In the coming years, my circumstances have shifted due to the impact of arthritis, which has unfortunately paralyzed one of my legs. This physical challenge has limited my mobility and daily activities significantly. In light of this, my primary focus and hope center around seeking support from my children to access better and more effective medication. I hold onto the optimism that, with the right medical support and the care of my children, there is a possibility of improvement in my mobility. This hope fuels my determination to work towards a future where I can take care of myself, reducing my reliance on others for day-to-day tasks.

In my view, GiveDirectly has demonstrated commendable efforts by providing us with unconditional cash transfers. This approach grants us the flexibility to allocate funds based on our diverse needs, and I am genuinely grateful for that. The transfer has been instrumental, empowering me to address crucial areas like seeking necessary medical care and investing in a cow. The significance of purchasing a cow lies in its potential as a source of income through the sale of its offspring, thereby reducing my reliance on my children. I extend my thanks to GiveDirectly for being a force for positive change and empowerment in our lives.

I am a widow residing with my two grandchildren, and we depend on small-scale farming with additional support from my lastborn son. This year, we faced considerable challenges due to a drought that adversely affected our harvest. The financial assistance from GiveDirectly has been a true blessing, bringing positive changes to our lives. I allocated $100 towards the purchase of food items, particularly maize, ensuring that we have a substantial and reliable food supply for the coming months. This has provided a sense of food security and relieved the financial burden on my son, who has his own family to care for. Additionally, I purchased a cow valued at $135. With hopes that it will calve next year, this investment holds the promise of a sustainable source of milk for domestic use, reducing the daily expense of buying milk. This will alleviate the associated stress, considering my lack of a regular source of income and my dependence on my son. Prioritizing personal needs, I used $40 to buy new clothes for myself, supplementing the old garments that I had and making me feel presentable, especially during church gatherings. Moreover, I directed the remaining funds towards covering my medical expenses. Dealing with arthritis has been a long-standing challenge, impacting my mobility and daily life. Although I have not fully recovered, I am grateful for the noticeable improvement, including the ability to take a few steps—a positive change from before. I am truly grateful.

In the coming year and beyond, my ambition is to acquire more goats to boost my income. To achieve this objective, I intend to allocate a portion of my third transfer. I firmly believe that I can turn this dream into a tangible reality, fueled by my unwavering dedication and hard work. I am confident that my efforts will lay the foundation for the prosperity and expansion of my envisioned goat rearing project.

The ability to use our transfer funds based on our personal needs was genuinely captivating. It enabled us to allocate the money to things that held great meaning for us. Additionally, I received the money directly on my phone, which was quite distinctive. I didn't encounter any issues that needed correction, as everything was executed flawlessly. I am incredibly grateful for the support we received, as it has profoundly changed our lives in ways we couldn't have imagined.

Upon receiving my second transfer, I made the decision to allocate the funds towards realizing a long-cherished dream: expanding my goat-rearing project. This endeavor has proven challenging in the past due to unreliable sources of income, given its substantial investment requirements. I am a widow, and I live with my eighth-grade grandson. With the $450 I received from the transfer, I was able to acquire four additional goats worth $200. Furthermore, I spent $120 for my medical treatment since I was unwell, and I also purchased a cow valued at $130. These accomplishments have filled me with profound gratitude, contentment, and happiness.

I was hospitalized in Marigat due to my illness. My son and his wife had been paying me visits on a regular basis. One fateful evening, my son came over and told me the excellent news. He informed me that the transfer had been sent at last. My heart felt extremely happy at the news since I knew I would finally be able to pay my medical bill without breaking a sweat.p

Although I haven't totally recovered, I'm happy that I've come a long way. This would not have been possible without the transfer that GiveDirectly provided to me, allowing me to buy the necessary medication and have a balanced meal for a period of time. The most significant change in my everyday life so far has been my successful recovery and the beginning of me doing some work on my own.

The first thing I did after getting the transfer was pay my medical bill. This is because I was admitted at the hospital and was completely aware of the conditions before my release. In addition, I purchased enough food for a few weeks because I was aware that I needed to always eat healthily in order to heal rapidly. I used the remaining money to purchase a goat to raise. I believe that making this investment will pay off during a time of crisis. I spent $7 on food, $5 on medicine, $4 on a goat, and the remaining $2 on a bar of soap and transportation from the medical facility from the $18 that I was given.