This coming year, my hope is to make our lives better through farming and education. My plan is to plough three acres of land and plant maize, using the third transfer to cover the cost of ploughing and buying seeds. I believe this will give my family the food security we need for the year ahead. With the extra funds, I also plan to pay school fees for my son so he can continue his studies without interruptions. It’s a simple plan, but it feels like the start of something much bigger for us. Once the maize is ready, my goal is to sell the surplus to earn some income. This money will not only help us cover future school fees but also give me the confidence that we can meet other household needs without struggle. I am hopeful that by next year, we will have enough food in storage and enough resources to keep my son in school without worry.

I am very happy with GiveDirectly because they kept their promise and sent the money just like they said they would. The process was very clear, and there was no bribing or hidden costs involved, which I really appreciated. They are true to their word, and they didn't fail to send the money as promised. Everything was done well, and I don't think anything needs to be changed because they followed through on everything they said.

My son is in Form Three, and his school fees arrears were weighing heavily on me. I knew that if I didn’t clear them, he wouldn’t be allowed to register for his Form Four exams next year. I had nothing left to sell, no way to raise the money, and everything felt like it was falling apart. So, I decided that the first priority was clearing those arrears and I used $300 from the transfer. Before, we used to eat just one meal a day to stretch what little we had. With part of the money, I bought two bags of maize for $70. That maize has been a blessing—we now eat two meals a day. It might not seem like much to some, but to us, it’s everything. The energy and strength to face each day have returned, and I see my children smiling more often. I spent $30 on clothes for my children because I wanted them to look presentable and feel good about themselves. For my wife and me, I set aside $40 for clothes. It had been years since we bought anything new to wear. Lastly, I used $10 to buy drugs for my goats. They are a critical source of livelihood for us, and I couldn’t risk losing them to illness. This money came when I needed it most and helped me in ways I never thought possible.

I was walking to an event in my neighborhood when a random message popped up on my phone. It was from GiveDirectly, and they had sent me $200. I was so happy; this news brightened my journey. After attending the event, I returned home early to share the news with my wife and children so that we could plan together. The first thing that came to my mind was to use the money to pay the school fee arrears for one of my children in secondary school.

The biggest difference since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been in my mental health. Before, I was constantly stressed because we had no food, and my child in secondary school was about to be sent home due to unpaid school fees. As the breadwinner, it was incredibly difficult not having the money to take care of these important needs. GiveDirectly has enabled me to address these pressing issues, and the relief is indescribable. Now, I can sleep peacefully at night, knowing that my family has food and my child is still in school. I am much happier, and my family life has improved greatly compared to before. We are now able to live with less worry, and that has made all the difference for us.

When I received $200 from GiveDirectly, I was filled with happiness and gratitude. I felt so relieved because I had many challenges in my life. I allocated $100 to pay part of the school fees balance for one of my children. While I couldn't pay the entire amount, I was happy that this would keep my child in school for now. Next, I used $30 to buy food. The money came just when my family had nothing to eat. We had been surviving on one meal a day, but now we can eat three times a day. This has brought so much relief, and my relationship with my family has greatly improved. I no longer feel the pressure of trying to find food every day, and my mental health has gotten better, especially when I see my kids happy and full of energy. I also used $30 to buy new clothes for my seven children. I wanted them to feel supported, and seeing them smile in their new clothes made me very happy. Now, as a family, we are all much happier. The remaining money was used to buy medicine for my goats, and they have improved in health. They are now competitive in the market, which is a big boost for us. This support has made a big difference in our lives, and we are truly grateful.