I am grateful to GiveDirectly because, through their financial support, I was able to cover my children's educational expenses and clear the school fees that I owed. This ensured that my children's education was not interrupted due to outstanding fees. It was a significant step for me in helping my children achieve their educational aspirations. I am optimistic that in the coming years, I will be able to continue supporting their education and help them reach their goals. Additionally, I am thankful for the support as I now own five goats and a cow. My plan is to breed them, expand the herd, and eventually sell the offspring to fund my children's education as they progress through their academic journey.

The fact that GiveDirectly came to us to alleviate poverty and improve our living standards is what they do well. Their approach of providing us with unconditional transfers was the most suitable for us, as we could address our individual needs and plan for ourselves. I am not the only one who has experienced the significant impact of the transfers, but also my whole village. The things that seemed impossible for us to accomplish were now possible. Currently, we have managed to build new iron-roofed homes, our children are in school, and we also own living assets such as goats and cows. We would not have achieved this much if it were not for this program, for which we are grateful.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to GiveDirectly for their financial support, which has enabled me to take care of my children's school fees. It hasn't been easy for my spouse to clear the fee arrears for our four children. Without the timely transfer we received, our children could have been unable to attend school for several weeks until we could gather enough funds. Thanks to the recent transfer, I was able to clear the fee arrears and my children are now comfortably in school. Relying solely on my husband's meager earnings from his manual jobs would have meant a much longer wait to save enough for my children's education. In addition to the school fees, I also purchased four goats for $280, adding to the livestock I already own. These animals are assets that I can comfortably take care of, as I spend most of my time in the village doing subsistence farming. I now own five goats and a cow, which I previously could not afford to buy using my own resources. I plan to keep these livestock and let them multiply and grow a herd. Having these assets to rely on in case of financial need gives me peace of mind. With four children enrolled in school and considering my current financial situation, saving for their education would be challenging. Therefore, these livestock are a way of saving for my children's future education.

I'm a single parent taking care of four children, three in school and one waiting to join college. I don't have a steady job, and therefore I do odd jobs on people's farms to support my family. My biggest dream has always been to start livestock farming, especially with cows, so that when they multiply, I could sell some in the future to support my family better. But I never had enough money to buy the cows. Whatever little I earned from my work went towards school fees and daily expenses, leaving nothing for investing in livestock. Then, one miraculous day, while I was at home making dinner, I got a notification on my phone from GiveDirectly that I had received $550. You can imagine the joy and excitement that filled our humble home! I couldn't contain my happiness, so I shared the good news with my children, and we all celebrated because we couldn't believe it was true. The first thing that came to mind was finally fulfilling my dream of buying those cows and starting my livestock farming journey.

Life was really hard before. We didn't have nice beds to sleep on. Instead, we had to sleep on uncomfortable mats that hurt our backs. But now, with mattresses, we sleep so much better, and it feels amazing to wake up rested and happy as a family. Before, we didn't have much food, but now we have plenty. Our family is overjoyed. We can finally relax and enjoy our meals together without worrying about where the next one will come from. Our home is full of happiness now. We're not stressed out anymore; instead, we're grateful for everything we have and we cherish every moment we spend together as a family.

I carefully allocated $90 of the transfer to purchase 3 cows, finally realizing my long-held dream of venturing into livestock farming. I envisioned a future where the cows' offspring would provide a valuable source of income through sales, offering financial stability for my family. This investment represented hope for a brighter tomorrow, where our livelihoods could be sustained by the fruits of our labor in livestock farming. Next, I dedicated $95 of the transfer to acquire two mattresses. Despite having beds, our nights were filled with discomfort and pain as we slept on bare mats. The purchase of mattresses transformed our sleeping experience, bringing comfort and relief to each member of my family. Witnessing my children sleep peacefully filled my heart with profound happiness, knowing that they no longer had to endure the discomfort. I then allocated $140 towards purchasing food because our harvest supplies were exhausted, and the prospect of going without food was a distressing reality that I was determined to avoid. Seeing their smiles of satisfaction as they enjoyed hearty meals brings me immeasurable joy. With the remaining funds from the transfer, I resolved to address a pressing concern: the security of our home. The presence of a vulnerable space on the roof posed a security risk, potential to intruders. Investing in the repair and security of our house was important to ensuring the safety and protection of my family.