My plan for the coming years is to relocate to my new plot of land once I receive my third transfer. I will clear the remaining bill for the land and move there immediately, as it will provide a safer environment for my family and me. I’ve been struggling with floods on my current land, which makes it difficult to farm and live peacefully. Once I move, I will focus on using the land for farming, where I hope to grow enough food and create a more stable life. I am determined to make the most of this opportunity, as I know it will improve my family's situation. Moving to this new land will give me peace of mind and a chance to rebuild our lives.

The officers impressed us with the way they talked to us. They were respectful, and their procedures, plans, and advice were clear and helpful. I appreciate the way they took their time to explain everything to us. On the side of negativity, I did not see anything bad from GiveDirectly. However, there were some people in my village who were left out of the program, and we do not know the reason for their disqualification. It would be good if they could address this issue and provide more clarity to those affected.

Life has been quite challenging, especially after my farm was swept away by floods, leaving me with nothing to harvest. For many years, I’ve been affected by floods, which forced me to relocate temporarily every time they came. However, with the unconditional cash transfer, I was able to make some crucial decisions to improve my situation. I used $30 for food, as I had no crops to harvest and was relying on casual jobs to get by. Furthermore, I paid a deposit of $400 towards purchasing a piece of land, which will provide me with a safe place to farm and build a stable future. The total cost of the land was $750, and I plan to pay the remaining amount later.The floods had a significant impact on my life, and for the longest time, I felt like I couldn’t escape this cycle. However, GiveDirectly came at the right time, offering support when I needed it most. With this transfer, I could start rebuilding my life, knowing I would have a piece of land to grow my food without fear of floods. It feels like a turning point for me, and I am hopeful for the future. Additionally, I used $20 to buy school uniforms for my daughter, as I always did casual jobs to pay for her school fees. Though life has been tough, I’m happy that I can still support my daughter’s education. With my children mostly grown and living on their own, I focus on providing for my youngest at home, and I’m grateful for the support I’ve received from GiveDirectly, which is helping me get back on my feet.

As I sat at a burial in the nearby village, I felt anxious after hearing some people say they received cash from GiveDirectly. I had left my phone at home, and I couldn't stop thinking about whether I had gotten the money too. After the burial, I walked straight home, and on my way, I heard neighbors excitedly talking about the cash. When I got home, I quickly checked my phone and was overjoyed to see that I had received the money as well! I ran outside to tell my neighbors, and we all celebrated together. At that moment, I knew my daughter would finally get her secondary school certificate.

For eight years, I felt completely helpless as a mother, watching my daughter unhappy. She couldn’t collect her secondary school certificate because of $150 in unpaid school fees, and it pained me deeply to see her miss out on both college and job opportunities that required that certificate. I tried everything I could. I engaged in crop production to raise the money, but it only led me deeper into debt as I kept losing crops to drought. This year, when the rains finally came, I had a glimmer of hope, but then the floods hit, wiping out all my maize crops on an acre of land. I truly believe God answered my prayers through GiveDirectly. When I received my first transfer, I cleared my daughter’s arrears, and now she has her certificate and is happy. And because of that, I am finally at peace. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for restoring hope in my home.

My daughter finished high school eight years ago, but she had never picked up her KCSE certificate because we owed $150 in school fees. We had reduced the debt from $180 to $150, but clearing the arrears was challenging since I rely on crop farming, which can be unreliable during the dry season when water is scarce. For many years, we lost our crops, leading to debt accumulation because I had to take loans to cover production costs. This year seemed promising with the rains, and I planted maize on my half-acre land, but unfortunately, I lost all the crops to floods. When I received my first GiveDirectly transfer, it restored my hope, and I decided to pay off the $150 debt to finally get my daughter her certificate. For eight years, her dream was shattered; she couldn't join college or take advantage of other opportunities that required a secondary school certificate, which was heartbreaking for me as a mom. Seeing her receive that certificate brought her so much joy, and she is now planning to look for job opportunities, although I am unsure if she still wants to join college after such a long delay. I also spent $30 on food, especially maize, since we hadn’t harvested anything. Lastly, I took the remaining amount to church to thank God for this blessing, as I had been praying for so long; just when I thought my prayers wouldn’t be answered, God came through for us through GiveDirectly.