I am planning to focus on farming this year and in the years to come. However, I will first wait for the last transfer from GiveDirectly to lease some land to start the farming. With this new source of income, I will be able to pay my children’s school fees and reinvest back into the farm, allowing it to grow into a sustainable source of income for my family. The thought of this fills me with hope, as I can see myself reaching a new level of stability and growth. Farming will not only improve our lives but also give my family the security and opportunities we have always dreamed of.

What truly stood out to me about GiveDirectly, beyond the life-changing, unconditional cash transfers that have raised the standard of living in my community, is the respectful and professional approach of their officers. They treat each of us with genuine respect, always asking for our consent before proceeding with any part of the program. This respectful nature has created a sense of trust and dignity in our interactions. I have not seen any weaknesses or loopholes in their program—it is transparent and well-organized. However, I do hope GiveDirectly will enhance its enrollment processes in the future so that even more people can benefit from this impactful support.

When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I instantly felt a wave of change and relief. At that time, I was living in a mud house that had leaked during the recent floods that had affected my village. This brought a lot of discomfort to my family, so I used $350 to buy building materials and renovate our home. With this amount, I purchased iron sheets, building poles, and nails, and paid for labor. I have now completed the renovation, and it has brought a sense of comfort and security to my family. Additionally, I used $70 to buy two goats, which will provide us with milk and gradually multiply. This new source of food is valuable for us. I spent the remaining amount on food, which has made a big difference in our lives; we no longer have to skip meals, and we enjoy consistent, nourishing food. I am deeply grateful for these valuable blessings. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for making this possible!

I was at my farm around 3 PM on Sunday, looking after my maize crop. I was sitting under a tree, scrolling through my phone, when a message popped up. At first, I thought someone had sent me money by mistake, as it didn’t show up as received from GiveDirectly; instead, it mentioned something about "technologies." As I continued to ponder this, my son called and asked if I had received money from GiveDirectly. I told him I had received money but not from GiveDirectly. He insisted that it was indeed from GiveDirectly, and when I realized he was right, I became very happy. Since I had initially planned to purchase sheep, that dream finally came true as I went to buy them the following day.

Since I received the unconditional cash, life has become much simpler and easier after the frustration caused by the floods that took away all of my kids' school uniforms, shoes, and books. My vegetable farm, where I had planted managu and kale, was also swept away. We had to relocate during that time, but now we are back home, feeling much better. We have enough food at home, and this has allowed me to increase my charcoal production to six bags per week, compared to the two or three bags I used to get before. Our lives have changed for the better, and our health has even improved. We are very grateful to GiveDirectly for helping us with this support.

Raising seven children has been tough for me. Ensuring they have everything they need has been a constant struggle, especially since neither my husband nor I are employed; we are both farmers and charcoal burners. In our area, charcoal is a significant source of income, as one sack sells for $7, and I used to produce four sacks per week. So, when I received the cash, I used $60 to ensure we had enough food at home, which gave me the energy and peace of mind to continue with my farming. Additionally, I spent $50 to purchase a sheep, as I didn’t own any livestock before. I saw this as a good investment since it could become a source of income in the future or be sold in case of emergencies. I also used $40 to send transport money to my four children who were returning home from school. Finally, I spent the remaining $20 on clothes for my husband, who had almost no decent clothing left. His old clothes were so worn out that he couldn’t even go out to socialize with other men due to the shame.