Looking ahead, my goal is to build a sustainable livelihood through agriculture, focusing on both crops and livestock, especially goats. Goats are resilient animals, more resistant to drought and flooding than crops, which makes them a dependable source of income even during challenging seasons. With this strategy, I’m confident I’ll be able to support my family consistently. The income from farming will help us meet essential needs and lay a solid foundation for our future. By balancing crop farming and livestock, I can manage the risks and ensure we always have resources available. This plan fills me with hope for a stable and secure future for my family.

I appreciate how GiveDirectly operates because the officers spoke directly with us and provided clear guidance. The cash transfer arrived directly without going through chiefs or other channels, which made the process simple and secure. I especially value that it’s unconditional, allowing me to make my own decisions on how to use it for my family’s needs. This approach has made me feel respected and trusted. So far, I have not noticed anything negative, and I hope they continue with this same spirit. The support has truly made a difference in my life.

Building a safe home for my family has been a top priority, especially after floods damaged our previous shelter. I used my entire second cash transfer of $450 to construct two rooms with iron sheets: one room to replace our damaged house and another specifically for my children. Our previous home was unstable and nearly collapsing, and the room where my children stayed was made of grass and mud, which the floods swept away completely. This support from GiveDirectly gave us a chance to rebuild and create a more secure environment for my family.My husband and I face many challenges as we work to provide for our five children. Although he does his best with farming, he has a disability from an accident ten years ago that prevents him from doing heavy labor. This makes it difficult to earn enough on our own to cover all our needs, and we often had to live day-to-day without knowing if we could make improvements to our lives. With this transfer, however, I was able to ensure we have a safer home for everyone, giving us much-needed peace of mind. Additionally, I work by selling vegetables and fruits at the local center, but life was hard before receiving this support, as the income from my small business was not enough for such a big need like housing. Now, our lives feel more stable, and I can focus on growing my business instead of worrying about the safety of our shelter. The cash transfer has truly made a positive difference, allowing us to recover and plan for a better future.

The moment I received my first transfer was one I'll never forget. It was a Sunday, and I had just come back from church with my neighbor. As we were walking home, a message notification came through our phones. We were both overjoyed to discover that we had both received the transfer, and we felt that this was truly a blessing from God and a special coincidence, especially considering the timing. My first thought was of my children—I could finally build them a proper house. I am very thankful to GiveDirectly.

A few months ago, heavy rains caused flash floods that destroyed our children's sleeping room. Our main house also flooded, but it wasn’t damaged. My husband, our five children, and I had to sleep together in the main house. Having both boys and girls under one roof—especially with our oldest being 18 years old—was an uncomfortable situation. I used my first transfer to start building a new room for the boys. Though the house isn't complete yet, the transfer has given us hope and a clear path to better living conditions. We're still all together in the main house, but knowing that the new room is being built gives us a sense of relief and anticipation for the privacy and comfort it will bring once finished.

Before the transfer, we lived in a two-room house with muddy walls, located beside our two-room iron sheet main house. One room was for my children, and the other served as our kitchen. A few months ago, heavy rains caused flash floods that destroyed this house. Although our main house also flooded, it wasn’t damaged. We had to temporarily relocate to camps, and when we returned, my husband, our five children, and I had to live together in the main house. Having both boys and girls under one roof—especially with our oldest being 18 years old—was an uncomfortable situation. When I received my first transfer, I immediately decided to build a separate room for my three boys. I spent $129 on building materials and started the construction. I also paid the carpenter $100. Now, I’m waiting for my next transfer to complete the building. After the floods, getting food became a major challenge, especially after losing my one-acre maize farm, which I had leased. This was a huge loss for my family since I rely on crop farming and my small vegetable-selling business, though it’s struggling at the moment. I also do casual jobs to support us, as my husband lost his hand in an accident, leaving most of the work to me. To ensure we had enough food after the floods, I used part of the transfer to buy food worth $40, including 45 kg of maize, 5 kg of beans, and other essentials. The remaining, I spent on transport.