Now that I have sorted out the housing problem, my goal for this year and beyond is to return to farming, as the floods had swept away my farm. I plan to use the next transfer from GiveDirectly to make this a reality. Getting back to farming will open doors for me to use the proceeds from the farm to start a business that will ensure a sustainable income for my family. The thought of achieving this fills me with hope and satisfaction, knowing that it will secure our future and help us recover fully from the effects of the floods.

GiveDirectly did an excellent job with their emergency response. Through their unconditional cash transfers, I was able to recover from the effects of the floods. I am truly grateful for the support, as it helped me rebuild my life. My recommendation is for GiveDirectly to consider providing more cash beyond the third transfer. This would allow us to fully recover and continue building a stable future after the challenges we faced.

I was severely affected by floods that swept away my house, leaving my family to live in a makeshift temporary shelter. When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I used $400 to buy building materials. With this and my savings, I was able to build a new house, allowing my family to recover and return to the life we had before the flood. I am truly thankful to GiveDirectly because the floods left me homeless, but now I have a proper home again. I used the remaining $50 to buy food since the floods destroyed my farm, and I had no harvest. Thanks to this support, I am now able to provide food for my family, even without a successful harvest.

The moment I received the money was unforgettable. It was around 4 p.m., and I was at home with my wife after coming back from the farm. I was feeling a mix of exhaustion and worry, as the floods had almost pushed us back to square one, taking away much of what we had. There was no way to burn charcoal, which is how we make a living, and we were struggling to buy even the basics.When I checked and saw the money, I was filled with joy and relief. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Without wasting any time, I rushed to the nearby center to buy flour, knowing that at least we would have food to eat. It was a moment of pure happiness because, for the first time in a long while, we had hope and some security. The timing couldn’t have been better.

Receiving the transfer has brought significant changes to our lives. Now that I own goats, I see a brighter future ahead. When the goats multiply, I’ll be able to sell them and use the income for farming and other needs. They will also provide us with milk, helping to improve our daily nutrition. The transfer has given us hope, especially after the heavy rains destroyed so much of our household. It’s been hard recovering from that, but knowing we have something to rely on, like the goats, has made life more manageable. The support has helped us start rebuilding and planning for a more stable future.

I spent my recent transfer thoughtfully, focusing on both our immediate needs and future security. I used $110 to buy two goats, but I had to relocate them to a safer place, fearing that future floods could wash them away. These goats are  valuable investment, as they will provide us with milk and can be sold if we face an emergency.I also spent $30 on clothes because we had very few, and we haven’t been able to save for such necessities. Additionally, I used $60 to buy food. Normally, we rely on burning charcoal and farming to stock up on food, but the floods and occasional droughts have made these sources unreliable. We can’t depend on them like we used to.Emotionally, I’m going through a very tough time. My wife recently gave birth, but we tragically lost our two children, and the grief has left me feeling deeply stressed and unhappy. Even with the financial support, it’s hard to find peace after everything we’ve been through.