This year was not lucky for me as a farmer. My entire maize crop was destroyed when floods completely covered my farm, leaving me with nothing and causing a severe food shortage. As a result, I had to rely on producing charcoal to sustain my family, which has been both exhausting and environmentally damaging. Now that the water has receded, I plan to give crop farming another try. With the final transfer I am set to receive, I will plant beans, and if it succeeds, I hope to stop the tedious charcoal production that I am currently relying on.

GiveDirectly does exceptionally well in supporting the needy through unconditional cash transfers, which have had a transformative impact on our home. The money we received enabled us to build a better house, something we could not have achieved otherwise. During the enrollment process, the officers were patient and respectful, ensuring that we understood everything clearly without feeling rushed. Additionally, during community meetings, we were educated on the importance of spending the money wisely, including avoiding illegal activities such as purchasing firearms. The unconditional nature of the cash allowed me to prioritize my family's needs, giving us the freedom to invest in what was most important to us. Honestly, I do not see any areas of improvement in GiveDirectly's approach, and I would encourage them to continue with the same.

Following the floods this year, our main house was completely destroyed, leaving us with only the kitchen, which was also severely damaged but not entirely collapsed. We ended up with nowhere to sleep, and together with my seven children, we had no choice but to go to my mother-in-law's house every evening. She has only one room, and with her two children also staying there, it was incredibly challenging for all of us to squeeze into such a small space. When I received my second transfer of $435, I immediately spent it on buying iron sheets, poles, labor, and transportation of these materials to build a shelter for my family. I constructed a one-room house with iron sheet roofing and walls, and now we no longer need to crowd at my mother-in-law's house every night. I also used $5 to buy shoes for my son, who did not have any, and spent the remaining $10 on some food items that we needed at the time. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for helping us rebuild our lives.

Being illiterate is challenging, especially when you can't read or write. When the GiveDirectly money arrived early one afternoon, I didn’t even realize it until my children came home from school and excitedly told me, "Mum, the money has come!" I asked them to check the phone, and soon they were running back with shouts of joy—one needed books, and another wanted trousers. My entire compound was filled with laughter and excitement that day. I was so thrilled that I sent the children to the shop to buy milk, making a special treat out of what was usually just vegetables for us.

My family is now happy and enjoying plenty of food at home, something we never had in large quantities before. I am grateful for the help from GiveDirectly and deeply appreciate their support. Our health has also improved, and I’ve been able to reduce our fee arrears. My two children in secondary school are attending classes, and I hope they won't be sent home anytime soon. I can now focus on preparing my farm, which was destroyed by the floods, without the stress of constantly searching for food.

I have a chest problem that prevents me from doing hard labor, making life extremely difficult. I struggle to feed and provide school fees for my seven children. My husband is polygamous and often absent, leaving me without support. This situation has been so challenging that it feels overwhelming. When I received the cash, I immediately spent $90 on food, purchasing two 90kg bags of maize and other essentials to ensure we have enough until the next transfer. I can only earn a small amount from selling charcoal—about $4 per bag, and I manage to sell only two bags a week, which isn't enough for us. I also used $65 to pay part of my children’s school fees, covering some arrears from a total of $400. I usually pay fees by selling our goats or using our harvest, but we haven’t had any crops for the past two years because of drought seasons. Finally, I used the remaining amount to buy clothes for us, as many were destroyed by the floods.