"We never had the opportunity for an education, which has put us at a disadvantage for a long time. As I look at my children, I want to ensure they don’t face the same struggles we have experienced as their parents. We are determined for them to receive an education, and as I mentioned before, all my transfers will be directed towards their schooling. Additionally, I burn and sell charcoal to earn extra money to help my spouse support our family. With a large family like ours, it requires both of us to work extra hard so we can provide our children with their basic needs. Therefore, in the coming year and beyond, my spouse and I will concentrate on caring for our children, particularly making sure they receive the best education possible."

"Earlier, I had planned to replace my old, dilapidated door. It does not give my home a welcoming look, nor does it provide the level of security that I need. I managed to buy all the necessary materials for a new door and was only left with hiring labor to install it. But just as I was preparing to move forward, my family was struck by tragedy. My dear daughter-in-law fell seriously ill and, heartbreakingly, lost her battle with the illness which shook us deeply. I had to put everything else on hold to focus on saying goodbye to her with the dignity and love she deserved. Now, as I look ahead to this coming year and beyond, I want to pick up where I left off. I plan to use a portion of my transfers to finally cover the labor costs and get the new door installed, bringing a fresh, secure look to my home. After that, I hope to gradually invest in purchasing more goats adding to what I already have using another portion of my transfers hoping they will multiply, growing in both number and value, so that in the future I will have something to rely on when this program comes to an end. Additionally, I rely on my son for support, but his income is unstable and I do not want to place too much of a burden on him. To ease this, I plan to use some of my transfers to help provide food for myself, supplementing the little he manages to bring in so he does not have to shoulder this responsibility alone. I am incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly for this support"

"Now that I’ve finished building my two-room house with the help of some of the transfers I received a while ago, I have a new goal: to buy more goats and keep them at my homestead. I feel that my financial struggles have partly been due to a lack of dependable assets that I could sell when needed. To achieve this, I’m now planning to save about $20 each month from my transfers, so I can fulfill this dream as soon as possible. Once I reach my goal, I’ll be in a good position to sell some goats and pay my bills on time, especially since I don’t have a permanent job at the moment. Having goats at home will also ease my burden, as I won’t need to borrow money in case of emergencies. Instead, I’ll be able to sell one or two goats and settle any expenses that come up."

"I've always had a desire to pursue poultry farming, particularly raising chickens. Unfortunately, earlier this year, there was an outbreak of chicken disease in my area that wiped out all the poultry. As a result, I've decided to abandon the poultry project and focus on goats instead. I believe that goat farming presents a great business opportunity, as one mature goat can generate significant income. This investment will help me cover my children's school fees and other essential expenses while also providing support for my husband. Furthermore, I'm interested in starting a small fish business to complement the goat rearing project. To achieve these two goals, I plan to use my transfer to invest in them, and these are my objectives for the coming year and beyond."

"Goats do very well in our area, and even though I don't own any yet, my plan is to buy three goats with my final transfer. I believe this will be a good investment because the goats will provide me with milk, helping to reduce the cost of buying it for my family. Additionally, having these goats will give me some financial security for the future. I can sell a few when the need arises, such as for covering school fees for my four children, whom I support alone. This plan not only supports my children's education but also ensures we have a steady source of nutrition at home."

"The moment I interacted with the staff, I felt a sense of honesty that was refreshing. They were straightforward and transparent, openly sharing how the program worked and what I could expect. They made it clear that bribery was not tolerated, stating firmly that it would be an offense. It was reassuring to know that this was an organization built on trust, where the staff stood by their principles without compromise. What struck me even more was their commitment to fairness. GiveDirectly ensured that everyone deserving received the support they needed, without any discrimination. I felt respected and valued, knowing that I was treated just like anyone else in the community who needed help. This unconditional support made a profound difference in my life, empowering me to make choices that I had long thought were out of reach. With GiveDirectly, I experienced not just financial relief but also a deep sense of dignity."

"I am a teacher, and I really hope to be employed by the government. If I get this job, it would mean permanent employment for me. This would provide a steady income for my family, which is very important.I am optimistic about my chances. I believe that once I present my papers, I will get the job. If I don’t get the full position, I hope to at least be an intern. I know that this opportunity would help me grow and secure a better future for my family."

"I got a C+ after completing my fourth form and I remain hopeful about starting college in the coming years. My plan is to enroll in nursing school since I meet the entry requirements. However, I have been facing financial challenges. To address this, I decided to invest my transfer funds in buying goats. I’m pleased to say that I now own twenty goats, with a goal of reaching fifty. This will allow me to sell some goats to raise money for my college fees. I don't have anyone to rely on, as my parents are unemployed and have my younger siblings to support. I have confidence in myself and believe that one day I will attend college and pursue my chosen course. I am optimistic that going to college will open up new job opportunities for me. This has been my dream for the future."

"When GiveDirectly came to our village, I was initially unsure of what to expect. But they visited us personally, took time to meet with each of us, and explained the program in a way that was easy to understand. I could see that they genuinely cared about us, about our lives, and about what we might be able to achieve with a little support. By speaking to us one-on-one, they made sure we understood the program on a personal level, addressing our questions and concerns patiently. It felt respectful, like they trusted us to make good decisions. The best part of this program is that the money they send comes directly to me—there are no middlemen involved, so I receive the full amount. And I appreciate that they gave me complete freedom to decide how to spend it. They didn’t try to tell me what I needed; instead, they trusted me to know what’s best for myself and my family."

"I feel so grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has provided. They didn’t just hand over the money and disappear—they stay in touch, making sure that everything is going smoothly for us. Their team checks in regularly, and they've even given us a dedicated phone number so we can reach out anytime we have questions or issues. One thing that stood out was how they took the time to advise us on protecting our mobile money PIN. They reminded us not to share it with anyone and gave tips on how to keep it secure. That guidance was very helpful, especially for those of us who hadn’t used mobile money much before. Honestly, I wouldn’t want them to change a thing about this program—it’s been a lifeline, and the way it’s been structured is just right. If anything, I only wish they could extend more funds our way, as it would enable us to do even more to improve our lives."