My plan for this year and the years to come is to increase the number of goats I own using the next transfer from GiveDirectly. By expanding my livestock, I will be able to provide my family with a steady source of income and milk, which will greatly improve our livelihood. The goats will also allow me to save for the future and meet other essential needs for my children. The thought of achieving this fills my heart with joy and satisfaction, as I know it will elevate my family to a new level of stability and comfort. GiveDirectly's support has given me hope, and I am excited about the brighter future ahead.

What stood out for me with the GiveDirectly program was their unconditional cash transfers and the dignity they provide by allowing us to use the money however we see fit. This freedom has given me the chance to address my family's needs in the way that works best for us. Being able to make my own decisions with the funds has been incredibly empowering. I have no specific recommendations for GiveDirectly because I truly believe they are doing an excellent job. They should continue with the great work they are doing, as it is positively transforming lives in a meaningful way.

I received $450 from GiveDirectly very early in the morning, and I was so happy that I couldn't sleep. My family has been greatly affected by floods, and I lost all of my livestock due to this disaster. To get back into livestock keeping, I used $180 to buy three goats. Since losing my livestock, my family has struggled with a lack of milk, so restoring this source of nutrition was essential. I hope these goats will grow into a larger herd in the future. After that, I used $100 to pay a deposit for the land I currently live on. I have been living on borrowed land, and I want to pay the full amount to become a landowner. Thanks to GiveDirectly, this is now possible. With the final transfer, I will be able to clear the balance, and the plot I have been staying on for seven years will finally be mine. Next, I turned my attention to my living situation. I currently live in a one-room house, which is not enough for me and my children. I used $130 to buy iron sheets so that I could extend my house to two rooms, providing enough space for my family. With no job and a family of four kids, food is crucial and often hard to come by. I used $40 to buy enough food for my family, and now we are all happy and content.

I was just at home, relaxing, when I heard a message notification on my phone. Curious, I checked it and couldn't believe my eyes—it was the GiveDirectly transfer! I was so excited, I even wondered why the money came through on a Sunday. I immediately told my wife, but she couldn’t believe it either. We started talking about how we could finally build a better kitchen because the one we had was practically falling apart.

The biggest difference in my life right now is that we have a better kitchen for my wife to cook from. In the past, when it rained, she would struggle because the roof leaked, and now she can cook without stress even when it pours. I'm also happy that we have food in the house, so I no longer have to do casual jobs like burning charcoal just to make ends meet. This has allowed me to concentrate on other things I want to do at home, like farming, which gives me peace of mind. I will forever be grateful to GiveDirectly because they have given me a reason to believe that I can start all over again even at old age.

When I received the unconditional cash transfer, I immediately knew I had to address our deteriorating kitchen. The old kitchen was in a bad state, with one wall already collapsed. So, I bought four iron sheets, roofing nails, and a new door for $73. I managed to complete the construction of a small separate kitchen using the old iron sheets for the walls and the new ones for the roof. It feels good knowing that we now have a safer place to prepare our meals. With the kitchen sorted, I purchased three plastic chairs for $25. Now, we have proper seating when we sit outside, and our visitors have a place to sit when they come over. It’s a simple upgrade, but it has made a big difference in our daily lives and social interactions. Lastly, I used $20 to buy 45 kilograms of maize, ensuring we had enough food for the household. I also spent $10 on sugar, tea leaves, and cooking oil. To support my maize farm, I bought five liters of fuel for $15, which I used to power my generator to pump water from the river for irrigation. The remainder of the money covered my transport to and from Marigat. Every dollar was spent thoughtfully, and it has greatly improved our living conditions.