Our house was swept away by floods, and we lost household items like our bed. As a result, my children and I had to move into my co-wife's house. While we stayed with her family, living under one roof with her three children, my two children, and our husband made the situation uncomfortable due to the limited space. After receiving my second transfer from GiveDirectly, I bought iron sheets and timber. I now plan to use my final transfer to purchase the remaining materials and begin construction so we can have our own space again. Additionally, I intend to buy essential items we lost to restore comfort and stability for my family.

What I like most about GiveDirectly is that it is an inclusive organization. Everyone in the community was enrolled, which helped eradicate complaints about exclusion. During the enrollment process, we were educated on wise spending, which was very helpful in guiding our decisions. We were also given time as families to nominate who would receive the money, ensuring that we reached a consensus and avoided household conflicts. Overall, GiveDirectly's approach throughout the process was effective, and everything was carried out smoothly. I do not see any areas for improvement and would recommend that they continue with the same approach.

When the floods swept away our grass-thatched house, my children and I had no choice but to move into my co-wife's house. Her home, made of iron sheets, was spared by the floods. With my two children, her three children, and our husband, we were all living under one roof, which felt a bit awkward. Fortunately, after receiving my second cash transfer, I used $208 to buy iron sheets and $84 for timber to start rebuilding my own house. I am now planning to use my final transfer to buy the remaining materials and begin the construction, so we can have our own space again. At the time I received this transfer, my son was only three weeks old, and I had just been discharged from the hospital with a bill of $30, which I cleared immediately. I also bought clothes for my baby for $20, as I had only a few to get by with. Food was essential for me as a nursing mother, so I spent $25 on food items to make sure we had enough. Additionally, I rented half an acre of land near the river for $50, where I planted fast-growing vegetables (black nightshade and spider plant). Thankfully, my crops are doing well, and I expect to start harvesting next month. This will help me sell and support my family further, thanks to the support from GiveDirectly.

One afternoon, after I got home from the farm where I'd spent hours weeding vegetables, I took my phone out of my pocket and saw there was a message. Curiosity got the best of me, so I quickly opened it, and there it was — the GiveDirectly transfer! I felt an overwhelming surge of excitement and immediately rushed to tell my mother-in-law, who had also received the money. She was just as thrilled as I was. Later that evening, I called my husband to share the good news, and he was so happy that he promised to travel back soon. Together, we would buy iron sheets and start preparing to build our dream house.

When I got the cash from GiveDirectly, the first thing I did was lease half an acre of land. We already had seedlings lying around, but we had no place to plant them, so the money came at the perfect time. Now that the vegetables are growing, it feels like we finally have a plan in motion. We’re excited because, with a good harvest, the farm will bring us some extra income, which we need. Before the transfer, we were mainly relying on my husband’s small charcoal business, but it wasn’t always enough. Now, with the farm, we have something to look forward to, a way to diversify our income.

When we received the cash, we decided to use $52 to buy four iron sheets. Our house had been destroyed by floods, and since then, I’ve been staying with my co-wife. We needed to start rebuilding, even if it’s slowly, to have a place of our own again. The situation was tough, but we wanted to make progress, one step at a time. At the time, I was also expecting a baby, so I used $30 to buy a bag of maize. I wanted to make sure we had enough food when the baby arrived. Now, my little one is just a week old, and I’m grateful we planned. I also spent $30 on baby clothes, as I didn’t have anything prepared for the newborn, and those items were essential. We put another $50 towards leasing half an acre of land, where we’ve planted vegetables. The crops are growing well, and we’re hopeful that the harvest will help us sustain our family in the coming months. The remaining amount went toward purchasing other food supplies to ensure we had enough to eat and reduce the burden on the household. This money has given us a chance to rebuild and stabilize, even with the challenges we’ve faced.