"My goal for the year is to take myself and my sister through school. Our mother is a farmer and this does not earn much and whenever she does casual labour it does not pay much either so that means that without the transfers we cannot get through school. I hope to use this transfers so I can get through form two and ensure that I complete my education within good time."

"My life has changed. I have now become a farmer as a result of the rain and I hope that the maize we have planted will be harvested for consumption and this would mean that we would not need to buy food. I want to use that money that would have been spent on food on buying animals. I believe they are a good investment. They are able to multiply in number and I can sell them to make some money. I want to grow my flocks to significantly large numbers that are beneficial to em as a farmer too."

"I have currently planted maize in my farm with the aim of harvesting for food. I am hoping to harvest a sufficient amount that I hoped would be used for feeding the family. This will allow me to redirect the monthly expenditure on food to purchase goats and chicken for rearing. I want to be able to remember this project even once it comes to an end and also have an investement that will allow me to take my children to school and feed them."

"I am a single mother of one and solely depends on myself to get an income for covering needs. I used to do casual labour where I would do laundry, clean the house or even till people's lands to ensure I can make ends meet. In April I was finally able to get some money which I used to start a grocery business at $10. I started this business to increase my income since the casual jobs were not as consistent or reliable. I hope to invest more in the business so I can be more self sufficient which a bigger income. I also used the cash to buy a mattress since as I said I slept on a sisal mat before. My hope is to buy a bed so I can equally have a good place to sleep for myself and child."

"I am the fourth of six children with a mother who is a farmer and a father who is hired to herd cattle and he is the primary breadwinner. I also have older siblings who live in the city trying to make something of themselves. my oldest brother is responsible for our school fees payments as what my parents earn is not enough to take care of schooling. I hope to continue using my transfers on school hopefully until I can clear school. I believe this will allow me to focus without distractions on missing out on school so much and I will be able to make something of my self once I finish school and get a good grade."

"GD delivered me from poverty because It was so hard for me to get health insurance but now i have got everything. we were in though times and GD came at the right time. Everything that GD has done was very good"

"I have bought a cow that will hepl me in coming days, Even thought I am old that cow will help me to get what to eat and get other things for my daily life"

"My six children could not be accommodated in the one room in my current house. However, because we have been squeezing into the same space, I feel like I am denying my children their privacy. I, therefore thought they required a new habitat. So, as soon as I got my first cash transfer, I purchased all I needed to build a new house, including iron sheets, building poles, and wood. I am now a happy mother for having finally been able to restore their joy and dignity as well as provide them with a comfortable environment in which to study at night. Additionally, I was able to purchase some goats, which I trust will be a dependable source of income for me to support my family. I can rapidly resolve any emerging financial crisis by selling one or two. I currently rely on odd jobs like making charcoal to earn a livelihood, and on a good day, I might make $5. Because I am a widow and all three of my children are still in school, the money I generate from this hustle hardly ever allows me to put food on the table since it's a temporary job. Additionally, I paid the fees for my two children, who are in grades 6 and 3, respectively. They have attended school on occasion, which has had an impact on both their performance and their ability to fulfil their personal goals. Finally, I bought enough food that has been sustaining us since then. Unlike before, when we could only afford to eat porridge or go without for days, at least now we can afford to have two full meals a day."

"Since my spouse passed away eleven years ago, life has been incredibly unfair to me. Due to the never-ending pain, I have been sobbing nonstop. Since my house collapsed a few years ago, I used to spend almost all of my days at my son's place, both at night and during the day. Due to their unstable sources of income, my children were also unable to acquire the materials needed to erect one. Oh! It was an uncomfortable and stressful scenario. As a result, I spent over $250 on iron, sheets, poles, and other materials after receiving my first cash transfer. I am so glad and overjoyed to be the proud owner of a respectable two-bedroom house. After that was done, I paid the $60 in school fees for my three grandchildren, who attend the neighbourhood primary school. I've always wanted to see them succeed in life as they grow into decent individuals. However, given that I have health issues (hypertension) and am jobless, this was quite a challenge for me. We are grateful to GiveDirectly for giving them fresh beginnings and hope. I bought enough food with the remaining money. Now that I don't have to go without food or drink porridge to call it a day, I feel relieved. I am now healthier since I need to eat a balanced diet considering that I depend on medicines to survive every day."

"In addition to meet the family daily needs, I had a goal of starting a grocery business. Therefore, as I receive my transfers, I will save a portion towards that goal. I prefer business because in the long run, when I obtain self reliance, I shall be able to take care of my family comfortably. I hope the business will supplement my husband's income to enable us to cater for our seven children's educational needs. This is attainable due to the longevity of the program I am part of."