In the coming years, I plan to expand my crop farming activities from the half a acre of land I currently cultivate to two acres. This expansion is crucial because, with the additional space, I can grow more maize and increase my yield, which will allow me to better address my family's needs. I intend to use my final transfer from GiveDirectly to fund this expansion. By planting a variety of crops, I can create a more sustainable farming practice that protects against market fluctuations and increases my income. Ultimately, my goal is to stop leasing land and purchase my own, enabling me to invest in a diverse range of crops and secure a stable future for my family.

GiveDirectly excels in delivering unconditional cash transfers, which have significantly improved our lives. The unconditionality of these transfers allows us to plan together, effectively addressing our most pressing needs. For instance, with the funds we received, we were able to build a house, providing our family with a safe and stable place to live. This has also fostered visible improvements in the community. I have no areas of improvement to recommend; continue with the same approach.

Together with my family of five, we have been living in a cramped one-room house with an iron roof and walls. The space was too small for us, making it difficult to store even our essential household items. When we had visitors, we often had to accommodate them in my mom's house, which was not ideal. After receiving my second cash transfer, I decided to build an additional one roomed house with iron walls and a roof, which cost $350. Now, thanks to GiveDirectly, we finally have some breathing space in our home. To ensure we have enough milk for our children, I also bought a goat for $50, adding to the five goats we already had. This will help us secure a steady supply of milk, and we can also sell some to address any future emergencies as they multiply. Additionally, I spent $10 on food, as we were facing a significant food shortage after losing our crops to the floods. I gave my wife $30 to buy new clothes for our children since theirs were worn out, and I allocated $10 for labor to clear and prepare our land for planting. I am grateful to GiveDirectly.

I was at home, tending to my plants, when I heard a notification on my phone. Curious, I pulled it out to check, and there it was—the transfer from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed! I quickly finished watering the farm, my mind already racing with the possibilities. When I got home and told my wife, she was so excited she could barely contain her happiness. We both knew that this was it—we could finally buy the sheep we had been wanting for so long.

Since receiving the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly, I've felt a real sense of progress in my life. It has always been my dream to have a flock of about 20 sheep, and while I had just 3 before, I'm now up to 5. Adding those 2 sheep might seem small to some, but to me, it's a significant step toward achieving my goal. Each sheep represents a form of financial security for me, and growing my flock brings me closer to that peace of mind I've always wanted. The transfers have made this possible, and I can't express how much it means to see my dream slowly taking shape.

When I received the unconditional cash transfer, I knew exactly how I wanted to spend it. The first thing I did was buy two sheep for $120, something I had longed to do for a while. I already had three sheep, but adding more to the flock would be beneficial for us in the long run. Seeing the flock grow was a great feeling, knowing that this investment would help secure our future. Next, I used $35 to buy a new mattress for our bed. The mattress we had was old and worn out, and my pregnant wife often woke up with back pain. It was hard seeing her in discomfort every morning, especially with the baby on the way. The new mattress made a significant difference in our lives; we started getting better rest at night, which was especially important when our son was born. Now that he’s three weeks old, we all sleep much better, and I can see how it has improved our overall well-being. With the remaining money, I decided to spend $20 on clothes for myself and our soon-to-be baby. It was comforting to know that we were prepared for his arrival with everything he needed. The last $25 went toward buying food for the household. Ensuring that we had enough to eat was crucial so that I could focus on other important matters without worrying about our daily sustenance. The cash transfer allowed me to make thoughtful decisions that improved our quality of life in multiple ways.