In the coming years, I am committed to engaging in intensive farming. With the generator and irrigation pipes now in place, I will be able to fully utilize my one-acre of land without the constant fear of drought. I plan to begin in October, once the land has dried from the recent floods. My goal is to plant maize, both for domestic use and commercial purposes. Selling the surplus will help cover my children's school fees next year. This approach will provide a steady source of income and ensure food security for my family, creating a more stable future for us.

What I appreciate most about the GiveDirectly transfer is that it is non-refundable and doesn’t accumulate interest, unlike a loan. The registration process was also impressively fair, enrolling everyone regardless of their economic status. Many organizations might exclude those who earn a salary, without considering that their income may still be insufficient. For example, though my spouse is a primary school teacher, I was not excluded from receiving the transfer. However, I wish the organization could provide additional transfers, as our needs are numerous. For example, I still have a long way to go in providing for my children's education, as for they are still young and their educational needs will continue to grow.

The cash transfer came just in time when I was facing a serious challenge. My child in Form 2 was at home because I had not managed to clear her school fees. Another one was at risk of being sent home the following week, as the school had notified me that if the fees weren't cleared, she would be sent back. This weighed heavily on me since I didn’t have any money at that moment, and my only option seemed to be selling the goats I had to cover the fees. When the transfer came through that weekend, I was overjoyed. The very next day, I immediately cleared the pending school fees, a total of $100. With that burden lifted, I used $300 to buy a generator and water pipes for irrigation. Our area is prone to drought, and the crops on our acre of land often wither due to the lack of water. This investment will allow me to farm through irrigation, helping me avoid the losses caused by water scarcity. With the remaining amount, I bought a sack of maize and other food items for my family, ensuring we had enough food after the floods in April destroyed all our crops.

With my final transfer from GiveDirectly, I plan to invest in fruit farming, focusing on growing bananas, papayas, and mangoes. These crops thrive in our region and have a readily available market, allowing me to generate profits to support my family's daily needs. To address the water shortage issue, I will purchase a pipe and generator to facilitate irrigation for my fruit trees, which require less water compared to other crops. I'm confident that within the next three years, this investment will start yielding a steady income, complementing my husband's low earnings as a primary teacher. By diversifying into this more reliable and water-efficient farming investment, I aim to provide a more stable financial foundation for our family.

GiveDirectly's mode of operation has been truly commendable. The community meeting (Baraza) where their officers educated us about the organization and the source of its finances was instrumental in dispelling any doubts or rumors about the legitimacy of the funds. I was particularly touched by the fact that we were not expected to offer the officers anything, including food, during the enrollment process, ensuring that we incurred no additional costs. Moreover, GiveDirectly's approach acknowledges the diversity of human needs, and the unconditional cash transfers have given me the freedom to spend the money on my priorities without any external influence. The only area of improvement I would suggest is for GiveDirectly to investigate further before making decisions, rather than solely relying on what others say about an individual, to ensure that no one who deserves the support is left behind. Overall, GiveDirectly's approach is effective and inclusive.

As a small-scale farmer in our region, I face significant challenges due to unpredictable weather patterns. During droughts, water shortages hinder my harvests, while heavy rains like the recent floods often result in crop losses. My husband, a primary teacher, earns a low income, making it difficult to meet our family's needs, particularly school fees for our five school-going children. Despite the challenges, I am committed to their education, recognizing it as a vital investment in their future success. With my third transfer from GiveDirectly, I allocated $200 to cover school fees for two of my high school children, each receiving $100.Additionally, I decided to use the remaining $250 to complete the unfinished house we have been living in for over ten years, finally finishing the pending floor and walls. Thank you GiveDirectly.

I was at home with my two kids around 3 pm, preparing evening tea, when the phone rang. Upon checking, I saw it was a message from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed couldn't wait for my husband to arrive from school, as he's a teacher. Words couldn't express how delighted I was. Initially, I thought of calling him, but then I realized it was almost 4 pm, the time he should be arriving home. So, I waited for my husband to come so that we could plan what to do with the money. However, my mind was already racing with the idea of buying bean seeds so that we could start planting, especially now that it's the rainy season.

Receiving the money has made a big difference in my life. Now, I feel much calmer because I don't have to constantly worry about how to buy food for my family. I'm also thankful for the seeds I got because when planting and harvesting they can help make sure my kids have enough to eat and take care of our other needs. Instead of selling our cows for other things, we're using them to invest in our future.Life is better now. We have fewer problems to deal with, and my family is really happy. Since it's a holiday and the kids are home, we're excited to start planting on our farm. We've enjoyed the money in a way that makes us wish we could get it every month.

I am the mother of 8 kids, and my husband and I have been struggling to cater to the basic needs of our children. However, when I received the cash, I immediately allocated $100 for school fees and $20 for school uniforms for our children. They have been relying on their father's salary, which is insufficient due to its limited amount since he is a primary teacher.Furthermore, I set aside $40 to purchase bean seeds and prepared the farm to plant half a hectare of beans. Beans are resilient during dry seasons, and now that it's raining, we decided to plant them, considering the uncertainty of the rainfall's duration. We used to plant maize, but due to unpredictable rains, we opted for beans instead.The remaining amount was utilized to buy foodstuff. Initially, we relied on farming for food, and when farming was not productive, we sold cows to cover expenses. I am not employed; I stay at home, managing both farming and livestock. However, while life was not excessively challenging for us, there were times when expenses piled up.Thanks so much to GiveDirectly for providing us with such support. We are grateful and feel appreciated.