In the coming years, my main focus is to expand my farming activities and secure a steady income. I plan to use the capital from my third cash transfer to lease more acres of land and increase my agricultural output. With more land, I can grow a variety of crops that will ensure a good harvest, even during tough seasons. Farming has been my source of livelihood, and I want to make sure it continues to provide for my family, especially with six children to take care of. I am determined to make the most out of this opportunity and create a stable future. My goal is to grow enough to not only feed my family but also sell in the market to generate more income.

GiveDirectly did a great job from the beginning by introducing themselves clearly during the barazas and educating us well about the cash transfer program. I appreciated how they explained everything in a simple way that we could all understand. One thing that stood out to me is that they are independent and not involved in politics, which made us trust them more. They were also very fair in the process, enrolling everyone in the village without discrimination. I have not noticed any weaknesses in how they handled things; everything was done perfectly. Overall, I am satisfied with their work and how they have supported us.

When the floods destroyed our home, life became even more challenging for my family and me. Our house, which had iron sheets on the roof but mud walls, was completely damaged. I knew I had to build a better, more durable house that wouldn't leak when it rained. I used $370 from the cash transfer to construct a one-room house made entirely of iron sheets, which gave us much-needed security and comfort. It feels good to know that, no matter the weather, my family now has a safe place to live. With the remaining money, I focused on securing our food supply. I spent $30 to lease a piece of land where I could plant beans. Beans thrive in dry seasons, unlike maize, which often gets diseases during tough conditions. Since we had experienced significant losses when floods destroyed crops on our two-acre farm, I knew this was the best decision. Furthermore, I used the last $40 to buy food, as we couldn’t survive without it while waiting for the new crops to grow.My wife helps me with farming, and together, we care for our six children. Life has changed for the better since we received the cash transfer. We no longer worry about the rain or food shortages like before. Our family is much happier now, and I am grateful that we have recovered from the hardship we faced.

As I returned home from fencing my farm, I unlocked my phone, which I had left charging, and saw that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I felt a surge of happiness and immediately told my wife. She was thrilled and knew that we would be able to fulfill the plans we had. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for keeping your promise.

For the longest time, I had wanted a sofa but could never afford one. I admired sofas in other people’s homes, but my priorities and income never allowed me to save up for one. Now, I finally have it. During the day, when I’m tired, I can comfortably lie on my sofa. I still can’t believe I have it. Thank you, GiveDirectly!

I bought a three-seater sofa for $58, something we had never owned before. Seeing a sofa in our home felt like a miracle, as it was something we usually saw in other homes. To ensure we had enough sitting arrangements, I also bought three plastic chairs for $23. For my wife and me, I purchased a bed and mattress for $80. Previously, we had a tiny bed that forced us to communicate every time we wanted to change sides, making our sleep uncomfortable. We gave our old bed to our children, and now our sleeping arrangement is much more comfortable. Food is essential, yet obtaining it is challenging. We rely on crop farming and sometimes charcoal production, which is unreliable due to water shortages in the dry season and floods during the rainy season affecting crops and difficulties in obtaining logs for charcoal production. To ensure we had enough food for our family of eight, I used $32 to buy essential food items. This purchase relieved us from the stress of worrying about food for a while.