I have a vision for our future, one that involves opening a clothing business right in the heart of our village center. To make this dream a reality, I will begin by searching for a suitable location in the center. The business will require an initial capital of $50,000, which I am determined to save from my husband's earnings from his construction job. This clothing business will not only be a source of income but also a means of supporting our family of three. It is an exciting opportunity that holds the potential to improve our financial stability and create new opportunities for us.

I truly believe that GiveDirectly's focus on targeting households is a fantastic approach. It acknowledges the fact that every family has its distinct needs and preferences, allowing people to make choices that are best suited for their unique situations. From my perspective, I have not come across anything that needs to be changed about GD's approach. It aligns perfectly with the diverse needs of families like mine, and I am grateful for the support they provide.

Food, shelter, and clothing are essential for every family's well-being, and it is crucial to encourage efforts to generate income to meet these needs. My husband, Amos, has been at the forefront of providing for our family of three through his job in house construction. While this work can be unpredictable, I am grateful that he manages to earn $15 weekly on good days. This income covers our food expenses and serves as a safety net for emergencies, even though there is not much left over. I am relieved to say that most of our family's financial needs have been met through GiveDirectly. I spent $100 to purchase two bags of maize, $20 for household goods, and $120 for goats. I used the remaining transfers to expand our one-room house to provide a more comfortable living space for my family. I am delighted to share that we now enjoy food security, financial stability, and the comfort of a spacious home.

I am considering establishing a new clothing shop in my neighbouring town due to the high cost of living. I think I can accomplish this within the next three months. My husband and I had a lengthy conversation after which he committed to saving a small amount of money each month to help me raise the necessary funds to carry out this project. Since he too relied on odd jobs, it has been difficult for my spouse to do all of the household duties while I have been unemployed for years. Once this is finalized, we won't have to struggle to raise our growing young family, and I will finally be able to live the life I've always wanted as an independent woman.

GiveDirectly made an outstanding job of improving our lives in my entire region. Since we all have various needs in our homes, I thought it was a good idea to give us the choice to choose what works best for us. The village's peace and cohesion have even improved as a result of this. As they continue to stay in different villages, I haven't been able to identify any specific areas where they as an organization fell short and should be improved.

I have been living an awful and unfair life for the past few years. My three family members and I have been taking shelter in a one-bedroom house that also served as a kitchen, and it was extremely sooty. When I cook, my children used to suffocate. I decided to start cooking under a tree at some point. This did not, however, resolve the issue, but rather made things more difficult, especially when it rains. Additionally, some rodents would impede my cooking and even taint the meal. I felt the impulse to construct an effective one, but I had no income and depended on my spouse for everything. Given that he relied on meagre tasks whereby he could earn $2 on a good day. As a result, as soon as I received my second transfer, I bought building materials and erected a new kitchen. Now that I can smile whenever I want to cook, I feel great and content. Furthermore, I have enough privacy from my neighbours, who could quickly anticipate what I was going to cook for my family because it was an open area. The money I had left behind was ultimately spent on food which took us almost a month. We can now eat at least two meals, which has given my family and I relief.

I couldn't contain my excitement when the money finally arrived because my husband and I had big plans in store. Around 4:00 p.m., while I was at home, I got a confirmation of the first transfer. I was a lone woman at home at that moment, but just an hour later, my husband returned home, and I shared the joyous news that I had gotten. He was equally excited, knowing that the plans we had were coming to pass. Since it was already getting late, we had to postpone collecting the money until the following day.

The biggest difference in our daily life after receiving the first transfer from GiveDirectly is the abundance of food. We had been facing challenges in finding consistent casual labor, which made it difficult to put enough food on the table. However, with the support we received, we no longer have to sleep hungry. We are now able to work and save the wages from our casual jobs, knowing that we have enough food to sustain us. It has brought a sense of stability and security to our lives, and we are grateful for this positive change.

With the second transfer from GiveDirectly, I ensured that I made some meaningful investments for my family. I purchased a sack of maize for $43, ensuring that we have enough food to sustain us. I also bought a goat for $35, bringing our total to nine, in an attempt to expand our livestock assets. I have plans to rear them for milk production and sell their offspring in the future. Additionally, I used $88 to buy 10 iron sheets. We had been struggling to complete the construction of a new kitchen, but the financial support from GiveDirectly allowed us to make progress. Although we still need six more iron sheets, I am optimistic that the upcoming second transfer will help us finish the project. I allocated $25 from the remaining funds to purchase household goods like utensils and toiletries, and I saved the remaining $9 for any unforeseen emergencies.