My plan for this year and beyond is to buy a new place to relocate, as my primary goal is to mitigate the threat of future floods. The devastating floods I experienced have taught me the importance of finding a safer location for my family, and I am determined to make this move a reality. I plan to use the last transfer from GiveDirectly to help me achieve this goal. The thought of securing a safe, flood-free home fills me with immense joy and relief, as I no longer want to face the dangers and damage caused by floods. Relocating will provide my family with peace of mind and a stable foundation for the future.

What stood out to me the most about GiveDirectly was their quick and effective emergency response when the floods devastated our community. Through their unconditional cash transfers, I was able to recover from the flood’s harsh impact and get back on my feet. The support I received helped me rebuild my business, restore my home, and even invest in livestock for long-term sustainability. Now, I am on the path to completely overcoming the effects of the floods, as I plan to buy a plot in a safer area to relocate my family. I truly appreciate how GiveDirectly stepped in during a time of crisis, providing immediate and meaningful assistance. With that in mind, I would like to recommend that GiveDirectly consider building houses for flood victims in the future. This would offer even greater security and help many families, like mine, recover faster and protect themselves from future disasters.

Upon receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I was grateful for the support. Previously, my business had been struggling, so I saw this as an opportunity to invest. I used $150 to expand my business into a kiosk shop with more stock, significantly increasing my profits. This growth has helped me recover from the effects of the devastating floods. With the income generated from the business, I was able to repair my house, which had been damaged by the floods, and restore my poultry farm which had also been destroyed. I'm truly thankful because, without this financial support, I would not have been able to recover. I also used $120 to buy two goats, which I plan to keep and breed as a long-term investment for sustainable income. In addition, I had two children in secondary school who had missed several days of classes due to unpaid school fees. I used $110 to clear the balance, and since then, they have been able to attend school regularly. Finally, I used $70 to purchase household items, including a mattress and plastic chairs. This was my first time owning a proper bed and mattress, as I used to sleep on makeshift bedding. The improvement in my living conditions has greatly enhanced my well-being. I am deeply grateful for this support, as it has allowed me to rebuild my life and secure a better future for my family.

On Sunday, around 3 p.m., I was at church when I received a message on my phone confirming that I had received cash from GiveDirectly. I immediately went outside because I couldn't contain my happiness and just needed to breathe in the fresh air. I was super excited and thought to myself, 'Tomorrow, I must go to town to buy iron sheets so I can start constructing a better, small temporary house.' This was especially important because I had been living in tents ever since my house was destroyed by floods.

I don't even know how to thank GiveDirectly enough. If it weren't for you, I think I would have died from the stress of having no house to live in, no food, and my small business collapsing. I lost hope in life, but now things have improved. Earning such an amazing profit each day is great progress for me. I'm hopeful that when I receive the second transfer, I'll be able to build a better house and expand my business to sell a wider variety of foods.

I used to be a very hardworking woman, dedicated to my work to ensure my children got everything they needed. However, the floods came and almost destroyed the dream I had. The floods destroyed my house, my 1.5 hectares of maize, and caused my business to collapse. This setback returned my progress to zero, but I thank God because just when I had lost all hope, the GiveDirectly money arrived. I immediately used $160 to purchase iron sheets and build a small house. Although the iron sheets weren't enough to fully complete the house, they covered the roof and three walls; I had to use tents to cover the remaining wall. With the remaining $40, I bought enough food to sustain my family, as I have five children to care for, and my husband is unemployed, working only as a farmer. I run a business selling food in a hotel near my village, and the income I used to earn was enough to cover our bills and buy food. However, the business collapsed when the entire village flooded, forcing everyone to relocate to higher ground. When the floods receded, I returned and reopened my business, where I am now making a better profit of $15 per day. Since people received money from GiveDirectly, I've started earning much more than before when I only made around $5 a day. I am truly thankful and appreciate GiveDirectly for their great support.