"In the years ahead, my primary focus is on ensuring the highest quality education for my five children, who are currently in primary school. As part of this plan, I intend to send two of them to boarding school starting next year. This decision is driven by the desire to provide them with a conducive environment for studying, free from the distractions that can arise at home. By investing in their education in this way, I aim to equip them with the best possible foundation for their future endeavors."

"Being a single mother raising three children has been a challenging journey for me, especially since my spouse passed away when the kids were very young. To make ends meet, I had to sell all the goats he had left behind, using the funds for various needs such as their education expenses, as my earnings from casual work were insufficient to cover everything. Upon receiving the transfer, I saw an opportunity to revive a long-forgotten project by investing in livestock. I purchased a cow and two goats, spending $70 and $100 respectively. Livestock rearing is a promising endeavor in our area, and I believe it will provide a reliable source of income through future sales. Additionally, the cow will supply milk for my family's consumption. Furthermore, I used a portion of the funds, $40, to settle my son's secondary school fee, as he was sent home due to non-payment, which had been affecting his studies. This ensures he can now focus on his education without interruption. For my family's sustenance, I allocated $950 to purchase food. I also addressed the need for suitable seating for visitors by purchasing four plastic chairs for $450. This improvement is vital, as our old chairs were in poor condition."

"I was en route to our nearby trading center, just a 20-minute walk away, to purchase food for my family's evening meal. Unexpectedly, I heard a notification sound on my phone. I quickly checked the message and was elated to discover that it was a notification of transfers from GD. This brought about a wave of joy, especially because I was without any cash at that moment. The timely transfers left me overwhelmed with happiness, as they enabled me to pay for the evening purchase in cash, contrary to my initial plan of using credit."