I plan to expand my livestock by purchasing more sheep. I had never owned any goats or sheep until I received my second transfer from GiveDirectly. My aim is to eventually have more than ten sheep, as I believe they thrive in our area. I am planning to use part of my final transfer to buy additional sheep, as this investment will be instrumental in improving my family's financial situation. As a single mom, raising these sheep will help me cover school fees for my children and address other essential needs in the future.

First, I want to express my gratitude to GiveDirectly; without their support, I truly do not know where I would be today. The unconditional nature of the cash transfers provided allowed me to plan according to my own needs, giving me the flexibility to make decisions that best suit my family's situation. The follow-up on these transfers encouraged me to spend wisely, which has led to positive outcomes for my household and the community at large. In my experience, I have not identified any areas for improvement. Continue your operations using the same approach.

Receiving my second transfer from GiveDirectly was life changing for me, especially given my current situation. My family lives in a small one-roomed house that serves as our living room and bedroom. We cook outside, which is inconvenient and unhygienic, particularly when it rains and cooking becomes impossible. With $146 from the transfer, I decided to invest in iron sheets for an additional room, planning to use my final transfer to buy the remaining materials and finally begin construction. In addition, I have always wanted to own livestock, but until now, I have only had chickens. My neighbors have sheep, and I have seen how well they do in our area; they multiply quickly and can be a reliable source of income. So, I decided to use part of the transfer to buy three sheep, each costing $58. As the sheep multiply, I can sell them to generate income in the future. My son, who is in boarding school, had fee arrears of $50. To ensure he does not get sent home, I made the decision to clear that debt completely. Unfortunately, I got sick during this time and had to be admitted to the hospital due to blood issues, which cost me $36. Being ill meant I could not do any casual jobs, so I also spent $42 on essential food items like cereals to sustain my family as I recovered. I used the remaining funds for transportation to town and back.

It was on the 14th of July, after a long day of work, and I was relaxing at home, scrolling through my phone when suddenly, I heard a message notification beep. I checked my phone, and to my surprise, it was the GiveDirectly transfer! I was so excited—I couldn't believe it was finally here. The first thing I did was rush over to tell my neighbor, Rosemary, and she was just as thrilled because she had also received her money. At that moment, I felt a huge sense of relief, knowing that I could finally buy a bed, something I'd been dreaming about for a long time.

Before I received the money from GiveDirectly, I was sleeping on a mat for as long as I can remember. Every morning, I would wake up exhausted, my ribs aching from the hard surface. It was tough to start the day like that, with pain already weighing me down. I had gotten used to the discomfort, but deep down, I knew I needed a change. When I finally got the cash, the first thing I did was buy a mattress and a new bed. Now, I wake up feeling well-rested, my body relaxed and ready for the day ahead. No more aching ribs or dragging myself out of bed—I feel energized and motivated, and it's all because I can finally get a good night's sleep.

When I received the cash transfer, I used $68 to buy a bed and a mattress. For a long time, I had been sleeping on a makeshift bed made of wooden frames, and my two children and I slept on a mat. It wasn’t comfortable at all, and the transfer gave me a chance to improve that. I also spent $18 to buy a table because we didn’t have any place to put food when eating. We used to place everything on the floor, which didn’t feel right, especially with kids around. I also bought three plastic seats for $21. Before that, we used to sit on jerricans, which wasn’t comfortable at all. Having proper seating was a big improvement for our home. With the remaining $30, I bought maize flour to ensure we had enough food since putting food on the table had been a constant struggle. It was a relief knowing that we wouldn’t go hungry for a while. Lastly, I spent $20 on clothes for myself and my children. We didn’t have decent clothes, and I wanted my kids to look good when they leave the house. I also used the remaining money to buy shoes and school uniforms for them. That way, they could go to school properly dressed. The cash transfer really helped me improve our living conditions and provide basic necessities that we had been lacking for so long.