When the floods hit Longewan two months ago, it disrupted our lives significantly. The sleeping area for my teenage children was partially destroyed, forcing us to live together in our two-room iron-sheet house. I have been longing to repair this structure but finances have been a barrier until now. With GiveDirectly's assistance, I plan to spend $200 towards repairing this house to create a more comfortable living space for my children. Additionally, I will use another $200 to construct a proper latrine for our family. Currently, we use the bushes nearby, which is not ideal for hygiene and can affect our health and that of our community. I also intend to invest $250 in purchasing five goats as a future source of income through breeding and selling them. The remainder of the transfers will be invested in expanding our grocery business, ensuring a more sustainable income for the family. I am deeply grateful for the assistance that will enable us to improve our living conditions and secure our future.

In our community of Ilchamus, livestock keeping is highly esteemed. Personally, I have always valued my livestock, particularly the four goats I had been raising. Recently, I was overjoyed when two of my goats gave birth to twins just a week ago. This has been a significant development for me because I see it as a long-term investment. After the devastating floods that destroyed my one-acre maize plantation two months ago, these newborn goats have become a beacon of hope. They provide me with an alternative source of income. I plan to breed them and eventually sell the offspring when they mature, which will help me finance my children's education and secure our future.The arrival of these kids has brought back my smile and renewed my gratitude.

I still cannot believe how devastating the floods were for us here in Longewan. Two months ago, they swept away my entire one-acre maize plantation—the only hope for my family of seven. We had taken a loan from Kenya Seed with the expectation of repaying it after the September harvest, but now, I am left with no crops and no way to start over. It is a painful reality knowing that I cannot afford to replant without financial support, and taking another loan is out of the question until I can repay the first one. As a backup plan, I invested in a small grocery business, but even sourcing vegetables has become stressful and expensive due to the limited quantities available. Living in this devastated state is heart-wrenching, and I am struggling to find a way forward.