In the coming years, I want to focus on farming by planting beans and vegetables because they grow quickly, usually in about two months. This fast turnaround will help me generate income to pay for my children's school fees. Furthermore, I hope to have enough surplus food at home, ensuring my family is well-fed. I believe that with careful planning and hard work, I can improve our living situation. By prioritizing crops that yield quickly, I can create a stable foundation for my family’s future. Ultimately, my goal is to provide a better life for my children and help them succeed in their education.

The officers from GiveDirectly did a great job by educating us about the program and asking us about our plans. Everyone in the village received the money as promised, which made us feel valued and supported. I appreciate how they listened to our needs and concerns. I have not seen anything negative about their work, only good things. However, I hope they can continue to visit us and offer more guidance on how to use the money wisely. If they keep this positive spirit, it will help us improve our lives even more.

Transforming my home and my family’s life has been a dream, and the unconditional cash transfer made it possible. I spent $50 to purchase a sofa set, something I had long admired but never had the chance to buy. With no chairs in the house, having a comfortable place to sit has truly improved our living space. Furthermore, I used $180 to buy three goats, as I already had some at home. The goats will provide milk, which is expensive in local shops, costing about $1 per liter. With my family consuming around two liters a day, having my own supply will help us save money in the long run.Additionally, I invested in a mattress and bed for my children since they were previously sleeping on the ground. With eight children, it was important to ensure they had a comfortable place to rest. Now, they sleep much better, and I feel a sense of relief knowing they are taken care of. I also spent around $20 on clothes for my family, as we were in desperate need of new outfits. The remaining money went toward purchasing food, which was essential since we were previously struggling to eat only once a day. Life has changed significantly since I received this support. My husband, who primarily farms, lost a lot due to flooding, which affected our resources and living conditions. We were temporarily displaced, losing utensils and food supplies. Now, instead of burning charcoal or searching for casual jobs, we can stay at home, eat three meals a day, and focus on rebuilding our lives. This cash transfer has truly been a blessing for our family.

It was a Sunday afternoon, and I had just come back from church, settling down to relax when I heard my phone ring with a message notification. I asked my children to bring me the phone, and as soon as I saw it was the GiveDirectly transfers, I couldn't contain my joy. I jumped up and down, running in and out of the house, shouting in excitement. My 20-year-old son was thrilled when I told him about the money. Immediately, I began planning how I would use it to buy the household items that had been destroyed during the floods.

When the floods came, it was devastating; many farms were swept away, and those farms were where we used to work to earn money to buy food. With the farms gone, there was no work, and we often went hungry, not knowing where our next meal would come from. But then, after receiving unconditional cash from GiveDirectly, everything changed. I was able to buy food items, and for the first time in a long while, we had enough to eat. We didn't have to sleep hungry anymore, and for that, I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly.

When I received the cash transfer, the first thing I did was buy a bed and a mattress for $90. The old mattress had been completely destroyed by the floods; it was so dirty that I ended up burning it. For weeks, my family and I had been sleeping on mats provided by the Red Cross, but those were thin and uncomfortable. Finally, with this new bed and mattress, we could rest properly again. With $45 of the money, I bought a subwoofer to bring some joy back into our lives. Music has always been a passion of mine, and having the ability to play it in my home makes everything feel more lively and positive. The sound of music filling our space lifts our spirits, especially after everything we've been through with the floods. I used another $32 to buy a 90kg bag of maize. The previous maize we had was ruined when the floods swept through, causing it to germinate and making it unusable. This new bag will provide us with food for a while. The remaining money covered the cost of transport and lunch when I went to withdraw the funds, ensuring I could complete my errands without any issues.