In the coming years, my plan is to focus on farming. When I receive my third transfer, I will invest in planting maize and beans on my farm. I believe these crops will help me provide enough food for my family, ensuring we are well-fed and self-sufficient. I want to make farming my main focus, as it will allow me to secure a stable future for my children. By doing so, I hope to reduce my reliance on casual jobs and improve the quality of life at home. My goal is to make sure we have enough food and that our lives are more stable and prosperous.

GiveDirectly did a great job in showing care and concern about how we use the money. I really appreciate the way they talked to us nicely and gave us clear advice on how to spend the money wisely. They made sure we understood everything and followed up to ensure we were using the funds for the right purposes. From my experience, I have not seen anything bad from GiveDirectly; everything was done well. The officers were respectful and patient, making sure we felt comfortable and well-informed. I am grateful for their support and the positive impact it has had on my life.

When I received my unconditional cash transfer, I had a clear plan on how to use it. I decided to purchase a cow for $210, and I’m happy to say that it has already given birth. Now, I can enjoy fresh milk every day, which has significantly improved my family’s health. Before, we used to buy milk, but now that I have my own cow, I no longer have to spend money on it. Additionally, I used $120 to pay school fees for my two children. In the past, I relied on selling livestock to cover school fees, so I chose to keep my sheep instead of selling them, knowing they could bring in money in the future.Furthermore, I spent $20 to weed my farm, which had been destroyed by floods. The flood damage left me struggling, but I’m working hard to restore my farm so I can grow crops again. The remaining $100 went toward food for my family, as I rely on farming and casual jobs to provide for us. With five children to take care of, the money has been a great help. Since my husband passed away a long time ago, I have been managing everything on my own. This cash transfer has lightened my burden, allowing me to focus on building a better future for my children. I am truly grateful for the support, and it has made a big difference in our lives.

I was in a women’s community group meeting when I heard a message on my phone, but since I can't read, I just ignored it. When I got home that evening, I heard there had been celebrations; they were dancing and singing because people received money from GiveDirectly. I handed my phone to my helper to check for me, and when she confirmed I had received money too, I felt so happy! I thanked God and started planning how to use the money that evening.

The biggest difference in my life after receiving my first transfer from GiveDirectly is the ability to purchase plastic chairs. Before, I only had one old and broken chair, and whenever visitors came, I had to borrow chairs from my neighbors. I still remember the day I heard that GiveDirectly officers were in our village for enrollment; I rushed to borrow chairs from my neighbor, feeling embarrassed each time. My prayer has always been to have enough chairs for my family and guests, and I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for making this a reality. Now, I can host visitors comfortably without worrying about borrowing, and it brings me so much joy.

On the evening I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, my daughter, who is in medical college, unexpectedly showed up at home. She had come to ask for help with her fees, and I was surprised by this coincidence because she hadn’t even called beforehand. With no other option, I cleared her pending fees of $90 and gave her an additional $30 for her upkeep, even though I hadn't planned for this expense since her husband usually supports her. With the remaining $60, I bought three plastic chairs for $8 each because I had one broken chair, and it was difficult to accommodate visitors. I remember how, during enrollment, I heard about the GiveDirectly officers in our village and rushed to borrow chairs from my neighbor. I also bought myself clothes for $10, as the last time I had purchased clothes was two years ago, and my old clothes were worn out. Farming, which is my main source of income, has been unsuccessful for the last two years due to drought last year and floods this year; hence, I have never afforded it. Finally, the remaining $26 went to food; I bought rice, beans, sugar, cooking oil, and other essentials that lasted me a month and a half. At that time, I had no food, and I was fully relying on casual jobs, which were not consistent, to support myself and my two grandchildren. Thank GiveDirectly for your support.