In the coming years, my main goal is to invest more in livestock, as it’s something I can manage well. The animals I initially bought have already started to multiply, which gives me hope for a stable source of income. By growing my livestock, I’ll be able to support my family better and even cover school fees for my children as they grow. Each new birth feels like a step toward a more secure future, and this motivates me to keep working hard. I know that by focusing on livestock, I’m building a foundation that will benefit us for years to come. My dream is to eventually expand the herd, providing both food and income to meet my family’s needs.

The GiveDirectly officers guided us well, teaching us how to use the money wisely and encouraging us to think carefully about our plans for it. They asked each of us what we intended to do with the funds, making us feel that our choices mattered. Their advice helped me prioritize important needs, like buying goats for milk and settling debts. I appreciate how they didn’t just hand over the money but took the time to help us make informed decisions. Personally, I have no complaints—just gratitude for the way GiveDirectly has supported us. If there’s one area to consider for improvement, it might be offering follow-up visits to check on our progress and give additional guidance, but overall, I’m deeply thankful.

Goats had been causing constant trouble, sneaking into my compound and damaging my farm. When I received the cash transfer, I used $100 to buy wire mesh to secure the area. This small investment brought me peace, knowing my crops are now protected, and it feels like a real improvement in our daily lives. I also spent $120 on a cow, hoping that when it gives birth, we’ll have milk for ourselves and possibly extra to sell. The cow feels like a lasting reminder of GiveDirectly’s support, something that adds stability to our family. Another major expense was school fees, for which I used $150. Previously, we relied on fundraisers to keep our children in school, which was stressful. This transfer allowed me to pay the fees directly, lifting a huge burden. Education is very important to us, and we’re grateful to GiveDirectly for making it easier for our children to stay focused on their studies.The remaining funds went to my wife, who bought food and other essentials we lacked. Together, we manage a small farm, but as we get older, we increasingly depend on our children’s help. Life was challenging before the cash transfer; we would sometimes have maize from our farm but no money on hand. Now, with GiveDirectly’s support, we feel relief and hope, with resources to help us improve our lives bit by bit.

After I registered, I had to move my cattle to Eldume to find pasture, so I was away for about five days. During that time, the GiveDirectly team came looking for me, but since I wasn't around, I missed the initial transfer that the rest of the village received. As soon as I got home at 10 a.m., I called their office to sort things out. To my surprise and relief, by midday, the money was in my account. I was overjoyed and immediately told my wife, who was just as excited. We started planning right away on how to use the money to buy sheep and stock up on food.

The biggest difference in my life right now is that I was able to buy two sheep with the money I received from GiveDirectly. I've never owned a sheep before, but now that I have them, one has already given birth, and we even milk it, so we no longer have to buy milk. This has changed everything for us—we no longer go to bed hungry because we can buy food items. Before, we struggled to find money for even the basics like vegetables and flour, and we often had to skip meals. Now, there's food on the table every day.

When I received the unconditional cash transfer, I immediately knew how I wanted to use it to benefit my family. With $92, I bought two sheep. Sheep have always been a good investment for me because they multiply quickly—within five months of conception, you can have more, which means a steady increase in our livestock. Plus, they’re more affordable than goats, making them a smart choice for someone in my situation. I also used $32 to purchase four plastic chairs. Before this, we only had two chairs, which made it difficult to accommodate visitors. Whenever we had guests, we had to borrow chairs from neighbors, which was a bit embarrassing. Now, with six chairs, we can comfortably host people in our home without any trouble. This small change has really made a big difference in how we interact with our community. The remaining amount went toward securing our household's food supply. I bought a 90kg bag of maize to ensure we wouldn’t run out of food, and with the little money left, I purchased various household food items that we are still using today. This has provided us with peace of mind, knowing that we have enough to eat and can focus on other important things without the constant worry of running out of food.