This year and in the years to come, my goal is to increase the stock in my kiosk shop and to buy a cow. These two investments will help boost my income, enabling me to meet my family’s specific needs without financial strain. With the additional income, I will be able to provide for my family more comfortably and ensure we have enough food. Beyond that, I plan to venture into crop farming using the profits from my business. These steps will create a more stable source of income and improve our overall quality of life.

What stood out to me about GiveDirectly is their unconditional cash transfers and the freedom they give us to address our personal needs. The ability to decide how best to use the money for our unique situations has been truly empowering. I don’t have any specific recommendations for GiveDirectly because I’m very satisfied with their current program. I appreciate how well it’s working, and I believe they should continue with the great work they’re doing.

Upon receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I decided to use the entire amount to buy construction materials, including frames and iron sheets. My reason for this was that I previously had only a one-room house, which wasn’t enough for my family, as I have two children. I have now added another room, contributing some of my savings from my kiosk shop. When GiveDirectly sent their transfer, I was also able to collect payments from people who owed me money, and with that combined, I was able to complete the construction. Now, everyone in my family has privacy, and we can sleep comfortably and with dignity. This improvement has truly transformed our living conditions, and I’m grateful for the support that made it possible.

It was on a Sunday afternoon when my friend and I were coming back from church. She received a message from GiveDirectly confirming that she had received her transfer. She was very happy and excited, but I told her that I was behind during enrollment and mine would come in August. As we continued walking home, my husband called to ask about the cash, but I told him ours would come in August. However, just 10 minutes later, my phone vibrated, and sure enough, it was the cash from GiveDirectly! I immediately called my husband back to tell him that the money had arrived. We shared a moment of happiness and decided that we would buy sheep since we didn’t have any.

This transfer has been life-changing. Before, I was constantly worried about how we would recover from the floods, but now I have something tangible that provides security for my family. The sheep are an investment for the future, and the additions to my shop are helping to stabilize and grow my business. The relief I feel knowing that I have taken steps to protect my family and our livelihood is immeasurable.

Before receiving the transfer, life was challenging for me and my family. My husband is a farmer, and I run a small shop at home selling foodstuffs. The floods nearly wiped out my business as many people in the village, including us, had to relocate. The damage was extensive—I lost sugar, maize, 14 chickens, and even their eggs. I had to sell my goats just to restock my shop and replace the utensils and shoes my kids lost. Although food was not too difficult to access due to the shop, the strain was immense, especially with a 2-year-old son to care for.When I received the transfer, I wanted to ensure that I made investments that would support us in the future. I bought three sheep for $150, seeing them as a safety net that I could sell in case of an emergency. I also spent $20 to purchase flasks and jars to add stock to my business, expanding it beyond just selling foodstuffs. Additionally, I used $30 to buy clothes for my family and two plastic chairs to add to the two we already had.