I have no option other than to relocate because where I live is prone to flooding. My plan is to buy a piece of land away from the floods so that I can have a safe place to live and work. Once I have my new land, I will open a business there to support myself and my family. This change will allow me to continue with my life without the constant worry of losing everything to water. I believe that having a stable location will help me focus on building a better future. In the coming years, I want to create a secure environment for my children and ensure they have the opportunities they deserve.

I appreciate how GiveDirectly asked me questions and visited us at home. In the past, I felt discriminated against in the village and wasn’t even given relief food. However, I was surprised when I received this cash transfer, as it showed that you do not discriminate and enrolled everyone in the village. I felt included and valued for the first time. I have not seen anything bad or negative about GiveDirectly. Your support has truly made a difference in my life and the lives of others in the community.

Starting fresh after losing everything to the floods has been a challenge, but I am determined to create a better life for my children. I used $50 of my unconditional cash transfer to pay school fees for my children, as their education is my top priority. Previously, I relied on my business of selling food and other goods to support us, but the floods destroyed my shop and wiped out my stock. Despite this setback, I borrowed money to restock my shop and get back on my feet. However, the competition has increased, and my daily income has dropped from $15 to $8, as more people have opened businesses after receiving their own cash transfers.Being a single mother is tough, especially when my children depend solely on me for their needs. The pressure of paying school fees was overwhelming, but now I feel more hopeful. Although I faced struggles and moments of depression, I am gradually finding my way. My children’s happiness motivates me to keep pushing forward, and I am committed to providing them with the education they deserve.Furthermore, I have managed to save $400, which I plan to use for school fees when they return in January. This financial cushion gives me peace of mind and shows that my hard work is paying off. I am determined to ensure that my children have a brighter future, and I believe that with continued effort and support, we will overcome these challenges together.

I went to visit my son, who recently started high school. As we were catching up, I heard a message notification on my phone. Being a businesswoman, I immediately checked, thinking it might be important. To my surprise, I saw that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. Overjoyed, I couldn't contain my excitement. My son noticed and asked why I was so happy, so I showed him the message. Having never received any support before, I wasn't sure if this would actually happen. But when I saw the confirmation, I felt incredibly grateful and thanked God.

As a single mom of four children, with three in high school, I used to rely on my shop, posho mill, and poultry farming to meet all our needs. But after the floods, I lost my poultry, and now I only have the posho mill and shop, neither of which is doing well. The fees for my three children in boarding school total about $600 per term, and this has been a constant source of stress for me. It’s not easy, but as a mother, my children's education is my top priority, and I will always work hard to ensure they get the best education possible. When I received my transfer from GiveDirectly, it felt like a blessing that lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. For the first time, I was able to reduce my arrears without the overwhelming stress of figuring out how to pay the fees. Now, I feel much more at ease, knowing that I can use my next transfer to cover the fees for the coming term.

I have three children in high school and had total arrears of about $300 for them, with balances of $110, $130, and $70, respectively. My plan was to save from my business and gradually reduce their fees, as I had been doing before. Unfortunately, my business has been struggling lately, especially after the floods struck our community. Many people in the area, whose main source of income was farming, suffered huge losses, and since they are my target customers, I was badly affected as well. I had just restocked my shop before the floods, but sadly, I lost a bag of rice, 10 kg of cooking oil, four cartons of milk, and six bags of maize from my posho mill. I also lost over 50 chickens. These losses were a huge setback for me, as they were my primary sources of income to support my kids, particularly in paying their school fees. Being a single mom, this hit me hard. However, I was fortunate that the GiveDirectly cash came at the right time. I spent the entire $200 to reduce their fees, paying $70, $60, and $70, respectively. Now I have a balance of $100 and I’m planning to start reducing it next week.