I plan to focus on crop farming because I have an acre of land near the river, which makes irrigation convenient. Although I lost my maize to floods this year, I have seen the benefits from past harvests and believe this is the best way to meet our needs. To avoid future losses, I will plant during the dry season when there is no risk of floods, and I will rely on irrigation as I will get irrigation equipment from my son. I also plan to practice crop rotation to diversify my crops and maintain soil fertility. To cover production costs, I intend to sell some of my goats. I will start by planting maize, a staple crop that has always done well when conditions are favorable. With my husband focusing on his second wife, I feel it is up to me to ensure my children’s well-being, and through successful crop farming, I will be able to address their needs, especially food.

GiveDirectly does an excellent job of delivering cash transfers. The unconditional nature of the funds has transformed lives in our community, allowing people to address their diverse urgent needs, especially after the floods devastated us. The disaster led to the loss of crops, livestock, homes, and household items, forcing many of us to rely on casual jobs and charcoal production to survive. GiveDirectly brought hope when it was most needed, and as a result, we now see visible changes such as new houses, livestock purchases, and the replanting of crops. The methods they use to deliver cash are highly effective, and I have no areas for improvement to recommend. I encourage them to keep up the good work as they continue to support more people in need using the same approach.

My second transfer came just at the right time. My daughter, who is in secondary school, had been sent home due to $300 in unpaid fees just two days before the transfer. I honestly had no money to send her back to school, so I used $100 from the transfer to reduce her arrears, which gave me peace of mind. Additionally, my home is a single-room house, and with five school-going children still living with me, space is a big challenge. We are forced to squeeze together, and I can't even add more household items due to the lack of space. Two of my children sleep on the floor, which worries me because our area is prone to snakes, and I fear for their safety. I decided to buy 20 iron sheets for $240 to start building an additional room for us. I plan to use my final transfer to buy the remaining materials and complete the construction. I also used $50 to buy clothes for myself and the children since our old clothes were worn out. The remaining money went towards buying food, including maize and condiments, as we were really struggling to put meals on the table at the time. My husband has another wife, and he spends most of his time there, leaving me with the responsibility to provide for our children, especially when it comes to food. Yet, I rely on casual jobs and sometimes crop farming, which has been unreliable due to droughts and floods. This cash transfer has been a great support for us. Thank you, GiveDirectly.

It was a Sunday, the 14th, and I was in the kitchen, preparing food for my family in the evening when I heard the familiar sound of a message notification on my phone. I quickly wiped my hands and reached for the phone, and to my surprise, it was a message from GiveDirectly. The transfer had come through, and I felt a rush of happiness. It was a moment I had been waiting for, but I decided to keep it to myself for the time being. I didn't tell anyone about it; I wanted to wait until I could withdraw the money and use it to pay for my daughter’s school fees, knowing it would make a huge difference for her as she is in boarding school.

Before I received the cash transfers from GiveDirectly, I was constantly stressed about how to get money to pay my daughter’s school fees. The worry consumed me, and I had to take on multiple casual jobs, like burning charcoal, just to make ends meet. It was exhausting and took a toll on my health, both physically and mentally. But now, everything has changed. I no longer have to worry about where I’ll find the money for school fees because I’ve cleared everything, thanks to the support from GiveDirectly. The relief has been incredible—I’ve even noticed that I’ve gained some weight since I’m no longer stressed all the time. It’s such a huge difference in my life.

When I received the money, my first thought was to ensure my daughter’s education was secure. I used $80 to pay off the outstanding school fees for her second term in Form 2 at the boarding school in Kambi Samaki. It was such a relief to clear the arrears, knowing she could focus on her studies without the constant worry of being sent home for lack of payment. Next, I decided to invest in our future by purchasing two goats for $100. Goats are a valuable asset because they multiply quickly, and having them gives me a safety net for emergencies, like when I might need to pay school fees again. Knowing that I have this investment gives me peace of mind, as I can sell them if a financial need arises. With the remaining money, I bought food items for our household. This ensured that we had enough to eat without the stress of wondering where the next meal would come from.