With GiveDirectly, my dreams are gradually becoming a reality. After purchasing farm equipment, I have secured a sustainable source of income for my household, which gives me hope for the future. My most immediate goal now is to improve our housing situation. As my family continues to grow, it has become clear that we need more space to ensure comfort and privacy for everyone. I plan to add an extra room and expand our living space. This will not only make our home more comfortable but also provide the privacy that my family deserves. I intend to use the final transfer from GiveDirectly to turn this dream into reality. The thought of achieving this fills me with satisfaction and gratitude. I am incredibly thankful for the transformation that GiveDirectly’s support has brought into my life, helping me make meaningful progress toward my goals.

What stood out for me with GiveDirectly is their cash programs designed to alleviate poverty. I used the support I received to improve my life and work towards a better future, which has truly elevated my living standards. I see no need for any changes and would simply encourage them to continue with the great work they are doing, as it is transforming lives in meaningful ways.

I am deeply thankful to GiveDirectly for their support. Recently, I received $450 from them, and I decided to focus not only on addressing my most pressing needs but also on investing in things that will help me generate more income in the future. First, I used $50 to clear the school fees balance for two of my children in primary school. They had missed a few days of school because of unpaid fees, but since I made the payment, they haven’t missed a single day. This transfer came at a critical time because I had been struggling after floods swept away my farm, which was my only source of income for paying fees. This shows just how timely and impactful this support was. With that taken care of, I used the remaining $400 to invest in farming. This amount went toward buying farming equipment I didn’t own before, including water pipes, a water pump, and a generator. These tools have transformed my farming activities, as I can now pump water from the river to my farm. This shift from rain-fed agriculture to irrigation will ensure that my farming is more consistent and reliable. With irrigation, I am confident that I will have a steady income, enabling me to raise my family’s standard of living by providing better education and ensuring food security. This support has given me hope and a clear path toward building a brighter future for my family.

I was at a burial in a nearby village when I heard a notification sound on my phone. I checked it and felt so happy to see that it was the GiveDirectly transfer! I was really glad and I could not wait to get home to share the news with my wife. I then knew that I could pay off some debts I had and also cover the school fees for my three children. 

Paying school fees had become hard for me because usually I depend on farm produce because I had 3 acres of maize on the farm that was swept by the floods. My children had arrears and they were about to be sent home to collect fees. After I received the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly, my life changed a lot. Paying school fees had become hard for me because I usually depend on my farm produce. But this year was tough because my 3 acres of maize were swept away by the floods. I was worried because my children had school fees arrears, and they were about to be sent home to collect fees. Thanks to the transfers from GiveDirectly, I managed to pay all the arrears. I no longer have any fees to worry about, and my children could stay in school without the fear of being sent home. It feels so good to see them studying without that stress. I am grateful for the help I received.

When I received the cash transfer, I used $80 of it to pay the school fees for my three children who attend a nearby academy. I had fallen behind on payments because I couldn’t afford it after the maize and tomatoes we planted were destroyed by floods. We had hoped the harvest would cover the fees, but the floods ruined that plan. I was so relieved to finally clear the arrears. With $20, I was able to pay off a debt I had taken some time ago to cover farming costs. The debt had lingered for a while, and the interest kept going up, making it difficult to repay. It felt good to settle that debt and ease the burden it had placed on me. I used another $40 to buy clothes and shoes for my children. They needed to look presentable, and it gave me great joy to see them well-dressed. The remaining $60 was spent on household food items, which was a relief as it ensured we had enough to eat for a while. The cash transfer helped us cover these essential needs, and I’m grateful for the support.