This year has been tough, but I am hopeful for the year ahead. I have two daughters in secondary school, and my greatest desire is for them to continue their education without interruptions. School fees have always been a struggle for me. I depend on casual labor to make ends meet, and most of what I earn goes toward buying food for my family. I will use the last transfer I receive to pay for their entire school fees for next year. This way, they can focus on their studies, and I can have some peace of mind. With the fees sorted, I plan to use my earnings to stabilize our daily needs. I can buy more food and maybe even save a little for emergencies. My dream is for them to have a better life, one where they don’t have to depend on the uncertainty of casual labor like I do.

When the GiveDirectly staff visited us at home, it truly touched my heart because it showed they genuinely cared about us, not just as recipients but as people. Their visit felt personal and reassuring, and their warmth and respect made it easy to share our needs openly. They treated us with dignity, and their kindness stood out to me. I cannot think of anything they need to change because everything, from their process to their attitude, was done perfectly. The support they gave me has changed my life, and I am deeply grateful.

My bed was old and uncomfortable, and my son didn’t have one, so I bought two beds and mattresses for $75. It felt good knowing he could finally sleep better. To ensure we had enough food, I spent $30 on a bag of maize and $6 on 5 kilograms of sugar. It gave me peace of mind knowing we wouldn’t have to worry about meals for a while. Next, I focused on my children’s education and health. My daughter in Form 2 needed school fees, so I paid $100 for her and set aside $50 for my younger daughter’s fees in January. When she fell sick, I used $20 for her medication. Later, I spent $15 on her graduation celebration, and seeing her so happy made it worth every cent. I also bought two plastic chairs for $14 to improve our seating at home, which was much needed for guests and our comfort. Finally, I invested in our home. I used $35 to buy grass for thatching and $30 for building posts to complete a house I was constructing. With the remaining funds, I bought household utensils that I lacked. This money allowed me to address critical needs, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of stability and progress.

While working a casual job harvesting maize on my neighbor's farm, I heard my phone beep. Checking the message, I confirmed that I had received my transfer from GiveDirectly. A wave of happiness washed over me, but I kept my excitement to myself, not sharing the news with anyone else in the field, just to be safe. I was relieved because I had been struggling with school fees, and in that moment, I knew I finally had the money to pay for my child's education.

For many years, my husband and I relied on casual jobs to ensure our two children could attend school, and sometimes we had to fundraise to cover their fees. We also depended on these jobs to put food on the table. For the first time, after receiving GiveDirectly's first transfer, we were able to pay our daughter's high school fees and buy food without relying on casual labor. We even managed to take a week off from work, which was a meaningful relief for us. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for your support.

When I received my cash from GiveDirectly, I was struggling with school fees for my daughter, who is in high school. My husband and I were relying on casual jobs, which were not consistent. I decided to pay $50 to clear my daughter's fees to ensure she wouldn’t be sent back home. Additionally, sleeping at night had been uncomfortable, as we were using a plastic carpet as a mattress, which sometimes caused back pain. I used $20 to buy a mattress, and now we sleep comfortably. I also bought a plastic chair for $7 to add to the two we already had, as two chairs were not enough for our family of four, and I plan to buy one more. To make sure we all had a pair of clothes, I spent $30. The last time we bought clothes was two years ago, and ours were worn out. Further, food has also been a problem in our home, so I spent $67 on essentials like maize, beans, and condiments. Relying on casual jobs made it difficult to consistently get food, and sometimes we even had to skip meals. For the first time, my husband and I were able to rest for a week without needing to go for casual work. What a relief! Thank you, GiveDirectly.