I was in the house breastfeeding my child when my brother-in-law came in and told me I had a message on my phone. I did not think much of it at first, but when I checked, I saw that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I couldn't believe it—such joy filled my heart! I called out to my brother-in-law, and when he checked his phone, he had also received the transfer. We shared this incredible moment of happiness together. Right away, I knew what I was going to do with the money—put it into the farm to plant beans since the planting season was almost over.

The biggest difference I have seen after receiving the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is that I was able to plant my beans on time, just before the best planting window closed. I was running out of time, and any delays would have meant that the beans could be affected by red mites, ruining the entire crop. I was on the verge of giving up because I didn’t have the finances to cover the farm costs, and I knew that if I missed the season, I would later struggle to find money for my son's school fees. But thanks to GiveDirectly, all this has changed for the better, and I now feel more hopeful for the future.

When I received the cash transfer, I knew it was the perfect time to invest in my farm. I used $20 to plough half an acre of land and another $20 to make ridges on the farm, which would make irrigation easier. Since I didn't have any seeds, I spent $30 on bean seeds. It was the right season for planting beans, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. If I had delayed, the weather would have affected the crops. I’m hoping that when the beans mature, they will help me cover my son’s high school fees. To ensure the farm was well-watered, I spent $30 on fuel for the generator, which I use to pump water for irrigation. I also paid $10 for labor to help with the planting of the beans. With the farm running smoothly, I was able to focus on my family’s other needs. My son’s school fees were due, and I didn’t want him to be sent home, so I used $30 to cover that as well. Normally, my husband, who works as a policeman, pays for the fees, but his salary was delayed this time, and I had to step in. With the remaining money from the transfer, I bought household food items and some clothes for my daughters. We needed to ensure that we were food secure, especially while waiting for the crops to grow. My daughters were also happy to receive new clothes since they knew I had received some money from GiveDirectly, and they wanted to look good. It’s been a relief to cover all these pressing needs thanks to the transfer.