"In the coming year and beyond, I want to focus on buying a mattress and a bed. With two children and a house given to me by my parents after separating from my spouse, I want to ensure that I maintain a clean and comfortable house for my children. Currently, our biggest need is proper bedding, as our current mattress and bed are too small and old. We are making do with the situation while we look for a better option. Therefore, in the upcoming year, I plan to use my transfer to purchase a better and more spacious mattress and bed. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for easing my financial situation and making it easier for me to acquire these much-needed items."

"My biggest challenge is getting money to pay fees for my 1 secondary school child. My 2 acre farm under Maize plantation that i was depending on was swept away and destroyed by the floods. I am facing the challenge of getting food for my family of 4. At my old age, i am left to only depend on children and relatives for support as i am not in the position of doing casual labour. Following the recent floods which swept through my houses, i am intending to migrate my family to a safer place (not prone to floods) but the challenge is getting money to purchase land."

"Having been mostly affected by the recent floods, my biggest shortcoming now is lack of money for use in constructing a house in a piece of land i bought that is located in a safer place not prone to floods. The vegetable farm that my family was depending on for income is drying due to lack of water for irrigation as the river it was depending on changed its course following the effects of flooding. This needs purchase of pipes from the main river which i can not currently do due to lack of money. I am also currently having challenges in paying all fees for my 3 secondary school children."

"Living in a region sorrounded by two rivers presents a formidable challenge, especially during the rainy season when floods become a regular occurrence. My biggest worry is the lack of financial means to move my family to a safer location during these moments of danger. Each flood incident escalates my concern for the safety of my loved ones, heightened further by the looming threat of waterborne illnesses that frequently accompany such crises. Moreover, the loss of my goat and two kids adds to the distress. Finding a resolution to this persistent predicament is crucial to securing the welfare of my family."

"We currently reside in a small, one roomed and old house that serves as both the living room and sleeping area. The house is too small to comfortably accommodate me and my five daughters. Additionally, it is very weak, as its posts and frames have been eaten away by termites, putting it at risk of collapsing at any time. Due to financial struggles, especially as a single mother of seven, I have not been able to build a better house. I rely on irregular casual work and charcoal burning to fend for my family, which barely meets our needs. Upon receiving the first transfer, I saw it as an opportunity to build a more secure, two-roomed house. I spent $72 to buy seven iron sheets and $15 on three frames. I am planning to buy more materials with the second transfer and start the construction. This new house will provide a safer and more comfortable living space for my family. Additionally, I spent $70 on food, ensuring we had enough to eat. Casual work has become rare due to the heavy rains last month that swept away the lands where we usually find labor. The remaining amount was used to buy clothes for my children. Their old clothes were very worn and were very few in number, so the new ones boosted their confidence and made them feel better about themselves."

"Without money, life can be very hard. Living alone, I depend on charcoal burning to earn a living. On a good week, I earn $80, which all goes towards food for the household and supporting my elderly mother. However, after the floods, I had to reduce my charcoal burning activities as my health was deteriorating due to malaria. Now, I rely partly on my nephew for help and sometimes take on casual jobs when I am able. This situation has severely affected my financial stability, and it saddens me to see my family's financial status decline. The struggle to make ends meet has become even more challenging, and I hope for better days ahead."

"When the floods hit my homestead one month ago, all my vegetables were submerged and washed away. What was once a green farm is now bare. As a family of four, we used to depend on this kitchen garden to provide food and income. However, after the floods, I now depend on livestock keeping to earn a living. Unfortunately, the grazing fields were also affected, and now they have limited feed. Currently, our livestock graze on the abandoned lands, left barren by the floods.In addition to these challenges, I am a teacher by profession and I always commute 5 kilometers to school. Since the roads were destroyed by the floods, they are now impassable, and I have to part with $2 daily for transport. This fare is expensive, and I sometimes have to go on foot if I do not have the finances. I am afraid that I always get late when I walk.This situation is incredibly stressful and challenging. The floods have disrupted our livelihoods and daily routines, making it difficult to provide for my family and perform my job effectively. I am hopeful that with some assistance, we can rebuild and find stability once more."

"The flash floods that hit my village in April 2024 affected most of our livelihoods. As a family of five, we depend on casual jobs, farming, and charcoal burning to earn a living. Before the floods, life here was easier as we could secure food through these livelihoods. I am afraid that the damage caused by the floods cannot be fully measured. Now, we solely depend on charcoal burning, which, due to scarcity, earns us only $10 a week. This income is entirely spent on food, leaving us without surplus funds to purchase fuel for our farms. Since the floods, I have been unable to irrigate my 1-acre maize farm due to a lack of finances. This situation is incredibly disheartening, as the once stable sources of income and sustenance for my family have been severely disrupted, and we are struggling to regain our footing."

"Financial constraints are a significant challenge I am currently facing. As a family of four, we depend on maize farming to earn a living. However, this area experiences long dry seasons, necessitating irrigation. Purchasing fuel for irrigation is expensive, and I typically rely on charcoal burning to buy the fuel. Unfortunately, the recent floods that swept through our village, Murda, destroyed many trees, leaving me without any source of income. I am now deeply concerned about our food security. Without a steady income to purchase fuel and maintain our farm, we may face severe food shortages if we do not strive hard to make ends meet."

"Marriage in a polygamous setup is sometimes challenging because the man of the house has to divide his attention and resources between multiple households. As a result, I have to work extra hard to provide for my family of five. Currently, I depend on charcoal burning and farming to support us. However, this work is strenuous and requires a lot of energy to execute. Since I do not have the finances to hire help, I have to struggle alone. This consumes a lot of my time, delaying my ability to meet our financial needs efficiently. The constant physical and financial strain is overwhelming, but I am determined to persevere for the sake of my family."