"My primary concern for some time has been finding better treatment for my leg condition. Although I am currently on medication and receive monthly checkups, I still feel the need for more advanced care at specialized hospitals to alleviate the constant pain I experience. My plan is to use the financial support I receive, along with assistance from my sons, to make this goal a reality. Achieving this treatment will restore my joy and hope, allowing me to finally break free from the sleepless nights I've been enduring. I also look forward to becoming more self-sufficient, enabling me to handle some tasks on my own once I am healed."

"My primary goal right now is to buy more goats to keep on my homestead. Currently, I have three goats, but I aim to build a larger herd so that, as they reproduce, I can grow my assets. As I get older, I recognize the importance of having reliable resources, especially for the future when this support may end. I plan to save at least $10 from my monthly transfers to accumulate enough funds to purchase more goats. This dream is very achievable, and I am determined and focused on achieving it. Once I reach this goal, even if it takes several months, I feel hopeful about my future, as I will have assets I can sell to support both my husband and myself."

"I woke up early one morning around 6 a.m., reached for my phone, and noticed a new message. Curious, I checked it and saw it was a transfer notification from GiveDirectly. At that moment, a wave of happiness hit me—I couldn’t believe it! I immediately went to tell my wife, and she was just as thrilled as I was. We sat down together and discussed how we’d use the money, agreeing that our first purchases would be a goat and some much-needed food items for the household."

"In the upcoming year and beyond, my goals are centered around ensuring a secure future for my family by making prudent investments in goats. These animals serve as a safeguard against unpredictability and offer the potential for financial stability. Given their relatively low upkeep costs and the availability of a steady market, goats are a sustainable asset that will help protect our future. By increasing my goat herd through my monthly transfers, I strive to build a strong foundation of economic stability. Additionally, I have the responsibility of covering school fees for my children, as I want them to receive an education that will enable them to support +themselves in the future. To achieve this, I plan to allocate a portion of my transfers towards this goal, along with the limited income I earn from my casual jobs."

"With the ongoing drought and the hunger we are facing, my current plan is to continue using a portion of my transfers to buy food and water for my family, ensuring we do not go hungry. Also, to buy water for my livestock to keep them healthy. I will keep doing this until the rains come, and we are able to harvest enough food to sustain ourselves and have water in our watering points that we can fully rely on. It is a difficult time, but I am determined to keep my family fed and safe. At the same time, I am focused on securing our future. I plan to keep saving part of my transfers in our local savings group with the goal of buying more goats. My hope is that these goats will multiply, increasing in both number and value. In the long run, they will become valuable assets that I can rely on, especially when this support program comes to an end. I am incredibly grateful for the help I have been receiving, and I am committed to using it wisely to not only survive today but to build a more secure future for my family."

"As the festive season approaches, there is nothing more satisfying for me than putting a smile on my family's face. This time of year is special, and I want to make sure my family feels just as happy and blessed as others do. For the next few months, I plan to save a portion of my transfers so I can buy my family new Christmas clothes. This is something I have always wanted to do for them because, during Christmas, getting new clothes is a big joy, and I want them to feel as good as the other children around us. In addition to making them happy during the holidays, my children’s education is a top priority for me. I am committed to continuing to use a portion of my transfers to pay for their school fees, ensuring they can keep attending school and building a brighter future for themselves. Lastly, I am determined to secure our financial future. To do that, I plan to keep saving another part of my transfers, and once enough funds have accumulated, I will invest in buying more goats. My goal is for these goats to multiply and grow in both number and value, becoming valuable assets that we can rely on in the future. I am incredibly grateful for the support I have received. It has made a real difference in our lives, and I am determined to use it wisely to create a better, more secure future for my family. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for making this possible."

"This year and in the years ahead, my main goal is to complete building my house. Thankfully, I already have all the necessary building materials, so my plan is to use part of my transfers to hire labor and get the construction finished. Once the house is complete, I will use another portion of my transfers to buy a bed and a mattress. Right now, I sleep on a mat, and it is uncomfortable, so having a proper bed would make a huge difference for my rest and well-being. Additionally, I really need to buy new clothes. My current clothes are worn out and very few, so I will use some of the transfers to get what I need and feel more presentable. I also plan to buy a big metal box to store my clothes properly, which will help keep everything neat and organized. I want my home to be a comfortable, presentable place, and I want to feel good about myself as well. Additionally, with the ongoing dry spell, I will continue to use a portion of my transfers to help my mother support our family with food, because it is important that we stay strong through these difficult times. Lastly, I plan to use another part of my transfers to buy goats. I believe this will be an investment for the future. My plan is to raise them and hope that they multiply so that I will have something valuable to rely on when this support program eventually comes to an end. I am incredibly grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has given me and my family."

"We live near the river, and this year we experienced severe floods. It was a terrifying night, and by luck, we were not swept away by the rising waters. The water nearly covered us, and the most frightening part was the danger to our 5-year-old daughter. We could not escape because it happened at night, and the water levels were so high inside our house that we had to stand on the bed, holding our daughter above the water for hours, waiting for the levels to recede. That life-threatening experience made me determined to make a change. I plan to focus on crop farming, specifically planting seed maize, and I will use the proceeds to finish paying for a plot on higher ground that we secured on debt. Once we own the plot, we will construct a house there, ensuring our family’s safety from future floods."

"For about six months, the $400 debt we carried after our crops failed due to floods weighed heavily on us. My husband and I do casual jobs, and we tried to reduce the debt little by little with our small savings, leaving a balance of $100. The stress was overwhelming, knowing we still had balance. When I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, it was a huge relief; we were able to clear our debt completely. Now, we finally have peace of mind and can focus on our needs, something that had no longer been a priority."

"I am planning to renovate my house's roof by replacing the old, damaged iron sheets with new ones. The existing roof leaks during rain, which has compromised the walls of the house. To solve this problem, my top priority is to buy new iron sheets. I've been saving money and have already purchased fifteen sheets so far. I aim to acquire about 20 to 28 sheets since my house is quite large, although I have yet to consult a builder for a precise estimate. I am satisfied with my progress and confident that I will achieve my goal soon. My primary aim is to create a stable and secure house where I can live peacefully with my four children, without the constant concern of leaks when it rains. After completing this project, I plan to venture into livestock keeping, specifically by purchasing goats. I will redirect my transfer funds to buy goats so that I can establish a financial investment to support my family in the future when these transfers come to an end."