In the years to come, my plan is to launch the shop that I have built. My initial strategy involves selling butternuts and watermelons, commodities readily available from local farmers. Gradually, I aim to diversify the offerings to include cereals and packaged foods, catering to both the local community and tourists. To gather the necessary startup funds, I'm counting on the joint efforts of my husband and me in our maize farming endeavors. This year's harvest is particularly promising, and I anticipate that its proceeds will provide the needed capital to launch the shop. This venture will serve as a valuable income source, complementing our farming activities.

The significant improvement that GiveDirectly's transfers have made to our community is what most strikes me. The results have been astounding. People in my village utilized the funds wisely. Some improved their farms, others constructed much-needed houses, and many were able to pay for their children's education. I am truly grateful for the meaningful transformation that has been made possible.

As mentioned earlier, I aimed to use all the transfers to construct a shop on my property located adjacent to the roadside, driven by the potential to generate a substantial income. This spot holds promise due to its proximity to a frequented lake, drawing tourists who purchase a variety of products, from farm produce to household goods. I used the recent transfer entirely to finalize this construction project that I had begun when I started receiving the GD transfers. These funds covered the procurement of necessary materials like cement and iron sheets that had ran out, as well catering for the labor costs. I'm pleased to share that the shop is now complete, and I'm in search of capital to kick-start the business. I intend to begin by selling butternuts and watermelons, which I will source from the local farmers, gradually expanding to offer cereals and packaged foods to both the local community and visitors.

In the coming year and beyond, my main goal is to complete the construction of my shop, which is currently in its final stages. As a subsistence farmer, I am constantly seeking ways to increase my income and become more financially stable. I plan on investing part of my transfers into buying tomato seeds that I can later sell for a profit. By doing so, I will be able to complete the stocking of my shop and generate additional income to support myself and my family. I am hopeful that this investment will pay off and allow me to expand my business further in the future. Overall, I am excited about the possibilities that the coming year holds and am determined to work hard to achieve my goals.

GiveDirectly has been very successful in bringing meaningful transformation to the communities it serves. The fact that every household was able to use a well, pay for school fees, and even construct new houses is a testament to the impact of their work. What is particularly noteworthy is the positive response and appreciation from the families who received support. This is a clear indication that GiveDirectly has been able to build trust and deliver meaningful change to those who need it most. It is my hope and prayer that all other villages with the same challenges we had before recovering the transfers would be visited, enrolled, and given the same financial support to improve their living standards.

I aspired to build a shop on the roadside adjacent to my property after completing the initial transfer. The area seemed like an advantageous location for any business, and I am content to have begun the project using the first two transfers, although I am undecided on what goods to stock. I have already purchased metal poles, roofing frames, iron sheets, doors, and windows, but I still require some blocks for the foundation before plastering the floor. I reside near a lake that is often visited by tourists who buy various products, from agricultural produce to retail goods. As a farmer, I plan to sell butternuts and watermelon initially, then add retail and packaged foods to cater to the local community and visitors. Although the second transfer was inadequate to complete the construction, I believe that the third transfer will be enough to acquire cement and pay for the workforce that will finish the floors. GiveDirectly made my dream come true, and I am optimistic that the shop will lead to other income-generating ventures. My husband and I also own active farms that have been our primary source of income, alongside the shop we are currently pursuing.

I received the transfer from GiveDirectly around 4:00 p.m. After seeing the indicated amount, which was exactly the first transfer promised that I was expecting, it was easy to understand the message's contents. On the third day, I informed my husband, Joseph, with whom we sat to plan and collected the entire amount from a nearby shopping center.

Since receiving the first transfer, I have noticed many changes in my daily life and developed a good plan aimed at improving our standard of living. The start of the plan to build a new shop is the biggest difference in my daily life because it marks the beginning of a new source of income. I had no money to spend on the construction, but I am hoping to finish it soon once I receive the transfers that we were promised during enrollment.

I spent $170 of my first transfer on construction materials in order to build a small shop on our piece of land next to the road. I purchased roofing frames, metal bars to reinforce the walls, and iron sheets that, while insufficient to complete the construction of both the walls and the roof, I believe adding some using the subsequent transfer will complete the project. I had to put the construction on hold and will resume once I obtain all of the missing construction materials. I am excited to open a retail shop as an additional source of income because it will serve the immediate village and save them the long walk to the nearby shopping center, which is 2 kilometers away. I used the remaining funds to pay for the transportation of construction materials from the shopping center to my doorstep. I am grateful for the assistance and hope to begin construction work within a month.