My plan for this year, and in the years to come, is to invest more in agribusiness, focusing on both crop farming and livestock keeping. By growing this venture, I aim to establish a consistent source of income that will allow me to improve my household’s standard of living. This income will help me cover essential needs like school fees, food, and other immediate household expenses. I intend to use the remaining GiveDirectly transfer to make this dream a reality. Building a meaningful business that can provide stable income fills me with satisfaction and hope. I look forward to the day when I’ll be able to support my family with this venture and continue improving our quality of life.

What stands out most to me about GiveDirectly is their approach of providing unconditional cash transfers. I appreciate this method because it trusts recipients to prioritize and make the best decisions for their own needs, empowering us to address what truly matters in our lives. As for recommendations on changing their current program, I honestly have none. I prefer that GiveDirectly continue with this approach, as it has proven effective and impactful. The freedom to choose how to use the support has made a positive difference in my life, and I believe it can continue to do the same for others.

When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, one of my children was close to finishing secondary school, but I struggled to clear the outstanding fees. I used $150 of the transfer to pay the remaining school fees. With that burden lifted, I felt a huge relief, and I am thrilled to see my child continue their education without any more obstacles. After handling the school fees, I wanted to invest in something sustainable that could provide ongoing income even after this support ends. So, I used $210 to purchase four goats. I didn’t own any livestock before this, and I am hopeful that raising goats will give me a source of income and a safety net in times of need. With the remaining $90, I leased a piece of land plan to use for crop farming. This venture will not only help generate income but will also contribute to our food security in the future. I am deeply grateful for this support. It has allowed me to secure my child’s education, start building a small livestock herd, and prepare for future farming opportunities.

I was home that evening, busy with household chores, when my neighbor came to see me. She told me that GiveDirectly had sent money and that I should check my phone to confirm if I had received it. Since I don’t know how to read messages because of my age, my neighbor kindly offered to help me. She took my phone, opened the message, and confirmed that indeed, GiveDirectly had sent me $180. I was filled with excitement. My first thought was to send my child back to school, as she had been home for two days because I couldn’t afford the school fees. Now, I could pay, and my child would continue their education. It was such a relief!

The biggest difference since I started receiving GiveDirectly transfers has been in my daughter’s education. She was at home due to unpaid school fees, and each day she missed school, the gap between her and her peers grew. It weighed heavily on me, as I didn’t want her to fall behind, but I had no money to send her back. When I received the transfer, everything changed. I was able to pay her fees and send her back to school immediately. Seeing her return to her studies lifted a huge burden from my heart. Thanks to GiveDirectly, my daughter’s education is no longer at risk, and I can finally breathe easy.

Upon receiving the $180 from GiveDirectly, I was full of excitement and immediately began allocating the money to address the most pressing needs in my family. At the time, my youngest child had been sent home from school due to unpaid fees. It pained me to see her at home while her classmates continued their studies. I knew how much she valued education, and seeing her fall behind was deeply troubling. That’s why I used $100 to pay her school fees. The very next day, she returned to school, and the smile on her face as she walked out the door filled my heart with joy. Knowing she was back on track with her peers made me proud. Her happiness meant everything to me because I wanted her to succeed and stay on par with the other children. The money also came at a time when my family was struggling to put food on the table. With three children to feed, I decided to use $30 to buy enough food that would last us for at least a month. This brought great relief, as I no longer had to worry about where our next meal would come from. I also used $20 to buy clothes for myself and my children. It was important to me that we all felt the impact of GiveDirectly’s support, not just through food and education but in small comforts like having decent clothes to wear. With the remaining money, I bought a charcoal stove, something I had needed for a long time. Cooking had become a challenge, especially during the rainy season. During the last flood, everything in my homestead was swept away, and I wanted to be better prepared. The stove would make cooking easier, even during tough weather conditions.