This year and in the coming years, my main goal is to focus on farming and taking care of the livestock I have just purchased. I believe that with farming, I will never lack anything because I will have enough food for my family, and I can sell the surplus to meet other household needs. GiveDirectly has provided me with the capital I needed, something that was a major challenge before. Now, I plan to make this farming venture sustainable and even expand it by planting other crops aside from maize and beans. With the capital I now have, I can invest in various crops to diversify my income and ensure long-term stability for my family.

What stood out to me about GiveDirectly is the clear information and guidance they provided during the Baraza meetings. They explained everything about their cash transfer program in detail, which really enlightened us and helped prevent any misconceptions. What I would recommend is for GiveDirectly to continue focusing on cash transfers without losing sight of their mission. This approach has been effective, and by staying true to it, they can help even more people improve their lives.

Upon receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I was excited, as it was finally time to put my plans into action. I used $250 to buy a cow, something I had always needed but never owned before. This cow will provide my family with milk and, as it multiplies, will create additional avenues for income generation. Additionally, I spent $100 to buy two sheep. Owning livestock has always been a dream of mine, and now that I have these sheep, I can confidently face emergencies, knowing they will grow and provide income that will help educate my four children. With that done, I turned my focus to the farm, which had been destroyed by recent floods. I wanted to restart farming, so I used $30 to prepare half an acre of land for planting maize and beans. This farming effort will not only solve my family’s food challenges but will also allow me to sell the surplus to pay school fees for my children. Lastly, I spent $50 on food, as the floods had left us without a harvest, making it difficult to put food on the table. This money allowed us to have enough food during a difficult time. I am incredibly thankful to GiveDirectly for the support, which has significantly improved our lives.

Happiness sometimes arrives in the simplest moments. It was a joyful Sunday afternoon, and my husband and I were enjoying lunch after church when a message popped up on my phone. Without saying a word, I handed the phone to my husband and asked him to check the message. As soon as he read it, we both lit up with excitement. The best part was that we had already made plans for this moment—we decided to add three more sheep to the two we already have.

Life became hard for my family after the flood. It took away my three chickens and ruined my bed, leaving me feeling very upset. But I found hope in my three sheep, knowing that once they give birth, I’ll have milk and won’t need to buy it, which will save us money. I believe that as my sheep multiply, I will improve my situation and won’t return to this low point. The GiveDirectly money has helped so much, and I am very grateful for the difference it has made in my life.

Initially, I had two sheep that I had acquired a year ago after selling my maize. I didn’t bring them home because they were just two, so I decided to keep them at my neighbor's place. When I received the transfer, I allocated $140 to buy three more sheep and bring the two from my neighbor so that all my sheep could be at home. I chose to invest in sheep because I love them, and in this village, everyone owns livestock. I saw it as a good opportunity to be like them and to have an asset that I could sell in case of an emergency, plus it would provide sufficient milk for my family. Life hasn't been easy, especially when it comes to feeding my family of six. We mainly depend on farming, and while waiting for the crops to be harvested, my husband and I burn charcoal as a part-time job. We allocated $30 from the transfer to purchase food. Finally, I used the remaining $30 to buy new clothes for my family. We didn’t have many clothes, and it was especially hard for the children, who each only had two outfits. Since they play and get dirty easily, they needed to be changed at least twice a day.