Goats do very well in our area, and even though I don't own any yet, my plan is to buy three goats with my final transfer. I believe this will be a good investment because the goats will provide me with milk, helping to reduce the cost of buying it for my family. Additionally, having these goats will give me some financial security for the future. I can sell a few when the need arises, such as for covering school fees for my four children, whom I support alone. This plan not only supports my children's education but also ensures we have a steady source of nutrition at home.

GiveDirectly does well in supporting the poor by providing unconditional cash transfers, which have a transformative impact on individuals and communities. Their officers communicated well during our community meeting, clearly explaining the source and purpose of the funds, which helped build trust and transparency. During enrollment, there was no discrimination, as everyone was included without bias. The follow-up process is also commendable, as it allows the organization to assess the program's impact and ensure that the support is making a real difference. I see no areas for improvement; GiveDirectly should continue with the same approach, as it is effective and fair.

I am a crop farmer, and when I received my second cash transfer from GiveDirectly, I immediately set out to invest it wisely to secure my family's future. I spent $120 to prepare my acre of land, plowing, buying maize seeds, planting, and hiring labor to fence the land. This was essential to ensure our food security, especially after losing our previous crop to floods. At the time, we were running low on food, so I bought a bag of maize for $40 to keep us going. Additionally, I purchased a plot of land because where we live is prone to flooding. I found half an acre for $600 and paid a deposit of $250 from the transfer, planning to clear the balance with my final transfer and proceeds from my maize harvest. . On top of that, I spent $20 on clothes because ours were worn out, and it felt good to look presentable again. The remaining amount went into my small eatery, where I bought wheat flour, sugar, and cooking oil to keep the business running and diversify my income to meet my children's needs.

I remember that Sunday evening when I went to bed, leaving my phone to charge because it had completely run out of battery. I had no idea what was waiting for me the next morning. As soon as I woke up and switched on my phone, a message came through almost immediately. When I checked it, I saw it was the GiveDirectly transfer. I was overwhelmed with joy—honestly, it felt like a miracle. For days, I had been stressing about how I was going to come up with the money to pay my son's school fees. And just like that, the GiveDirectly funds had arrived at exactly the right moment.

Before I received the cash transfer from GiveDirectly, I had no idea how I was going to cover the school fees for my son, especially now that he's in Form Four and the final exams are approaching. It was such a stressful time because I knew how important it was for him to focus on his studies, yet the fees balances were piling up, and I feared he might get sent home. But thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to clear the fees, and my son hasn't missed any classes. On top of that, I was able to invest in my business by buying more stock and repairing the television that was broken, which has brought my business back to life. These transfers have relieved so much stress, and I couldn't be more grateful.

When I received my cash transfer, the first thing I did was use $50 to pay off my son’s school fees at Sabor Secondary School. He is in Form Four, and he was about to be sent home to fetch the money, but I didn’t have anything to give him. I didn’t want him to miss school or have to worry about fees instead of focusing on his studies, so clearing that debt was my top priority. Next, I spent $50 to repair the television in my small restaurant. The television plays a big role in attracting customers, as many people come to watch the news while enjoying tea or snacks. I knew fixing it would help me bring in more business and keep regular customers returning. With the remaining $40, I bought food items to ensure my family had enough to eat. After that, I used what was left to restock my restaurant with supplies. Balancing the needs of my business and feeding my children has been hard, so this money helped lighten the load and allowed me to invest a little back into my business.It’s been a relief to get through these challenges with that extra support.