My goal for the coming years is to build a steady income through farming so I can secure my children's education. When I earn from the onions and beans, I plan to reinvest it in more crops, using crop rotation to keep the soil healthy and increase yields. By doing this, I aim to create a reliable source of income to cover school fees and other family needs. Ensuring my children stay in school is my priority, as I believe education is the foundation for a better future. I feel confident that with each season, I’ll be able to support them more steadily. Farming is challenging, but with this plan, I’m hopeful for a brighter future.

The GiveDirectly officers did an excellent job when they came to our community. They spoke to us with respect, taking the time to educate us about scammers who might pose as GiveDirectly representatives to defraud us. They also provided valuable guidance on how to plan and use our money wisely, ensuring that we made good choices with the funds we received. I appreciated their clear communication and the care they showed for our well-being. I haven’t encountered anything negative from GiveDirectly so far, and I feel grateful for their support and advice.

In my community, farming has always been our way of survival, and I wanted to invest wisely in agriculture to support my children’s education. I spent $170 on onion and bean seeds, hoping that a good harvest would provide enough income to cover school fees and our family’s needs. Additionally, I used $100 directly to pay off school fees, which brought me relief, as I usually depend on farming and charcoal burning to raise these funds. We used to plant Kenyan seeds, which always gave us a decent return, but the recent floods destroyed my two-acre maize field, making this transfer a lifeline for our survival.I decided to use $90 to buy two goats, as they’re valuable for both milk and income. When the goats start producing milk, we’ll have enough for our family and some to sell, allowing us to reinvest in farming or cover other school expenses. I also put $45 toward food, as our supplies were very low after the flood wiped out our crops. Without GiveDirectly’s support, it would have been nearly impossible to provide my children with nutritious meals, and I’m truly grateful for this assistance in these tough times.The remaining funds went toward improving our home. I bought a small sofa set for $40, giving us a comfortable place to sit, and I spent $5 on new curtains, making our home feel a bit more welcoming. As a single mother with three children, life has been challenging since my husband passed away. This cash transfer has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders, and I feel motivated to rebuild and improve our lives. Each investment I’ve made has brought us a step closer to a stable future, and I’m hopeful that things will keep improving from here.

I received $180 from GiveDirectly while attending a prayer day event at a secondary school where my grandchild studies. There were about twenty of us there, and we began quietly sharing the news that we had received the money. The event was festive, with everyone enjoying the food, and the atmosphere was filled with joy. The money came as a delightful surprise on top of the day’s prayers. On the bus ride back, people were excitedly discussing how they had received the money and their plans. For me, the first thought was to use the funds to improve my house, which had been filled with mud from recent floods and was in poor condition.

The biggest change in my life since I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly has been the improvement of my home. Before receiving this support, my house was filled with mud from the floods, making it very cold and putting my two kids at risk of getting sick. Now, with the money, I was able to cement the house, and it is much more comfortable. My home looks nice and is welcoming, even when I have visitors. I am confident that they will have a pleasant time here. Although my children are in secondary school, I prioritized fixing the house because of the comfort it brings to my family.

After receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, we faced a difficult situation due to recent floods. The floods had forced us to seek refuge in a temporary camp, and when we returned, our home was severely damaged and filled with mud. This put my family of three children at risk of common colds. I used the entire $180 to buy cement and pay for labor to repair and cement our house. Now, our home looks much nicer and is more comfortable for my family. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for this support, as I would not have been able to afford these improvements on my own.