"As a family, we are currently facing several significant challenges, with the most pressing issue being the payment of school fees for my three children. At present, my family relies entirely on me to provide for all our needs, which is increasingly becoming a struggle given the nature of my work. I operate a motorbike taxi, which, while it offers some income, is not sufficient to cover all our expenses adequately. Each of my children's school fees amounts to $40 per term. However, this obligation often becomes overwhelming, especially when I factor in other essential expenses such as food, and healthcare. As the term progresses, there are times when I find it difficult to keep up with these financial commitments. Unfortunately, this has resulted in my children being unable to attend school for over two weeks at times, negatively impacting their academic performance and overall well-being. The stress of trying to balance these responsibilities weighs heavily on me, and I am deeply concerned about the implications for my children's education and future."

"My husband is the only breadwinner for the family. He works in the hotel industry in the housekeeping department. This has not been an entirely dependable source of income to meet our family needs due to the fact that hotel business operates on seasons. The biggest challenge is when it comes to low seasons and my husband is sent off work to await the peak season. This is so much disheartening because the family needs cannot be kept on standby until the peak season comes. Life has changed abruptly. We are struggling with meals, medication and even sanitation. I do not feel happy how my kids walk around dirty and hungry. We are a christian family. Sometimes on Sundays my children fail to attend church services because they did not get soap to wash clothes. I would have really loved to go out somewhere and work on a neighbour's farm to earn some money but as you can see I have a very young baby so I am restricted from casual labour. The situation really disturbs my mind but atleast we are almost coming to the peak season when I will be able to smile again."

"As a family of five, we navigate a multitude of challenges, particularly when it comes to managing school fees and ensuring food security. Among these difficulties, the most pressing is the financial burden of school fees for my five children. Currently, we are required to pay a total of $260 per term for all of them to remain enrolled in school. This amount may seem manageable at first glance, but it represents a significant challenge for us, given our current financial situation. At the moment, our family's income is solely dependent on my husband, who is engaged in casual work. Unfortunately, this type of employment often lacks consistency and reliability, which means that there are times when his earnings do not adequately cover our family's essential needs. This uncertainty adds stress to our day-to-day life, particularly when it comes time to pay school fees. Looking ahead to next year, 2025, the financial demands will increase even further. Two of my children are set to transition to junior secondary school, which comes with higher school fees. This change means that we will need to allocate even more funds for their education, creating an even greater financial strain on our already tight budget. There have been occasions when my children have been unable to attend school for over a week due to outstanding fee arrears. This not only disrupts their education but also negatively impacts their performance in school. The worry of being unable to provide for their educational needs weighs heavily on me and my husband and makes it difficult to focus on finding solutions to improve our situation. Overall, we are seeking ways to alleviate this burden and ensure a stable and supportive environment for our children’s education."

"In my culture, contributing and cooking together as a family unit, irrespective of whether someone has a household, is an important tradition. Financial status doesn't play a role in this practice, which has created a significant burden for my husband Alex and me, as we are the elders in a family of 14. Our income sources are limited, I rely on charcoal burning, which does not provide immediate earnings, while Alex earns by resolving village disputes and serving as the village elder. My current struggles stem from a lack of sufficient finances to adequately feed our family."

"How I wish money could be easy to have and as rampant as leaves on trees. All my six kids are home for the holidays. Our daily food ration has gone significantly higher and we have no job to earn us enough money to cater for food. This means we have to take one course meal a day. Seeing my kids yawn on hunger all day really disturbs my mind. I continously live with stress hoping that rain falls so that our mango fruits could atleast mature, and help sustain us for some days."

"The program came at the perfect time, just when we were in severe distress after being forced to relocate due to the floods that destroyed our homes. Without this support, we would have faced immense hardship, and we are deeply grateful for it. As our lives begin to normalize after the shock of the floods, we have been able to rebuild our homes and replace essential household items we lost, helping us regain stability. The unconditional transfers from GiveDirectly have been invaluable in helping us improve our lives during such a challenging time. In fact, I believe they’ve done everything exceptionally well to support our community."

"In the coming year, my goal is to build a sturdy home for my family. This past year, I have been sleeping in a makeshift structure with no walls and a leaking roof. My previous house collapsed last year, and I haven’t been able to rebuild due to financial limitations and the difficulty of finding casual work. With the ongoing support from the transfers, I plan to set aside a portion each month to buy building poles and, eventually, iron sheets. Once I have gathered all the necessary materials, I’ll save for labor costs to begin construction. I am truly appreciative of the financial support, which is helping me get closer to achieving my dream of a secure home for my family."

"I am unable to take on any job that demands my full attention because I need to care for my sick child. My child has epilepsy, and it’s important for me to be present. Consequently, I spend most of my time on childcare. I want to establish a business that I can manage from home, which will help me balance my household duties while allowing me to focus on my child. I've considered starting a chicken farming business. Additionally, I plan to use part of my funds to purchase more goats. My aim is to raise about 10 breeding goats, and along with the chickens, this will create a source of income for me. Once these projects are up and running, I will feel less stressed, even when my income ends, as I will have an investment to depend on. If I encounter financial difficulties, I can sell some of my livestock to generate money for my support instead of relying on relatives."

"As a mother of one, I aim to expand my shop, where I currently sell products like flour, oil, sugar, rice, and soap. Previously, I relied solely on farming, which meant I had no income during the dry seasons. Thanks to the support from GiveDirectly and my husband, I was able to start this business, which keeps me busy and increases my income. I plan to save my transfers along with the profits from my shop to improve my inventory. I want to add new items like beans and greens and increase my stock to boost my profits and grow the business further. This will enhance my daily income, making it much easier for me to support my family."

"Living in this house has been quite challenging, especially during the rainy season. Many years ago, I built this small, one-roomed grass-thatched mud house, and it leaks significantly when it rains, making it feel like I'm outside even when I'm indoors. My main objective for the coming year and beyond is to construct a spacious, iron-roofed house. I'm glad to have gathered enough iron sheets and the necessary poles. I am actively working to collect the remaining materials needed to start construction. This is a top priority for me as I have a small child, and our living conditions are not conducive to her health. Therefore, I am optimistic that we will soon commence the building work. I truly appreciate GiveDirectly for their financial support, without them, I wouldn't have been able to purchase all these building materials. I continue to use my transfers to invest in this project until I achieve my final goal."