I currently have six goats, which were once more in number, but as a single mom, they have been a tremendous help, especially in paying school fees for my children. My plan is to expand my herd and increase it to at least twelve goats. I believe that by growing the herd, I will not only be able to manage school fees but also handle any unexpected needs that may arise in the future. Goats are a reliable source of income because they multiply quickly and can be sold when necessary. I plan to use part of my final transfer to purchase additional goats, as this will help secure a better future for my family.

GiveDirectly does well in providing unconditional cash transfers, allowing us the freedom to spend the money on what we need most. This approach is highly effective because it gives each recipient the power to prioritize their own unique needs, such as food, school fees, or housing. During the enrollment process, there was no discrimination, and the officers treated everyone with respect and fairness. What stood out was that there were no bribes; everything was free and fair from start to finish. Honestly, I see no areas for improvement, and I believe they should continue using this same approach because it works so well.

I am a passionate farmer, but for a long time, I lacked the capital to make my farming dreams a reality. However, after receiving my second cash transfer, I decided to invest in crop farming. I rented half an acre of land for $30, spent $36 on land preparation, bought 20 kg of bean seeds for $40, and spent $16 on planting. To ensure my crops had enough water, I also used $10 for irrigation. Farming has always been my passion, and this transfer finally gave me the chance to pursue it. In addition, my family's sleeping conditions have always been a concern. With a family of nine, we only had one bed, and I had been sharing it with the younger children while the older ones slept on a temporary traditional bed. Using part of the transfer, I bought two beds for $76 and one mattress for $40, ensuring my children could sleep more comfortably. Previously, they had been sleeping in a grass-thatched house, which was damaged during floods. Though we repaired it, the house still feels unsafe. To improve their living conditions, I bought building materials, including iron sheets, timber, and nails, for $92, planning to commence construction with my final transfer so my children will have a safer iron-sheet house. I also spent $16 on transportation to bring the materials home. Unfortunately, during this period, one of my children got injured, and I had to take him to the hospital, which cost me $28. Shortly after, another child fell sick with cold-related issues, and I spent $20 on treatment. With the remaining $12, I bought food, as we only had maize and lacked other essential items to meet our nutritional needs. Thank you, GiveDirectly.

I had just returned from attending a funeral in our neighborhood. Since my phone didn’t have any charge, I left it at home to charge while I was away. Upon arriving home, I powered on my phone and immediately received a message from GiveDirectly informing me that I had received $200. It caught me off guard because I wasn’t aware that the transfers had been sent. Excitedly, I shared the news with my children. Our first thought was to use the money to address our family’s housing situation, something we had been wanting to improve for a long time.

Before I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly, my family struggled a lot, especially after floods destroyed our home. We had been living in a small, old manyatta, which was not enough for my family of five children. After the floods swept it away, we were left with very little, and life was hard. However, with the help of the GiveDirectly transfers, I was able to buy building materials and construct a new house. Now, we live in a much better home, and our lives have greatly improved. The house has brought us dignity and comfort, something we didn’t have before. The transfers have also made a big difference in my children's education. Before, my child would miss school for days because I couldn’t afford the fees. But ever since I used the GiveDirectly money to pay for school fees, my child has never missed a single day of school. This has been a huge relief for me, knowing my children’s education is no longer disrupted.

When I received $200 from GiveDirectly, I was filled with happiness, knowing it was time to make changes in my life. At that time, floods had just occurred, and one of my houses was swept away, leaving me with only an old traditional Manyatta. With five children, this house wasn’t enough for us, so I decided to use $110 to buy building materials to build a new house. I was able to add some money from my pocket, and now I have a house that is spacious enough for my family. After completing the house, I spent $47 to buy a mattress since I didn’t have one before. This has greatly improved my sleep and overall health. As a single mother, providing for my family is challenging, especially without a permanent job. I rely on temporary, odd jobs to support us. With part of the money, I paid $30 in school fees for one of my children in secondary school. This has allowed her to stay in school, something she used to miss often because I couldn’t always afford the fees. Lastly, I used $12 to buy food, making sure my children had enough to eat. This support has been a big relief for us during these difficult times.