My plan is to focus on the maize farm I have already started and ensure that it thrives so I can have a good harvest. Once I sell the maize, I plan to use the money to plant vegetables on the same farm. I believe that growing vegetables will bring a good income because I can sell them at the nearby market. The money from selling the vegetables will be used to pay my children’s school fees, which is very important for me and my family. I am confident that this plan will improve our livelihood and provide a steady source of income. This approach also gives me hope for a brighter and more secure future for my family.

I am happy because GiveDirectly has helped elevate us from poverty. The officers gave valuable advice on how to use the cash transfer for investments, which made a big difference in our lives. They guided us on the best ways to spend the money, ensuring it was used wisely for our future. I didn’t notice anything bad from GiveDirectly; everything was handled well. The support they provided was truly beneficial, and I appreciate their efforts. Overall, I am grateful for the assistance and the positive impact it has had on my family.

This year was incredibly challenging for my family, as floods destroyed one acre of our maize crop, leaving us with nothing to harvest. Farming is our only source of income, and losing our harvest put us in a tough spot with no means to support our family. Using $300 from the cash transfer, I decided to plant maize again on one acre and dedicate a small portion to vegetables. This choice was essential for rebuilding our livelihood and ensuring we have both food and an income in the future. The funds gave me hope and the means to restart farming, which had seemed impossible before. In addition to farming, I used $50 to pay the graduation fee for my daughter, who was transitioning to primary school. Before this, I relied on selling vegetables from my farm to pay her fees, but the floods had wiped out that option. The cash transfer arrived just in time to cover this important milestone and also to clear an outstanding arrear of $30. It felt like a relief to know my daughter could continue her education without interruptions. Finally, I spent $50 on maternity expenses since I was about to deliver my baby, and I used the remaining $20 for food to sustain me while nursing at home. Taking care of five children while recovering was overwhelming, but the support from the cash transfer made it more manageable. My husband and I are both farmers, and life has become easier with the capital to restart our farming activities. I feel optimistic about the future and deeply grateful for the assistance that gave us a fresh start.

I was at home, relaxing after finishing my house chores, when I heard my neighbors celebrating, repeatedly shouting GD money! My heart sank for a moment as I checked my phone and saw no message; I thought maybe I didn’t qualify for the cash transfer. Shortly after, a message came in, and a smile instantly flashed across my face when I saw that I had received mine too! Just then, one of my neighbors called out to me, Mama Nteye, have you received? I excitedly replied, “Yes!” and joined them in the celebration; it was truly a joyous moment for all of us. I felt relieved and hopeful, knowing that this support would help me address my needs. Thank you, GiveDirectly!

Before receiving cash from GiveDirectly, my husband and I relied heavily on casual jobs and crop farming to support our family of six, but we faced numerous setbacks that left us struggling. We often lost our crops to drought, and this year, when we finally found land near the river, floods destroyed our maize on an acre of land, making it nearly impossible to raise the school fees for our son in elementary school that we owed. The stress was overwhelming, especially with $20 unpaid fees from the previous term, but when I received the transfer, it was a relief. I cleared my son's arrears and was able to reduce this term's fees from $47 to just $27, easing my worries about him being sent home for unpaid dues. Thank you, GiveDirectly.

My husband and I rely on crop farming to support our family of six, but we have faced many setbacks over the years. We have often lost our crops to drought, and this year, when we finally found land near the river, floods destroyed our maize in an acre of land. With such unpredictable income, we struggled to meet all our family needs. Therefore, when I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to buy a mattress for my husband and me, which cost $35, since we had given our old mattress to the children, who were using a worn-out one. Additionally, I bought a water drum for $17 to store rainwater, as fetching it from the river was quite a distance. Furthermore, our sitting arrangements were inadequate, with only two plastic chairs for our family; thus, I bought two more chairs for $17 and a table for $11 to make things more comfortable for us and our visitors. Since we lost our maize crop, food has been a challenge, so I purchased a bag of maize for $30, along with other essential food items for $41. Finally, with the remaining funds, I paid $40 to clear my son's private primary school fees from last term and reduce the arrears for this term because I wanted to ensure he wouldn’t be sent home due to unpaid fees.