I plan to use the money from selling my butternuts to pay my children's school fees, as they are about to join secondary school. If the crop does well, I will also save some of the earnings to open a business shop, which will help provide a steady income for my family. Additionally, I want to buy a water tank to ensure we have a reliable water source for both our farm and household needs. I hope that by doing this, I can create more opportunities for my family’s future. This plan will not only help my children get an education but also improve our living conditions. Overall, I am working hard to make sure we have a stable and secure life in the coming years.

Since we received the GiveDirectly transfer, our village has been positively impacted. You reached us directly, without any intermediaries like headmen or chiefs, which we really appreciated. It was clear that you are an independent organization, and we felt respected by how you handled everything. Also, the one-month gap between transfers gave us time to think carefully about what to do next and plan how to use the money wisely. I did not see anything bad in the way you operated; everything was well done. You are a perfect organization, and we just hope that you will come back and continue supporting us with more transfers.

For the past seven months, I’ve been struggling with a problem in my right leg that kept me from working. It was painful, and I couldn’t provide for my children, which was heartbreaking. My family was suffering because of my illness, and it felt like there was no way out. Then, I received the cash transfer from GiveDirectly, and it truly felt like a lifeline. With $60, I was able to get medical treatment, and my leg is now healing. This allowed me to go back to work, and I can finally provide for my family again.I also used $200 to plant butternut, which grows quickly and has a good profit. This will help us earn money in a short time, and I’m hopeful that it will bring us some stability. In addition, I bought two sheep for $85 because they multiply fast, and I can sell them when needed. I also used $50 to buy school uniforms and books for my five children, so they can go to school and have a better future. The rest of the money went toward buying food, which gave us much-needed relief. Thanks to GiveDirectly, my life has changed completely. I’m healthy again and able to work, which lifts a huge burden from my family. My husband has been working hard, and together, we can now provide for our children and meet their basic needs. I am so grateful for this support, and I truly appreciate everything GiveDirectly has done for us. This help has brought us hope, and we now feel like we can build a better future.

For the coming year and beyond, I plan diversify my agricultural activities to improve income and sustain my family. Firstly, I intend to venture into vegetable farming for commercial purposes alongside my maize cultivation. Vegetables have a shorter growth cycle, typically ready for harvest within a month, compared to maize which takes much longer. This means I can generate income faster from vegetables while waiting for the maize to mature. Additionally, I am planning to start a poultry business. My strategy involves buying poultry in the village at lower prices and reselling them in town, where I anticipate a higher demand and better prices. I aim to make a profit of $3 for each poultry sold. To maximize sales, I will target open market days in town when there is a larger crowd that could be potential customers.

In my opinion, GD has done well to operates independently, without relying on government or political influences. By handling their own enrollment processes, they ensure that every individual has an equal opportunity to benefit from their support, without the potential biases that could arise from local leadership involvement. Additionally, their follow-up on transfers encourages accountability and responsible use of funds among recipients, fostering a sense of responsibility and trust within the community. I have not noticed anything that the organizationg needs to improve. Good job GiveDirect

I have been longing to own a cow to provide milk for my family. Currently, I spend $2 daily to buy two liters of milk for my five young children, who need it for their nourishment. Thanks to the second transfer, I was able to purchase two young female cows for $100 each. I anticipate they will give birth in the next two years, saving me from the daily expense of buying milk. Additionally, I plan to sell their offspring to pay for my children's education. We also used $100 to settle a long-standing dowry debt. This was important for us, as our children are growing up, and it was necessary to resolve this matter. Doing so has strengthened our relationship with my parents and allowed us to receive their blessings. Furthermore, I used $100 to prepare an acre of land we leased. This covered plowing labor and buying farm inputs as we look forward to planting maize in August, expecting good rains. This is crucial to enable us recover from the loss we incurred when the floods in May destroyed our previous crop. Lastly, I used $20 to buy a school uniform for my child, who joined junior secondary. He had been wearing his old primary uniform as I lacked the money to buy him the required uniform. Now, with the new uniform, he feels proud and confident, just like his classmates. I used the remaining amount to buy food for the family.

I was in the middle of sweeping the house and taking care of my five children when a message suddenly rang in. I immediately stopped what I was doing and checked my phone to confirm the receipt of $182.4 from GiveDirectly. I couldn't contain my excitement and started screaming, though not too loudly, as I was overwhelmed with joy. I waited patiently for my husband to return from tending to our livestock, and when he came back that evening, I shared the news with him. We had prepared a list of what we wanted to spend the money on beforehand, so we knew exactly how we were going to spend the funds.

Before receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly, I struggled with stress, especially when I saw my five children squeezing into one bed. I would often check on them in the middle of the night and sometimes find one of them on the floor, exposed to mosquito bites. This sight would fill me with worry and anxiety. However, after receiving the transfer, I was able to provide them with an additional bed and mattress, which has brought me immense relief and happiness. I am now stress-free and have hope that better things are coming.

Before receiving the cash transfer, my husband and I struggled to make ends meet through charcoal production and occasional casual jobs. We could only afford two bags of charcoal every two weeks, selling each for $4, which barely covered our food expenses. Casual jobs paid $2-$3 per day, limiting our focus to just food and leaving other essential needs unmet. Our five children were forced to share a single bed, leading to uncomfortable sleeping. We decided to invest in a mattress and bed for them at $90. Additionally, we lacked chairs and a table, relying on a single plastic chair for my husband and traditional wooden chairs for the rest of us. We bought two more plastic chairs and a table for $30. At the time of receiving the cash, my daughter was undergoing treatment for a dog bite, requiring two antirabies injections costing $25, and I had a leg problem that needed medication spending $15. Despite still experiencing the issue, I planned to seek further treatment. With the remaining $22.4, I prioritized food for our family.