For many years, I have been cooking outside since I don’t have a kitchen and my house is small. However, it has not been easy, especially during harsh climatic changes. For instance, heavy rains make cooking difficult, and there are times when I go to bed with an empty stomach. Therefore, I plan to build myself a kitchen if I can get the money. I can’t ask my children for help right now, as they are focused on paying school fees for their children. I am hopeful that my children will eventually have the capacity to build me a kitchen.

I am happy for GiveDirectly's support through unconditional cash transfers, which have given me the freedom to decide what works best for me. During enrollment, the officers were approachable and respectful, using a language I could understand. Even at my old age, they ensured I understood everything before enrolling me, and they were patient as they guided me through all the processes. Therefore, I believe there is nothing this organization needs to change as they continue their operations.

With my third transfer, I purchased four goats at $50 each. They do well in the area, and I wanted to use them to support myself in future. I have been relying on my children for a very long time. Since I am already old, this was my chance to support myself and give them a little break. I intended to sell some of the goats to meet my future needs. Unfortunately, three of the goats died, and I suspect there was a disease outbreak. Thankfully, one goat survived, and it has since multiplied to two. Also, my son is currently unemployed and has children who are going to school. I decided to support him by paying the school fees for his two children, which totaled $100. Additionally, I used to live in a one-room grass-thatched house with muddy walls, which was infested with ants. During the rains, water would get inside, and the space was very limited. I had used my second transfer to buy some building materials, and I allocated $100 from my final transfer to build an iron-sheet one-room house. The remaining funds went toward food.

I want to renovate my house by removing the posts that have been destroyed by the termited and replace them with stronger ones to keep my house steady. I also want to ensure that my grandchildren who depend on me continue with school by paying their school fees.

I am glad that Givedirectly saw where there's the biggest need for support, and I loved the fact that we were given aid in the form of cash so that each can meet their own individual needs.

I spent $250 of my second transfer to purchase 6 goats for rearing. Before, I had only two goats after the rest were eaten by wild animals while others died because of draught. Since goats are the only ivestock that survive in this harsh weather, they are the source of our livelihood. I also bought two water tanks for $100 to help harvest the rain water and store it. I used the rest of the transfer to pay school fees for two of my grandchildren and buy food.

The day I received my transfer remains etched in my memory. I was unwinding at home when my phone rang. Being both elderly and illiterate, I waited for my son to return before checking the message. Upon his arrival, he shared the wonderful news that GiveDirectly had sent me some money. The prospect of realizing my dreams filled me with excitement and joy. We spent the better part of the day reveling at the moment and then started planning how to make the most of the transfer.

The transfer I received has brought about a remarkable transformation in my daily life, enabling me to achieve my goals within a short timeframe. I was able to purchase two plastic chairs, which was previously a difficult task due to my financial limitations. This is truly a dream come true, and the prospect of alleviating my children's medical bills and upkeep expenses brings me immense joy and satisfaction. I am sincerely grateful for the support that has elevated our standard of living.

As an elderly person, I no longer have the energy to engage in manual labor and have to rely on my children for financial support. However, their contributions are not always sufficient as they also have their own responsibilities to tend to. I reside with my grandchild, and upon receiving my transfer, I decided to purchase two plastic chairs valued at $16 since I did not have any in the house. Additionally, I acquired a mattress worth $30 and spent $20 on medication. The remaining funds were set aside to cover our daily food expenses. All this was not possible before because our main focus was on foodstuffs. We are grateful for the timely support from the organization.