My plan for this year and beyond is to fully recover from the losses I incurred during the recent floods. I intend to achieve this by investing in farming and replacing the equipment swept away by the floodwaters. This includes purchasing a generator and water pipes, which are essential for irrigation and sustaining my farming activities. With these investments, I aim to generate enough income to support my family and ensure my children’s education continues uninterrupted. The thought of achieving all this fills me with gratitude and hope because it will mean I have fully recovered and can provide a stable future for my family.

What stood out for me with the GiveDirectly program is their remarkable professionalism. They always ask for consent before enrolling or even speaking to anyone, which shows great respect for people’s privacy and dignity. This approach makes the program feel trustworthy and transparent. I recommend that GiveDirectly establish a permanent office in our area, even when they are not actively enrolling. This would allow them to engage with the community more regularly, conduct more focus group discussions (FGDs), and better understand the needs and challenges people face. Additionally, I suggest they introduce an exchange program where recipients from different locations can share their experiences and ideas. This could inspire new ways to utilize the support and foster a stronger sense of community among beneficiaries.

Upon receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to get back into farming after being severely affected by floods. I used $430 to make this happen. This amount covered leasing three acres of land, buying seeds, irrigation, planting, and related expenses. On two of the acres, I planted mung beans, while the remaining acre was dedicated to maize farming. I am hopeful for a good harvest, which will allow me to reinvest in farming and support my children’s education. I have four children in school—two in secondary and two in university—and farming has always been my primary way of sustaining their education. However, the floods left me hopeless, as I struggled to pay school fees and provide for my family. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I am now back on my feet and working towards securing their future. I used the remaining money to buy food, ensuring the family had enough to eat at home, even before the harvest. This support has restored my hope and given me a way to rebuild what I lost.

While I was at the hospital taking care of my mother, who had been admitted, I didn’t even realize that the money had come in. It wasn’t until around 4 p.m. that I checked my phone and saw the message. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and immediately thanked God, as well as GiveDirectly, for the blessing. I had been thinking about leasing land for farming, but I didn’t have the capital to make it happen before. With this money, that dream suddenly felt possible.

Before receiving the transfer, I had no capital to start farming because all my money went towards enrolling my children in university. I struggled without savings and was constantly worried about how to provide for my family. When GiveDirectly stepped in, it changed everything. With the money, I was able to lease land for farming and ensure we had enough food at home, which reduced a lot of my stress. Now, I’ve even saved some income from my casual jobs and managed to open a small grocery kiosk to help cover daily needs like milk and vegetables. This support has made a big difference in my life, giving me stability and hope for the future. Thanks so much Givedirectly.

Farming has always been my lifeline, but this time, I saw an opportunity to take it to the next level. I decided to lease two acres of land for $120, knowing that farming on a larger scale would bring in more income. This extra money will help me tackle the university fees for my two children, which had become a heavy burden. With agriculture being a dependable source of income for us, this expansion offers hope for better financial security, allowing me to support their education without the constant pressure of finding money.In addition to that, I spent $10 on new school uniforms for my two sons. Their old uniforms were worn out, and it was important to me that they felt confident and presentable at school. I also put aside $30 for food, even though I usually farm for it. With all the other financial pressures, I wanted to ensure we had enough to get by comfortably until the next harvest.Finally, I allocated $40 for my children's school fees. Balancing my responsibilities as a farmer, pastor, and mother of six can be overwhelming. Both my husband and I farm, but the added income from this cash transfer has provided much-needed relief. Now, I can focus on my family and my duties without the constant worry of how to meet our daily needs.