My first goal is to lease a piece of land using the funds from the third transfer. I want to use this land to plant maize so that, come harvest time, we’ll have a reliable food supply. This will ease the burden on my children, who often feel the pressure to find casual jobs to support the household. With a steady harvest, they can focus on their studies and daily routines without the constant worry about how we’ll put food on the table. Alongside securing the harvest, I also want to make sure that my children are fully settled in school. I aim to pay their school fees on time, giving them the stability they need to thrive academically. By taking care of their tuition, I hope to lift some of the financial strain we've been under, allowing them to focus on learning and preparing for a brighter future. I believe that with these plans in place, our family will grow stronger, and the year ahead will bring us closer to stability and peace.

Receiving support from GiveDirectly has been a true blessing in my life. What I appreciate most is the freedom they gave me to decide how to use the money, allowing me to address my family's specific needs. They understand that everyone’s priorities are different, so they leave the choices to us, which is something rare and incredibly empowering. The funds are sent directly to us, without any intermediaries, so there’s no worry about delays or mismanagement along the way. Honestly, I have no complaints or suggestions for improvement; everything has been done exactly right, and I’m truly grateful.

With the cash transfer I received, I decided to use $400 to build an external kitchen out of iron sheets. Out of this, $300 went into buying materials, and I spent the remaining $100 on labor. My old kitchen was small, the roof leaked, and it barely had enough space to move around. Given that my main house only has two rooms and I have six children, we always struggled with space. Previously, some of my children had to sleep at their grandmother’s place due to our cramped house and when they were home, they’d sleep in the sitting room. Now, they can sleep in the new kitchen, which is much warmer and more comfortable than before. In addition to the kitchen, I spent $10 to buy some clothes for my five-year-old son. He didn’t have nice clothes, and it felt important to give him something new and comfortable. The remaining amount went to buying food items for the household, which eased the burden on our daily expenses. This cash transfer has truly transformed our living situation, making our home a bit more comfortable and allowing us to manage day-to-day life with a bit more ease.

I was doing casual labor on a nearby farm when I received a confirmation message that I had been given $200 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy because I was broke and had nothing to eat. I have five kids, and they were equally starving. I was full of stress, but this money not only brought joy but also a sense of relief. I was calm, knowing that with money, I could figure the situation out. The first thought that came to my mind was to pay half of the school fee balance so that my child in high school could continue learning without interruption.

The biggest difference since I started receiving cash from GiveDirectly is that I now live a stress-free life. Through GiveDirectly cash, I addressed two of the most stressful issues in my family life: education and food. I paid the fee balance, and my child is now learning without interruptions. I no longer have to do odd jobs or take credit from the shop for my family to eat. With the GiveDirectly cash transfer, I bought enough food for my family of five kids. For this, I am so happy and thankful for GiveDirectly's support.

Before I received $200 from GiveDirectly, I was very stressed because my child in high school had a lot of unpaid fees. I didn't want their education disrupted. After getting the money, I spent $120 to pay half of the balance. This brought me huge relief and calmed my mental health. I felt in control of my life again. I spent $70 to buy food because we were in a deep food crisis at home. I had been looking for casual labor, which is not sustainable, and sometimes taking credit at the nearby shop for my family to eat. Now, I have bought food, and we are all happy and grateful for GiveDirectly.