"On Saturday morning, my husband and I were on our way to buy building materials, which amounted to $320. We built a two-room house with a verandah where we could relax in the shade, especially in the afternoon when the sun was hot. My children would have a space to sleep where they would not be troubled by anything, unlike before when they would feel uncomfortable being in the same room. I had to pay school fees for the one in Form 4, which were $150, to avoid any inconveniences in case the school principal decided to send the girls back home for school fee arrears. For the one in class eight, I paid $30 and bought a mattress for $20 because the head teacher insisted that she be a boarder like the rest of the students, and I wanted to ensure that she has ample time in school preparing for her exams. Finally, I spent $30 on food, which would last us three months. Initially, we would only buy food when we had money with us from a casual job, or we would borrow from a nearby kiosk so we could pay when we got the money, which became too much at times and the shopkeeper would refuse it. The transfers received, in reality, start us on a new path in life, which we must admit would have been tough to navigate on our own."

"We have a farm close to Marigat town, and since accessing water there is considerably simpler, we usually plant food crops like corn and practice some irrigation. We therefore spent $20 to buy water for irrigation using the first transfer received. There is currently a drought here, making it practically hard for plants to survive on their own, therefore this is the only reliable method of obtaining food. In addition to the goats I already own, I also spent $30 on a goat for rearing. Goats are relatively draught-resistant and inexpensive to maintain and thus the reason we keep them. I bought food for my family and paid for land tilling with the remainder of the transfer."

"The biggest change in my life has been being able to feed my family of four without necessarily having to sell a goat from my flock. Because there is a shortage of food, the drought has had a serious negative impact on us and raised food prices. My goats, including the one I recently bought, will be helpful in the future when it comes to providing for our other requirements."

"To cover all of our needs, we largely rely on livestock, particularly goats in our area. I therefore thought it wise to add three more goats, each costing $30, to my livestock. This is essentially an investment in the future for me, so if the need comes, I may sell one or two, depending on the situation. I then spent $35 to prepare my farm for planting and spent the remainder of the money on food and other home necessities for my family of nine and treatment of my young son who gotten a small injury after falling a tree."

"I'm overjoyed that my mother's health has significantly improved since we received the transfers! In the past, her health had gotten so bad that she could not even feedherself and had to be supported. This was because of the fact that, due to her health, we were unable to routinely give her the foods the doctor had advised. Since receiving the transfer, I have made sure that she eats balanced meals in the proper amounts. Prior to the transfer, we were unable to fully satisfy these demands and others due to the high cost of food due to the drought."

"I am grateful to be a part of this program because it has significantly impacted my life. I separated from my husband and was left to care for my four sons. He was the breadwinner, and it was difficult to get back on track. I was then operating a grocery shop that was helping me sort out some of my household needs, like food. This continued until my three children entered high school, at which point raising their fees became difficult for me. I also had to close my grocery store due to a road expansion, which forced me to do so. When I received the transfer, I paid for my children's fees despite my financial difficulties."

"I was working on my farm when I received the message on my phone. Because I could not read or understand the message, it was my husband who checked and confirmed that it was the transfer message. I had finally received my transfer, and I was overjoyed because I knew my life would change, and that I would be able to buy new bedding and pay for my son's university fees, allowing him to continue his studies."

"We currently have diversified sources of income because I am no longer reliant on the sale of my goats to cover my children's school expenses. Before, I used to constantly sell my goats to cover my children's school expenses, so the fact that this is no longer the case makes me very happy. In order to accomplish this, the transfer from GiveDirectly was very helpful, and it has enabled my goats to expand and grow in number."

"I spent a large portion of my first transfer on building materials, which included 26 pieces of iron sheets and building poles, as well as the labor cost. I have been sheltering with my three grandchildren in a small house, and they have had trouble concentrating on their studies at times. I was not at ease with the situation for long, but after receiving the transfer, I decided to purchase the materials needed to build a new, spacious house. I am currently gathering materials to begin construction as soon as possible. I also covered the labor costs incurred during the construction. Aside from the house, I used the rest of the money to buy groceries, including a bag of maize flour to ensure that my family did not go hungry. Unlike the previous few months, when food was a challenge in my household, my family can now comfortably enjoy three meals a day. I am relieved that, despite the fact that we are currently planting, I have enough food to last us for a while."

"My goal is to invest more in livestock rearing and poultry farming as a means of livelihood to reduce the financial burdens in my household. I am incredibly grateful for the previous cash transfers, as they have allowed me to acquire two goats. By owning this livestock, I will accumulate enough wealth that will help my family's living conditions. I decided to take this lane of investment because crop farming has been disappointing for the last three years."