This year, I have a significant goal: to start farming. This decision holds great potential for me and my family in several ways.By cultivating crops, we can ensure a steady supply of fresh and nutritious food for our household. This will not only improve our health and well-being but also reduce our reliance on buying expensive groceries.Also,farming offers the opportunity to sell any surplus produce, providing us with an extra source of income. With this additional money, we can purchase things that we may need but cannot grow ourselves, such as clothing, tools, or school supplies. Starting farming represents a pathway to greater self-sufficiency, improved nutrition, and increased financial stability for me and my family.

I am genuinely impressed by GiveDirectly and everything they've done for me. From the beginning, they've followed up with me so well, ensuring that I received the support I needed. Their dedication and attention to detail have made a real difference in my life. I don't have any recommendations because I believe they've done everything right. I am grateful for their assistance and for the positive impact they've had on me and my family.

With the recent $450 transfer from GiveDirectly, I made a thoughtful investment in my future. I used the funds to purchase four goats and build a safe enclosure for them. This decision holds promise for both the present and the future. Not only will these goats provide me with valuable resources such as milk, meat, and offspring, but as they multiply, they will also increase my financial security. By ensuring their safety and well-being in a secure enclosure, I am laying the foundation for a sustainable source of income that will help meet my needs both now and in the years to come.

Although I am not heavily involved in farming, I understand the significance of crop farming in reducing our reliance on purchasing food. My hope for the coming year and beyond is to managing my existing farms with a fence to safeguard our crops. In the future, I plan to hire someone to handle the day-to-day farm operations and planting tasks, and eventually, I entrust my elder son taking over the management of the farm. This way, I hope to not only reduce food expenses but also ensure the sustainability of our farming efforts for generations to come.

We are genuinely grateful for the support we received from GiveDirectly, a program that truly stood out for its fairness and lack of bias. It was a unique experience, something we had never imagined before. While we had previously received small aids from government initiatives for the elderly and various NGOs, the freedom to receive and spend this money unconditionally was truly amazing. GiveDirectly's approach allowed us to address our most pressing needs with autonomy, providing a sense of dignity and hope for a brighter future that no other program had offered before.

I decided to use the second transfer from GiveDirectly, considering my family's future needs. I bought two goats, one for $80 and another for $50, with the intention of breeding them and selling their offspring to cover school fees and other household expenses. To safeguard our land, I invested $80 in chain links for fencing against stray livestock. I also spent $80, on purchasing food for my family of five. In an effort to improve our living conditions, I spent $32 on four bags of cement for house renovations and paid $20 for labor. Lastly, I used the remaining $108 to purchase doors to close off the open side of the house that was incomplete. At my age, I rely on livestock farming, particularly goat farming, as my primary source of income since I am unable to engage in traditional farming activities. These decisions have brought a sense of security and hope for the future of my family.

At approximately 3:00 p.m., I received a message that happened to be a confirmation of the initial transfer from GiveDirectly. The moment I understood the content after going through it, I was very excited, as I had numerous goals I eagerly wanted to achieve with that first payment. Although I couldn't immediately withdraw the funds, I eagerly waited for two days until I could collect the amount from the nearby shopping center, where I made my very first purchases.

The biggest difference in my daily life after receiving the first transfer from GiveDirectly, is the sense of peace and tranquility I now experience. Erecting a fence has remarkably reduced the entry of stray livestock into our compound, allowing me to focus on tending to the growing tree seedlings and expanding our planting endeavors with much greater ease.

Over a prolonged period, I have faced numerous disruptions caused by stray livestock from the neighborhood invading my compound, as well as my own goats, which have proven difficult to restrain and often damage tree seedlings and sun-dried food items. To address this issue, I made the decision to utilize the entire $200 to purchase barbed wire and chainlinks, intending to fence the homestead. Although I have yet to complete the construction of a gate, it has become significantly easier to keep stray livestock from entering the compound after erecting the fence. I am delighted that I now enjoy peace of mind, thanks to the improved management of entry points, and I hope to construct a lockable gate with subsequent transfers. Given my advanced age, living with my husband and two grandchildren, this financial support has provided us with a tremendous opportunity to tackle the challenges we have long been facing.