In the coming years and beyond, my primary focus will be expanding my cereal business. I am determined to channel my efforts towards growing this venture by increasing stock, and working hours while simultaneously saving a significant portion of its earnings. The ultimate goal of this endeavor is to accumulate the necessary funds to construct a permanent fence around our land. This proactive step is aimed at safeguarding my crops from potential encroachment by livestock.

I greatly appreciate GiveDirectly for providing us with a substantial cash transfer that enabled us to invest in diverse ventures. This support has turned our dreams into reality; for instance, I was able to construct a kitchen, replacing the previous situation of cooking outdoors. Additionally, I successfully initiated a cereal business that is thriving. Nevertheless, I hope that the organization can consider extending their support through further transfers, as our needs continue to outweigh our resources.

The transfer arrived at a critical moment when we were facing financial constraints. We were in danger of being hungry since our food supplies had been entirely depleted, and my spouse, who works as a policeman, had not received his salary yet. As soon as I received the transfer, I utilized $80 to purchase essential food items, ensuring that my two young children had consistent meals. Additionally, I allocated $326 to initiate a cereal business. This involved purchasing maize directly from farmers and subsequently reselling it at a profit. Recognizing the potential of this business venture to generate income and contribute to our family's financial stability, I was motivated to take the opportunity. I am pleased to share that the business is showing promising results, yielding a daily profit of approximately $5. With the remaining funds, I invested in clothing for my family, enhancing our appearance and supplementing our existing wardrobe.

In the coming year and beyond, my primary focus will be on expanding my knowledge and experience in farming. My ultimate objective is to generate enough profit to invest in fencing my land. While this vision may take time to materialize, I am filled with optimism and determination. I am grateful for the accomplishments I have already achieved, and I look forward to the future with a sense of gratitude and excitement.

One aspect that truly impressed me was the freedom to spend our funds based on our specific needs. The program's officers went above and beyond in explaining the details, providing guidance on the necessary steps, and fostering an environment where we felt comfortable expressing our opinions. Throughout the sensitization meetings, we were treated with utmost respect and fairness, without any form of discrimination. Additionally, the program offered valuable security information, ensuring the protection of our funds. In summary, I find the program's operations to be impeccable, without any notable concerns that require attention.

For the longest period of time, I have been cooking outdoors due to financial constraints preventing me from building a kitchen. This situation has not been easy, as it presents numerous challenges. One of the difficulties is dealing with people passing by, as my land is unfenced. Additionally, during the rainy season, it becomes impossible to cook outside. My husband is a police officer, I am a farmer, and we have two children, one of whom is currently attending school. However, upon receiving a transfer, I made the decision to allocate the entire amount of $450 towards constructing a kitchen. This choice has filled me with immense joy, as we will finally have a safe and protected place to cook, away from the dust and other inconveniences. This improvement has had a significant impact on my life, and I will forever be grateful for the kind gesture shown to us.

It was a heartwarming moment for me and my family the moment I realised that I have received my first $200 transfers from Give Directly. The moment was truly unforgettable, and it showed how even the smallest act of kindness can have a significant impact on someone's life. We have been trying our best to meet our needs since the little we had was used up to prepare land for tomato farming. We have been struggling to make ends meet, living in conditions that were far from ideal made our future look bleak. However, all that changed when I received the generous sum of $200. The impact was immediate, and our whole demeanor changed.

The most significant difference in our lives right now is that we have food and, more importantly, we have launched our own farming business that we can manage as a family and earn money for all of our needs afterwards. Being active on the farm has also greatly aided our mental health because we are happier, less anxious, and less frustrated by the issues we face.

We've been struggling a lot as a family because we don't have anything to rely on and the income we get from the informal jobs we do cannot meet all of our expenses. Things grew much worse in the last two years when there was a severe drought that wiped out everything. We decided to start farming so that we could have something to rely on as a family in the future, so I used $110 of the $200 to finish planting tomatoes, buy two sacks of fertilizer, and stock up on food at home with the remaining $90, which was enough for a family of five for a month.