Since maize farming does not thrive well in this area, I opted to farm vegetables in a green house under irrigation. I often sell the produce to the vegetable vendors in the market at a profit of $3.5 daily, which I use to support my family of ten. To extend the profits, I hope to use $300 to purchase a 10,000-liter water tank to harvest and store water for irrigating these vegetables during dry seasons. I will be happy to be recognized as the greatest supplier in this area and therefore earn more income for the family.

GiveDirectly has lifted many households out of poverty by providing unconditional cash transfers. Families have had the autonomy to decide what to spend the transfers on, and their lives have now changed greatly. I commend the organization for a job well done.

My family of ten depends on cassava, banana, and maize farming to earn a living. However, the harsh climatic conditions cut short the maize harvests from two bags to almost nothing at the moment, so we opted to switch to vegetable farming. I constructed a green house in which I grow vegetables under irrigation and sell them to the businesswomen at the market for $3.5 profit a day. All this profit goes toward food and education for my children, leaving no surplus to run other family errands. When I received the transfers, I spent $300 on constructing a 3-room, timber-walled house in addition to the 2-room house so as to accommodate my eight children. The two-room house is congested, and our privacy as parents is compromised since we have teenagers in our midst. Consequently, I bought 3 goats for $60 as a future financial security when the family finances are low and spent an additional $55 on school fees and uniforms for my 4 children in primary school.

I recall attending a village community meeting shortly before receiving my transfer. Suddenly. I heard the tone of my message. I chose to ignore it because I was illiterate. As a result, I couldn't figure out what it meant. I told my son to look into the message when I got home. I was overcome with joy and happiness the moment he said we had received money from GiveDirectly. This was the most encouraging news because it confirmed that I would be able to achieve my goal. I couldn't sleep that night because I was over-excited.

The most noticeable difference in my daily life is that my children are relieved to have a decent home and a comfortable place to sleep, which was previously unattainable due to financial constraints. Second, I gathered enough food in the house to last us for a longer period, ensuring that my children have enough to eat. I am extremely happy and grateful for the significant accomplishments I have attained.

My house was too small for the eight children and the two of us. We were forced to endure because we lacked the funds to secure a suitable house. My husband is a mason and I am a farmer, but what we produce on a daily basis is insufficient to meet all of our needs. When I received my transfer, my husband and I decided to use our money to build a two-bedroom house for $460. We then purchased two goats for $60, paid $20 in school fee arrears, and spent the remainder on groceries. All of this was previously impossible due to financial constraints. We will be eternally grateful for the help that has brought us so much.