"We have a farm close to Marigat town, and since accessing water there is considerably simpler, we usually plant food crops like corn and practice some irrigation. We therefore spent $20 to buy water for irrigation using the first transfer received. There is currently a drought here, making it practically hard for plants to survive on their own, therefore this is the only reliable method of obtaining food. In addition to the goats I already own, I also spent $30 on a goat for rearing. Goats are relatively draught-resistant and inexpensive to maintain and thus the reason we keep them. I bought food for my family and paid for land tilling with the remainder of the transfer."

"The greatest challenge is that our land has been destroyed because of the landslides especially where we farm.The crops have been washed away by the floods and water leaving us hopeless.During the rainy season,water keeps flooding and sometimes it's too much that I fear that my children may drown."

"I am a young woman with a young family. I would call myself jack of trades, I sometimes sell water, other times I sell firewood sometimes I am farming and all this to make ends meet. However of this activities Givedirectly has facilitated my farming. I am able to call myself a farmer because of the transfers received. I used my March supplies, $25 to hire a tractor to plough the land for tilling while in May I bought maize, beans and greengrams seeds for planting using $25 of the transfers. I also bought a kid goat at $20 and 2 hens at $6 in April. I spent $800 of my transfers in March, $4 in April and $6 in May on food."

"In the coming years, I aim to repair the roof of my house. Currently, the house has a grass-thatched roof that has decayed over time, resulting in water leakage whenever it rains. I aim to replace it with a tin roof to ensure a safer and more comfortable living space for my family. The house consists of two rooms, so completing this project would require approximately 50 pieces of iron sheets. Due to my chest complications, I am unable to work and raise funds for the roof repair project. Therefore, I hope that the continued cash transfers will enable me to implement this plan and provide a secure shelter for my family."

"I've been married for two months now, and my first priority was to fill the house with comfortable furniture, including a bed. When I got the transfer, I already knew where I would get them for a negotiated price. I went there and paid $150, which served as a reminder of how I was changing from a senior bachelor to a responsible family man. Additionally, I recalled how, during the dry season, we would go great distances to gather water and that buying a water tank was not at all an option. I went to a hardware store and took out $100 to buy a 1,000-liter tank, and because it is now the rainy season, we will have plenty of water. Because of how highly regarded cows are in our town and how humiliating it might be to not have any at home, I felt compelled to purchase two cows at a cost of $150 each. As the man of the house, all of this made me feel satisfied, and my wife was unable to conceal her joy because it was so obvious on her face."

"I was filled with immense joy when I learned that GiveDirectly had promised to provide me with funds. This wonderful news meant that I could finally fulfill my lifelong dream of having tap water connected to my home, which was previously impossible due to financial constraints. As a teacher, I am still waiting for government placement, and my husband is also a teacher and we have two children. With our casual job earnings, we could barely sustain our family's needs. However, upon receiving my second transfer, I decided to allocate at least $260 toward the tap water connection. The remaining funds were wisely used to renovate our house and purchase essential food supplies. The timely and much-needed support uplifted our living standards and brought us great happiness. Unlike before, we now have an abundance of food in my home, which is a tremendous relief. We are incredibly grateful for the support that arrived at just the right moment and has positively transformed our lives."

"The challenge I am facing is water coming from uphill. This water destroys the house crops.As a result,there is a hunger strike in my family because the water never stops co.ingvfromup hill especially during the rainy season.Besides that,the rocks also fall crom up and our lives are endangered.I feel so scared."

"The current heavy rains present both a blessing and a curse to me. After a prolonged period, I am finally filled with optimism as the unending rain promises a bumper harvest. However, the downside is that the rain is gradually eroding the mud walls of my house, weakening the poles and creating substantial openings that allow cold air and water to enter. To ensure my safety and prevent the collapse of my house due to the rain's impact, I aim to acquire two bags of cement. By utilizing them to repair and enhance the condition of my dwelling, I can establish a sense of security and eliminate the threat posed by the rain."

"Growing up, I witnessed my mother's struggles as a widow, providing for my two siblings and me through charcoal burning. Her lack of a supporting hand and our family's precarious financial situation make things even more challenging. Currently, our house is in a state of disrepair, especially the deteriorating palm leaf roof that allows water to seep in during rainy seasons. My ultimate happiness would be to build my mother a stable and decent house, preferably one with brick walls and a tin roof. After I graduate from welding college next month, I have faith that I will be able to generate the necessary funds to accomplish this goal and provide my mother with the comfortable home she deserves."

"Immediately I received the transfers, I went to buy stock for my business that I had but was closed down due to lack of finances to add on stock after selling most of the foodstuffs on loan to the people of the community, which later became difficult for them to pay having to know the struggles that they go through each and every day to put food on the table. Putting back the business took me $30, and as of now things are running well for us. Our children are happy now that they get three meals per day, which was a long story since drought hit our area and we could not even plant anything on the farm because there was no rain and scorching sun, which dried up the soil to an extent where no water could be retained in it. Another thing that was disturbing me was the state of my house. My house is standing on a rocky hill where the wind blows so strongly, and it has been falling bit by bit. My worry was that it might fall down fully, leaving us homeless. So without wasting any time, I accumulated all the materials needed to build another house and called the person who will be doing the construction, and all this took me $25. Right now, our house has been completed, and we are living happily. GiveDirectly came in so timely, just when I thought we would lose everything and end up being homeless."