"This is a family of six and out those, four are still in school. Two are in secondary school and three in primary level. I highly consider education a very key to someone's life. This is evident from our neighbors children. My husband has been working as masonry for over 20 years now. His age has advanced such that he can't do his work again. We are all here depending on farming. Because of the current trending of rains, crop production is significantly affected. This leave us with goat farming as the only hope to keep the children in school. The children are constantly being sent home to collect school fees which a times they have to remain at home for more than a week. This situation has affected them heavily and as a parent, the whole pain falls on me."

"I am currently in college, and since this is my final year, I want to focus on my studies. I plan to use my transfers to gradually purchase the necessary items to ensure a seamless stay at school. I am confident that if I achieve good grades, I will likely secure a job. However, if that doesn’t happen, I also have the option to open my own carpentry workshop. Once I finish college, I aim to establish my own workshop, which will allow me to earn an income to support myself and my younger siblings who are still in school. Additionally, I am working towards building my own house and have already started buying iron sheets to achieve this goal. Each month, when I receive my transfer, I use part of it to buy iron sheets and the rest to support my stay in school. I am very grateful for the financial support from GiveDirectly."

"I had gone to my son's prayer day who is about to sit for his final high school exam. I heard my phone sound with a message. I quickly checked it and confirmed that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed! Among the other parents from my village who were there, I asked if they had received theirs as well. Some confirmed they had, while others waited anxiously, but within a few minutes, they too received their transfers. We all rejoiced together and headed home with happy hearts. I knew this was the hope I had been waiting for, and I felt certain that things were going to turn around for me."

"After losing most of my crops to the floods, I was left with just a quarter-acre vegetable farm where I had planted kale and black nightshade. These crops survived the floods, but they were on higher ground, which made irrigation essential. This land was my only hope for securing my family’s food, but I constantly worried that without water, we would lose it as well. The cost of generator oil to run the water pump was a problem, and I didn’t know how long I could keep it going. Fortunately, the GiveDirectly transfers arrived just in time. I was able to use some of the money to fuel my water pump, allowing me to irrigate my farm. This is currently providing food for my family and generating some income of about $10 per week. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"To earn a living, my husband and I rely on casual jobs, each earning $4 a day, though these jobs are not always guaranteed. Sometimes we also depend on charcoal production. Our focus has been strictly on basic needs like food and education for our children. With this income, saving or investing in other areas was difficult. In our area, goats thrive, and our home was almost the only one without them, so this was a key investment for diversifying our income. With my first transfer, I prioritized buying two goats worth $100. Additionally, I purchased a mattress for my children, costing $40, as the old one was so worn out that you could feel the bedboard, which was disheartening for me as a mother. I also bought two plastic chairs to add to the two we already had for $12, as it was not enough, especially when we have visitors. Furthermore, I spent $32 on food, specifically maize, which is our staple food and sustained us for some time. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"With the support from GiveDirectly, I was finally able to address some of the most pressing needs in my home using my first transfer. First, I purchased a bed and mattress for my son, costing $62, as he had been sleeping on a worn-out mattress on the floor, which was not only uncomfortable but also dangerous in our snake-prone area. I also bought a bag of maize for $40, as food had become scarce after I lost all my maize to floods, which had been my main source of sustenance and other essentials. To commemorate GiveDirectly’s support and to help diversify our income, I decided to buy a goat for $50, symbolizing our gratitude and offering the potential for future financial stability as the goats multiply. Additionally, I spent $8 on transportation, and with the remaining funds, I bought clothes for my children. It had been a long time since I could afford new clothes, and this was essential, especially after losing some of our belongings to the floods. These improvements have brought us relief and hope. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"Living in my brother's house for the last three years has not been easy, and the uncertainty of eventually having to leave has always weighed on me. After my marriage broke down, my parents offered me a piece of land to build on, fulfilling my wish of living in my own house. Unfortunately, I didn't have the means to do so until GiveDirectly's support made it possible. I used my first transfer to buy building materials, and with my next transfer, I plan to build a house and fulfill my dream of having my own home, ensuring my children have shelter without having to worry."

"I was in my farm, looking after my maize crop against free roaming livestock, when I received a notification upon confirming it was GiveDirectly's cash. I was overjoyed, especially since my vegetable seedlings were ready for transplanting, and I didn't have the money to facilitate it. Thank you, GiveDirectly"

"Before receiving the transfer, life was challenging for me and my family. My husband is a farmer, and I run a small shop at home selling foodstuffs. The floods nearly wiped out my business as many people in the village, including us, had to relocate. The damage was extensive—I lost sugar, maize, 14 chickens, and even their eggs. I had to sell my goats just to restock my shop and replace the utensils and shoes my kids lost. Although food was not too difficult to access due to the shop, the strain was immense, especially with a 2-year-old son to care for.When I received the transfer, I wanted to ensure that I made investments that would support us in the future. I bought three sheep for $150, seeing them as a safety net that I could sell in case of an emergency. I also spent $20 to purchase flasks and jars to add stock to my business, expanding it beyond just selling foodstuffs. Additionally, I used $30 to buy clothes for my family and two plastic chairs to add to the two we already had."

"In my life, I never thought I could rebuild after being affected by the floods, especially when my toilet sank. I kept wondering where I could find the money to repair it, especially since I'm just a charcoal burner. Rearing four kids wasn't easy, and my husband is also just a small-scale farmer. But now, I am very happy and grateful to GiveDirectly for your support. The sanitation at my home is now well taken care of."