"I consider myself fortunate to own four acres of land, but due to a lack of capital, I have only been able to plant on one acre in the past. This year has been particularly challenging, as I lost my entire crop; however, I refuse to let that setback deter my plans for the future. I am determined to invest in irrigation equipment, including a generator, which will enable me to plant more efficiently and in a timely manner across all four acres. I intend to use my final transfer to make this investment a reality, as I believe it will significantly increase my yields. With the income generated from planting the entire four acres, I will be able to meet my family’s needs, including school fees and daily expenses, ensuring a more stable and secure future for us all."

"GiveDirectly has truly impressed me with the way they conduct their work. The officers were consistently humble and respectful during the enrollment process, making us feel valued and appreciated. One aspect I particularly love is that enrollment is optional; no one is forced to join, which creates a sense of empowerment among community members. Additionally, the follow-up support helps ensure that recipients use their cash transfers appropriately, leading to positive outcomes in our lives. I suggest that GiveDirectly continue with their current approach, as it is clearly effective, and, in my opinion, there are no areas for improvement."

"When I received my second unconditional cash transfer, I knew exactly how I wanted to use it to support my family and help us get back on our feet. My wife runs a grocery and cereal business, which has been crucial in meeting our daily needs, especially since my crop farming is seasonal. However, her business stock had been running low, and I recognized its potential to provide us with consistent income. Therefore, I decided to give her $195 to increase her stock, which has already resulted in higher profits. She even managed to pay $50 in school fees for our children and bought them some clothes while her business continues to thrive. Additionally, I invested $150 in my crop farming by planting butternut squash and green grams. This money went towards land preparation, planting, and irrigation, and I’m pleased that my crops are doing well. With harvest expected in about two months, I now have faith in getting back on my feet again after losing my previous crops to floods. Furthermore, I allocated $50 to clear the fees for my three children in elementary school. The remaining $55 I spent on food to ensure we have enough to eat and to avoid relying solely on the business during its growth phase. I purchased essential cereals and condiments to sustain us while we await the harvest from my crops. With these combined efforts, I believe both my wife’s business and my farming will lead us toward financial stability, allowing us to provide a better future for our children."

"In the coming years, I plan to expand my crop farming activities from the half a acre of land I currently cultivate to two acres. This expansion is crucial because, with the additional space, I can grow more maize and increase my yield, which will allow me to better address my family's needs. I intend to use my final transfer from GiveDirectly to fund this expansion. By planting a variety of crops, I can create a more sustainable farming practice that protects against market fluctuations and increases my income. Ultimately, my goal is to stop leasing land and purchase my own, enabling me to invest in a diverse range of crops and secure a stable future for my family."

"I have three children in secondary school, and raising their fees has been a significant challenge, especially for the one in Form Four, where a zero balance is required. The accumulated arrears stood at $790. To meet these expenses, I rely heavily on crop and livestock farming, which has been manageable in previous years. However, I lost three acres of seed maize this year to floods, which would have helped clear the fees. As a result, I had to sell 14 goats and sheep, leaving me with only the young ones. When I received my second transfer, I decided to commit the entire amount to school fees, ensuring that my children’s education continued uninterrupted. I have planted an acre and a half of beans, and with a successful harvest, I will use the proceeds to clear the remaining balance."

"I am planning to open a kiosk because, as a farmer, I realize that farming is seasonal, and there are times when I remain idle, waiting for the next planting season. To empower myself as a woman and have a continuous income, I need an alternative source of livelihood during these off-seasons. Although my husband and I plant separately, we both contribute to our family's needs, so this kiosk will help me add to that support. Currently, I have planted beans on an acre of land and black nightshade on half an acre, and the market for these crops is readily available. I anticipate earning about $400 from the beans and $300 from the black nightshade, which I plan to invest in starting my kiosk while continuing with my crop farming activities for a more stable income."

"Receiving my second cash transfer, I prioritized things that could sustain us long-term and address some of our pressing needs. Firstly, I spent $140 to purchase two sheep because we wanted something that could provide for us even after all the transfers are finished. Sheep are a good choice because they grow fast and can multiply quickly, ensuring we have something to rely on for the future. In addition to livestock, I also do crop farming, but for years, I had been borrowing irrigation equipment from my mother. This arrangement was not always reliable, especially when water levels were low in the river, meaning I would be the last to irrigate my crops and sometimes miss out entirely, leading to crop failure. With $185 from the transfer, I bought my own generator to solve this problem. Although I already had pipes, owning the generator would now give me full control over irrigation. Food is also a basic need that became a challenge after the floods destroyed our crops, particularly maize, which is our staple. To address this, I purchased two bags of maize for $25 each to ensure we had enough to eat. Clothes were another issue we faced; most of what we had was old and worn out. I gave my wife $40 to buy new clothes for our family of five so that we could all have something decent to wear. The remaining money went toward clearing school fee arrears for our two children, both in elementary school."

"When I received my second transfer from GiveDirectly, I knew I had to make decisions that would secure a better future for my family. Our area is prone to floods, and since my house is located in a flat area, we have often been disrupted by these floods. This year was no different. To solve this, I decided to purchase a plot on higher ground for $400, and I paid a deposit of $250, planning to clear the balance later. My goal is to build a house there and move, which will save us from the constant flooding in the future. In addition, I bought a goat for $70. I have always wanted to add to my goats because they are valuable during emergencies, and like crop farming, they can be easily moved when the weather becomes harsh. My children’s clothes were old, and they didn’t have nice ones for special occasions, so I used $30 to buy clothes for my four children. At that time, two of my children were sick from living in our damp house; they had pneumonia. I spent $40 on their medication to help them recover. With the remaining $60, I bought a 90-kg bag of maize and condiments since food was a big challenge. After the floods, we lost our crops, and now we have to buy everything, and we solely rely on charcoal production to make ends meet. Thank you GiveDirectly for your support."

"I am a fisherman and for the longest time I have been using a hand made canoe to fish. Recently, the water levels in the lake have risen making it difficult to manuvour hence a reduction in the quantity. Also, getting raw materials for making a bigger one has been hindered by floods. This has greatly reduced the amount of money I earn hence hindering my plans."

"The biggest difference in my life since receiving the $200 from GiveDirectly is the joy and relief it has brought to my family. Before this support, I was overwhelmed by the stress of not being able to pay my children's school fees, which led to them being sent home. Knowing that I could now use this money to get them back to school has filled me with hope and a sense of purpose. This financial assistance has not only eased my worries but has also allowed my children to continue their education, which is something I deeply value. I am incredibly grateful for GiveDirectly's help, as it has transformed our situation and brought a new sense of stability to our lives."