Now that most of my pressing needs are met and my farming is going well, with plans to expand shortly, my next goal is to restore the household items that were swept away by the floods. I plan to use the final GiveDirectly transfer to buy essential household utensils and furniture, including chairs and a sofa set. The thought of having these items again brings me so much happiness, as it means I will have fully recovered from the recent flooding. Having a complete home once more, with comfortable furniture and the basic items we need, feels like a big step toward a fresh start for my family.

What I appreciate most about the current GiveDirectly program is their dedication to follow-up. They don’t just give us cash and walk away; they consistently check in, especially to ensure we received the funds and to understand how we are managing. This follow-up shows genuine care and commitment to our well-being, making us feel supported beyond just the financial assistance. If I were to make a recommendation, it would be for GiveDirectly to continue with this approach. Their model is working well, and the follow-up makes a real difference. It gives recipients the confidence that someone is there to help if any issues arise, creating a sense of partnership in the journey toward improving our lives.

First of all, I am deeply grateful for the support. I felt truly supported during a challenging time, as I was affected by severe floods that took away many of my belongings and disrupted my farming. Receiving $450 has been a blessing in helping me rebuild. As a farmer, my work was on hold due to the flooding, but now I’m back to farming on one acre of land. I invested $150 into this venture; since I had already bought kale seeds with the first transfer, this amount covered the cost of land preparation, planting, and repairing my generator. This generator is essential for irrigation, allowing me to manage the crops even if there’s no rain and reducing the risk of crop loss. I am already selling some of this produce and saving the earnings for future farming. My next plan is to grow beans on two acres. After setting up the farm, I focused on school fees for my three children. I used $150 to clear their unpaid fees. One of my children is preparing for the national exams, and now they can do so without the worry of debt. I am very grateful for this, as I value education deeply. With $70, I bought a goat, my first one, which will be helpful in the future, especially for school expenses. Finally, I used the remaining amount to buy food, ensuring my family has this essential supply, especially once the support ends. I didn’t know where to start after the floods, but this support has truly made a difference. I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to rebuild and provide for my family’s needs.

I had gone to a prayer day for my neighbor’s son, who is in high school. During lunch, my neighbors, who had also attended the prayer day, shared that they had received their transfers from GiveDirectly. Seeing their relief and joy made me anxious about whether I would receive mine. Minutes later, I heard my phone ding with a message. I hurriedly opened it and was happy to confirm that I had received my cash. I shared the good news with the others, silently whispered a word of thanks to God, and felt a wave of relief knowing that I could finally address my problems.

Before receiving the transfer, life was incredibly challenging. I didn’t have money, and I had lost my maize and vegetables to floods, which I was relying on for income. With my children’s school fees due, and since they had been sent home two days before the transfer, we were planning to go to the school and speak to the head teacher, unsure of how we’d manage to pay afterward. The total fee was $110, and it felt overwhelming. However, thanks to the GiveDirectly transfer, I was able to reduce that amount significantly, and now I’m only left with $30 to pay for this term. This has brought me relief and peace of mind.

After receiving the transfer, my husband and I sat down to plan how to use the money. At that time, our children had been sent home two days earlier, making the timing of the funds perfect. We were stressed about getting them back to school and intended to speak with their head teachers. With the transfer, we allocated $80 for their school fees and $20 for their school essentials. Additionally, I spent $30 on a bag of maize and $30 on other food items to address our food needs while we wait for our maize, which survived the floods, to mature. I also bought two plastic chairs for $15 to add to the two we already had; with a family of 10, we plan to get more over time. The remaining $10 went toward generator oil to help with the irrigation of our maize farm, and the rest was spent on clothes for the family.