It was around 3 pm and I was at home pounding maize when my phone chimed with a message notification. I did not have a chance to check the contents because the phone immediately ran out of power and switched off. In the evening, after recharging it, my sister-in-law helped me check the message. I was thrilled when she broke the news that the transfers had come. I knew that my dreams of buying more livestock and leasing land for farming would finally come to fruition. This was a big moment for me.

Before the cash transfers came in, I lost two of my goats to a disease, which was really painful because I had invested a lot in keeping livestock. Having paused my job as a waitress, rearing livestock had become my best shot at contributing to the needs of my three children and supporting my husband, who had also lost his job. Losing the very thing I had put so much faith in was frustrating. I was hoping for a chance to replace the lost goats, but it had all been in vain until GiveDirectly sent the cash transfers. I immediately obtained three more goats, increasing my herd to eight. This now revives my hope because, more than ever, I am sure I can sell them in the future to raise funds for my children's education. I also hope to continue growing the herd whenever I have a chance.

Until last year, I worked as a waitress at a hotel but had to take a break to focus on farming because the rains had started. This meant that my three children and I solely depended on my husband for daily provisions, and honestly, it weighed heavily on him. Worse still, he also lost his job at a solar plant a few months later. Life took a dramatic turn, and I feared we wouldn't be able to support our children's education. At that point, I owned five goats, and my goal was to own as many livestock as possible. Without a stable source of income, at least rearing livestock would help me accumulate wealth as they reproduced, and I could sell them to raise school fees for my children in the future. So when I received the funds, I used $145 to buy three more goats to grow the herd. Additionally, my old mattress had become tattered from long use, and it was uncomfortable to sleep on. I spent $62 to buy a new one and I now enjoy my sleep. My husband and I had planned to lease at least two acres of land along River Galana for maize farming, but the area had flooded due to heavy rains upcountry. Farming along this area would ensure increased harvests and more food security for our family compared to farming in our village, where poor soil and climate hampered our produce. So, we decided to set aside $330 for leasing the land and paying for farming activities when the water dries up.