My goal for the coming years is to create a better and more comfortable life for my family. After harvesting all my tomatoes, I plan to use the income to build a larger house because the one we currently live in is too small and cannot accommodate all of us properly. Having a decent home will provide us with the space and comfort we need. I also intend to purchase a cow, which will not only provide milk for my family but also serve as an income source when the cow multiplies. Selling the extra milk and calves will help sustain us financially in the long run. These plans are essential to ensuring my family’s well-being and stability, and I feel hopeful about achieving them.

GiveDirectly has done an excellent job in ensuring we fully understand their program. They taught us professionally, and whenever there was something we didn’t grasp, they took the time to explain it until we understood. This approach made the process clear and transparent, which I truly appreciated. I haven’t noticed anything negative about GiveDirectly; everything they do seems well-organized and focused on helping people like me. My hope is that they continue with the same spirit and dedication they have shown so far. Their work has truly made a positive impact on our lives, and I am grateful for their support.

Life has always been a challenge for me, but this cash transfer gave me a new sense of hope and determination. With my second transfer, I spent $250 to purchase pest control and pesticides for my tomato farm, which I started using my first transfer. I had observed my neighbors growing tomatoes and earning huge profits, so I decided to follow their example. It turned out to be a great idea because I have already harvested and earned $1,400, with more harvests still coming. This success has transformed my life, and I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for providing me with the capital to start farming. It feels amazing to see such a significant return on my investment. Additionally, I used $140 to buy four sheep, viewing them as a future source of income. My plan is to sell these sheep when needed, especially to pay school fees for my five children. As a single provider, this is critical because my husband, unfortunately, does not contribute due to his struggles with alcohol. The remaining $60 was spent on food, as I previously relied on casual jobs to feed my family. These funds helped ease the burden and provided a sense of security for my household. Today, life is brighter and more stable for me and my children. The tomato farming venture has not only brought income but has also shown me that with the right resources, I can achieve much more. I never imagined earning so much from farming, and for this, I am truly thankful to GiveDirectly. This opportunity has given me the strength to face the future with optimism and hope.

I was busy at my farm, preparing the land for planting tomatoes, holding onto faith that GiveDirectly’s transfer would come soon. I did not know the exact date, but I trusted it would arrive as promised. I suddenly heard a notification on my phone. I quickly checked and was overjoyed to see that the first transfer had arrived. Later, when my husband returned home from herding, I shared the exciting news with him, and we were both so happy. We knew that finally we could plant our tomatoes. Thank you, GiveDirectly!

For ten years, my husband and I struggled with casual jobs, just making enough to survive. We always wanted to do crop farming, but we never had enough money. Earlier this year, after saving for a while, we planted maize, hoping it would help us, but floods destroyed everything, and we felt hopeless. When GiveDirectly gave us money, it was like a new beginning. We used the cash to plant tomatoes, and now they are growing well. We hope to harvest in less than two months, and if all goes well, we expect to get about two tons, which will give us enough money to address our needs, continue crop farming activities, and finally stop doing casual jobs.

For many years, I had dreamed of moving away from the casual jobs my husband and I had relied on for over ten years. We always wanted to engage in crop farming, but financial constraints and our limited income kept that dream out of reach. Earlier this year, after saving for some time, we finally tried crop farming. We planted maize on an acre of land, hoping it would bring us some relief. However, things didn’t go as planned. Heavy floods destroyed all our maize, leaving us devastated. Just as we were thinking of giving up, GiveDirectly came to enroll us, restoring our hope. We decided to give farming another try. As I waited for the first transfer, I began preparing the land. I plowed and made ridges, determined to succeed this time. When I received the money, I didn’t waste any time. I bought tomato seedlings worth $180 from Naivasha, where I knew I could get the best quality, and spent an additional $10 on transport costs. It was exciting to start planting again, and my entire household, including my four boys, my husband, and even my husband’s brother, helped with the planting to cut down on costs. Managing the crops has not been easy. I have had to sell some of my goats to cover the costs of irrigation, herbicides, and pesticides. Despite the challenges, my crops are now doing well, and we expect to harvest in less than two months. Additionally, we have faced difficulties with food, especially after losing our maize crop to the floods. However, with the remaining $10 from the transfer, I bought essential food items like sugar, maize flour, and other necessities to sustain us. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for making this possible.