My primary goal is to plant maize on my 4-acre plot. Last season was tough; we faced food shortages, and I want to ensure we don’t go through that again. This time, I want to not only grow enough maize for our own needs but also produce a surplus to sell. With the income from that sale, my hope is to finally build a house on the plot I purchased. It’s been a dream to have a stable place where we can all live comfortably, and I know this is the right step forward. To make this vision a reality, I’ll be relying on the third transfer I received, which will go toward ploughing the land and buying quality seeds. With this transfer and a good harvest, I’m confident that this coming year will be transformative for me and my family.

When I first heard I was selected to receive a cash transfer from GiveDirectly, I was overjoyed, but I never imagined how smoothly the process would go. The officers were incredibly friendly, making me feel respected and valued every step of the way. They took the time to explain the program and answer all my questions without rushing me, which meant a lot. Honestly, I can't think of anything that needs to be changed. Everything was done well from start to finish, and thanks to their support, I was able to use the money to improve my life in ways I'd only dreamed of.

My family and I currently live close to River Perkerra, and every rainy season, the river breaks banks and it floods, making it a constant worry for us. We’re always afraid of losing what little we have to the floods. So, when I got the money, I used $400 to buy half an acre of land in an area that doesn’t flood. It felt like a huge step towards a safer, more stable future for my family. Now we have a place where we can eventually build a secure home and leave behind the anxiety that comes with each rainy season. After setting aside money for the land, I spent the rest on food. We were running low on basic household supplies, and it had been a struggle to make meals stretch. This money gave us the chance to stock up on essentials. It’s a relief to have enough food for everyone, and it makes our days easier, knowing there’s enough to eat without worrying about the next meal.

I went to fetch water from the river and left my phone at home. My children were home and, when they heard the message notification, they thought it was a call. They came running to the river, shouting, "Mummy, someone called!" and gave me the phone. I realized it was a message confirming I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I jumped with excitement, and my children were curious. Later that evening, after my husband returned from looking after our sheep, I shared the news, and he was happy. Thank you, GiveDirectly.

A few months ago, we experienced heavy rains in our area. This initially brought us joy, especially for farmers, as our crops had been unsuccessful for many seasons due to a shortage of rain. For us, this was a blessing. Little did we know it would bring us the worst. The rains caused floods that swept away our crops and destroyed our house. We had to move temporarily, and although we have returned, our house is still in disrepair. We have been planning to get a plot somewhere else and move to avoid the same issues, but due to a lack of finances, this seemed impossible. Luckily, GiveDirectly transfers have restored our hope. We are planning to get a plot with our next transfer, build a house, and move. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for making this possible.

I have three children, and one of them has already started elementary school. To provide for their needs, my husband and I depend on charcoal and crop production. We use the income from charcoal production to finance crop production. However, crop production is not reliable due to frequent climate shocks. For example, during the recent rains, we lost all our maize crops to floods. To have an alternative source of income and to ensure our kids don't lack school fees when they get to high school, we decided to spend all our first transfer on the purchase of three sheep, each costing $60, adding to the four we already had. We preferred sheep because they multiply easily and are easier to manage than goats. With this investment, we hope to sell the sheep in the coming years to address needs like school fees.