My husband is a businessman who has been purchasing livestock from community members and transporting them to nearby markets where he sells them for a profit. As the primary breadwinner, he pays the majority of the household bills, including the children's school fees. As a new goal, I'd like to start a small business dealing in cereals, particularly dry maize grains, which are in high demand in our village. With the small savings I've been making, I also hope to start a milk business where I will buy fresh milk, ferment it, and then sell it as sour milk. Most community members spent a significant amount of time waking away from their homes in search of maize and milk, and providing them in close proximity will benefit them greatly.

I am happy to confirm that GiveDirectly did an excellent job of ensuring that every household in our village was enrolled and received an equal amount of money that was channeled to individual accounts from the start of the program when we were enrolled to the last transfer that we received. Many people lived in poverty before receiving the transfer and the assurance that they could choose how they spent their money. Diversified spending patterns solved individual household challenges, relieving the majority of people who were struggling greatly.

Despite the fact that the drought has devastated our region, destroying all crops, we have never given up on trying other alternative farming activities in an attempt to diversify and reduce the risk of total loss. I am grateful for GiveDirectly's assistance in purchasing livestock, which has reduced our reliance on crop farming and allowed us to sell livestock products to purchase other foods. After using some of the money from the first transfer to purchase an in-calf heifer that calved after a few months, I used $250 from the second transfer to purchase another one. I am glad we are not buying milk anymore, and looking forward to increasing output once the second heifer calves. We also decided to invest $180 in my husband's livestock-selling business, which is doing well so far with a higher profit margin than in previous months. I used some of the remaining funds to purchase a sack of maize for my family of five, and the remaining $60 was spent on new clothes for my children.

The day I received my transfers was the happiest day in my life. I had been eagerly waiting for this transfers since I had been promised that I would be receiving them before date 15th and that is the same date I received it. We depend on livestock farming since our land is small and we only practice subsistence farming where I plant maize and beans. With the cash at my disposal, I knew that I would be able to buy some cows and practice my passion which is livestock keeping.

My dream has been to see my children excel in their education. We have experienced prolonged drought in my region and due to this, one cannot depend on crop farming as a main source of livelihood. My small piece of land cannot also allow me depend on crop farming. Buying milk and maize all year round leaves one financially drained and I do not want this to be my case as I want to see my children study up to the levels they wish. My transfers came in handy as it enabled me to purchase two heifers. When they reproduce, I will be selling milk and use part of the income to pay school fees for my children and to buy food for the family. I am grateful and can proudly say that my daily life has changed since I now live knowing that I will be able to achieve my dream without much struggle.

Financial stability has been my aim as I am a peasant farmer. My interest has been in livestock keeping since my land is small thus practicing crop farming will not be profitable. I had only one cow and the income from the sale of surplus is always not enough to cater for our needs. As a way of increasing my income and practice what I love, I purchased two heifers at $480 using my transfer. I will be selling milk to my neighbors and nearest cooler plant and use the money to pay school fees for my children. Using the remaining $67 I bought two sacks of maize, rice and sugar for our family consumption.