Before my first pregnancy, I was in college, and my husband was paying for my education. Because of pregnancy complications, I had to drop out of college. Now that my husband has not yet secured a sustainable job, I want to use my savings from my transfers and savings account to go back to fashion and design college. I want to be able to acquire skills, get self-employed, and earn a sustainable living, which will enable me to provide for my family. Being self-employed and having the capacity to provide for my family has always been my dream. Seeing them cheerful and full of joy is my all-time desire.

The procedure was well-defined and understood. I'm overjoyed that the organization came through for me when I needed it most. I'm not sure what action I would have taken. I hope it keeps going as it is and doesn't change at all because I know there is someone else out there who is also in need and they might also get the assistance they want, just as I was assisted.

At the time I received the money, I was heavily pregnant, in my 3rd trimester, and my pregnancy was at high risk, as was my previous pregnancy. I was required to frequently visit the hospital for close monitoring, and this was really heavy on us because I could not engage in any manual labor to earn anything to cater for the transport and hospital bills. My husband lost his job early this year, and he has not been able to secure a sustainable job but just manual labor on people's farms whose earnings are not sufficient for us. I also have a 1-year-old child who requires milk every day, and this has also been a heavy toll for us. On receiving the second transfer, I spent $370 on transport to the hospital, hospital bills, and a few clothes and items in readiness for the delivery of my baby. I set aside $30 for milk for my 1-year-old for his nutritional well-being. I also set aside $100 as savings.

One sunny afternoon, as I was assembling my dried maize from the sun, a message pinged on my phone. Curious, I unlocked it and there it was a notification that the first GiveDirectly transfer had arrived. My heart raced as I read the message, and a mix of emotions overflowed within me. It was as if an eruption of happiness had taken over, knowing that the struggles and difficulties I had been facing were finally being met with a solution. At that moment, under the warm sun and surrounded by my harvested maize, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. It wasn't just about the money; it was the realization that someone out there cared enough to help and that this support was a ray of hope for a brighter future.

By the time I received the money, we were financially struggling as a family. I was an expectant mother with no source of income. My husband's job had expired after the contract came to an end. Life was hard because we had a debt of $100 for a piece of land that we had not finished paying for and the owner was ever on our doorstep. GiveDirectly enabled us to settle the debt and we are now living in peace.

I want to share a story that's changed my life for the better. You see, I was facing a lot of challenges with money before, and life felt heavy. But then, something wonderful happened; I received cash support from GiveDirectly. With that, I made some choices that have brought me so much relief and happiness. First off, I used some of the money to clear a debt I had of $100 for a piece of land. It was an acre of land that I hadn't finished paying for. But now, I can proudly say it's fully mine, and the person I owed doesn't bother me anymore. Thereafter, I bought two mattresses for $80. You know, we used to sleep on tattered mats, and it wasn't comfortable at all. But now, with those mattresses, every night's sleep feels like a blessing. I also used $90 to build a kitchen. It was tough trying to cook when it rained, and I had to do it inside our sleeping area. It wasn't ideal, but I didn't have much choice. Now, I have a kitchen where I can cook without worries. And then there was that $50 debt to a local financial institution. I had borrowed that money to pay for my son's school fees. I managed to pay that off too, and it's such a relief not to have that hanging over me. The rest of the money, I decided to save it. It's like a safety net for the future, and knowing it's there gives me a sense of security I haven't felt in a long time. I'm grateful for the support, and life is looking brighter now.