I am hoping that by the end of the year, I will have finished paying off the balance for the piece of land. My goal is to make sure that when the next long rains come, we will have already moved out and started building a new house. I plan to use the third transfer to settle the payment for the land. Hopefully, if the tomato harvest goes well, I can sell them and use the money to build our new house in the area we want to move to. This move is important because it will help us stay safe from mosquitoes that bring diseases when it rains.

When GiveDirectly came to our village, I was initially unsure of what to expect. But they visited us personally, took time to meet with each of us, and explained the program in a way that was easy to understand. I could see that they genuinely cared about us, about our lives, and about what we might be able to achieve with a little support. By speaking to us one-on-one, they made sure we understood the program on a personal level, addressing our questions and concerns patiently. It felt respectful, like they trusted us to make good decisions. The best part of this program is that the money they send comes directly to me—there are no middlemen involved, so I receive the full amount. And I appreciate that they gave me complete freedom to decide how to spend it. They didn’t try to tell me what I needed; instead, they trusted me to know what’s best for myself and my family.

When I received the cash transfer, I saw an opportunity to improve our living situation. I decided to buy a piece of land in Eldume where flooding is less severe. Land in that area is not cheap—a half-acre goes for about $550—but I spoke with the owner and they agreed to let me make a deposit of $300 from the transfer. Where we currently live, flooding is a constant worry, and I have been wanting to move my family to higher ground for a while. In addition, I used $100 to plough half an acre and plant tomatoes. My husband had already bought tomato seedlings, but we didn’t have the funds to prepare the land. This cash came at just the right time, allowing us to get the field ready for planting. Tomatoes mature faster and can sell at a good price, so we’re hopeful that this crop will bring in a steady income to support our household. Lastly, I used the remainder of the money to buy household food items. Ensuring that we are food secure is important, especially as we embark on this new farming venture. With food stocked and a new land investment underway, I feel that we’re on the path to a better future. This cash transfer has truly been a blessing, giving us the boost we needed to improve our lives.

I remember I had spent the entire day at home because there was no farm work as our fields had been severely affected by floods that washed away all our crops. It was also my children's mid-term break, so they were also at home with me. Around 3:00 pm, my phone ran out of battery, so I plugged it into the socket to charge. By the time I went to retrieve it around 7:00 pm, it was fully charged and ready. As soon as I turned it on, a notification popped up—an SMS indicating that I had received a transfer from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed. I could not contain my excitement and immediately shared the news with my children, who were just as overjoyed.

The biggest difference in my life since receiving the transfer is that I am now a bit more relaxed because my children are in school. The transfer enabled me to send them back after their mid-term break. Without it, they would be at home now, missing their studies. I am truly happy because I would have been extremely distressed, unable to bear seeing them at home while their peers are in school. It would have made me feel like I had failed as a parent. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for making this possible for me.

The transfer came as a relief to us. My two secondary school children were due to report back to school, but I did not have any money for their fees. One had arrears of $190 and the other $150, and they would not have been accepted back without at least a partial payment. This worried me greatly because I could not bear seeing them at home and missing school. The transfer came just in time. I immediately deposited $50 into each of their bank accounts for their fees. We were also struggling with food since casual employment was hard to find after most of the farms in our area were destroyed by floods. Securing a meal was a daily challenge; we could only have porridge in the morning and hope for a better meal in the evening, relying on the few surviving vegetables on my farm. I could sell it to ensure my children did not go hungry. With the transfer, I used $50 to buy food, allowing us to have three meals a day. I also used the remaining $50 to lease half an acre of land in an area unaffected by floods, where I planted maize for both family consumption and to sell the surplus to support my children's education.