Expanding my cattle farming is a well-thought-out plan to secure our financial future. The past few years have shown me the immense value of livestock in our lives. They provide us with milk, which is a daily source of nutrition, and offer us financial stability through their breeding and sale. Currently, I have a few young bulls in my herd, and they are like the seeds of a brighter future. I'm investing time and resources to ensure they grow strong and healthy, and when the time is right, they will be sold. The income from selling these bulls will play a pivotal role in covering the school fees for the upcoming year. Education is a top priority for my family, and I'm committed to ensuring that my children have access to quality schooling. Cattle farming isn't just about financial security; it's also about self-sustainability. With our own source of milk and potential income from cattle sales, we are gradually reducing our dependence on casual jobs.

GiveDirectly's approach to providing financial assistance and accompanying it with education on responsible money management has been truly commendable. It's not just about receiving funds; it's about empowering individuals and communities to make the most of these resources for long-term benefit. Through the support and guidance from GiveDirectly, our community has taken significant steps forward from where we once were. We've gained valuable skills and knowledge on handling finances, protecting ourselves from potential scams, and being accountable for the funds we receive. This education has been transformative, giving us the tools to create a better future for ourselves and our families. One of the most crucial aspects of this journey has been accountability. We understand the importance of using these funds wisely, not just for immediate needs but also for building a stable and secure future. GiveDirectly's emphasis on responsible financial practices has instilled a sense of responsibility and prudence within our community. We're grateful for the support we've received from GiveDirectly, not only for the financial assistance but also for the valuable lessons we've learned.

I spent $180 on purchasing chain link fencing materials, a significant step in protecting both my compound and farm. For a while, I had been grappling with the challenge of goats relentlessly invading my farm and damaging the fruits I had carefully planted. This chain link fencing will act as a barrier, ensuring these mischievous goats can no longer access my crops. Now, I'm looking forward to a more bountiful harvest, which will provide food for my family and extra income when I sell the surplus in the market. A substantial portion of my transfer, $110 to be precise, went into covering our food expenses. Prior to receiving assistance from GiveDirectly, securing enough food for my family was a constant worry. With changing weather patterns, including droughts, my previous reliance on farming had become unreliable. Thankfully, with assurance of a regular food supply, we no longer go to bed hungry. I can channel my energy and resources into improving our overall quality of life. In recognition of the need to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances, I wisely chose to save $150 from the transfer. This savings fund serves as a financial safety net, providing security and peace of mind. It's a stark contrast to the uncertainty that characterized our lives before the assistance from GiveDirectly.

In the next one year and beyond I hope to accomplish a lot with help of GiveDirectly funds and other income from secondary sources such as business. Though there is a lot of competition when it comes to the honey business I expect that with the boost that I received from GiveDirectly transfers I will be able to reach out to more customers and definitely make more profits that will change my life and that of my family for the better. I also look forward to planting drought resistant crops such as mangoes and bananas that will turn around our living standards and that of my family.

In my opinion they does very well by giving cash and doing proper follow up to make sure that no one misuses the money at all. This makes us feel more comfortable and more responsible with the transfers. I do not find anything that should change with GiveDirectly . Everything according to me was just done in a good manner.

With my most recent transfer of $450, I used $50 to buy food and other minor needs for my family. I then used another $105 to buy maize for local household consumption. $650 was used to boost my honey selling business and another $30 was used to buy fencing poles. At that time I had one of my children who fell ill and I gave him $32 to go seek for medication. I also used $20 to pay school fees for one of my children who is in his secondary level of education. We are living in an environment where rain is hard to come by and for this reason we have always had to look for more money to buy food and avoid going without. GiveDirectly came in as a major boost to us as a family and village as a whole. I am also very happy that I now have some fencing materials that will allow me to erect a fence and avoid conflicts with my neighbours and external invasion from other wild and domestic animals. The honey business that I run has been greatly boosted and this will also make our lives and that of my family better by increasing income that I make.

In mid-December, around 4:00 p.m., I received a message from GiveDirectly with the exciting and long-awaited news. I was at the nearby Koriema shopping center, where I sell honey. I was overjoyed to learn that I had received the $200 promised by GiveDirectly during enrollment. I called my son right away, and he confirmed receiving the same message with the same amount. I was delighted and thanked God because I had a lot planned to do as soon as I received the support.

The availability of enough food for my family of nine is the most noticeable difference in my daily life. At the moment, I am pushing my business aggressively, knowing that I will have something to cook for my family on both slow and busy days. Even if I don't sell anything, I am always content knowing that my family will have something to eat at the end of the day. I am relieved and no longer concerned about what the kids will eat. My husband is currently unemployed and has been out tending to the livestock while the majority of my children are in school.

All of the fences around my farm have weakened over time, allowing stray livestock from the neighborhood to infiltrate my crops. For a long time, I have hoped to save money for the construction of a new fence to help with animal confinement and to keep neighbors' from invading my farms. I am so thankful that my prayers were answered when I received the first transfer that I have already spent $75 on two rolls of barbed wire, 1.5 kg of nails, and binding wire. I am hoping to build a sturdy fence before the planting season begins to protect my crops from goats and cows. I also purchased a half-sack of dry maize grains for $28 and ten kilograms of beans for $14, which I am currently using with my family of nine. I also spent $14 on other household items such as cooking oil, baking flour, sugar, and toiletries. I also purchased a shirt and a pair of trousers for my husband at 1200 and saved the remainder, which I have been using to check and replenish groceries in my household. I am pleased that all of the objectives for the first transfer were met, and I have been saving the receipt while I wait to report my progress.