"Investing in watermelon farming has always been my goal, but limited resources kept me from moving forward. This time, I finally managed to make it happen. I spent $420 to buy seeds, prepare the land, and hire a tractor to get things ready. Additionally, I needed to buy fuel for the generator to pump water from the lake. Planting one acre of watermelon was a significant expense, but now the field is flourishing, and I’m hopeful for a great harvest. In our area, watermelons tend to do very well, and if all goes as planned, I could fill one lorry, which might bring in around $1,000.Since we’ve faced challenges in the past, this opportunity feels like a turning point. I used to farm maize, but frequent flooding would ruin the crops, leaving us struggling to make ends meet. With the extra cash, I also spent $30 on food for my family, as we’ve had to depend mainly on what we grow. Unfortunately, we lost all our maize in the last flood, so this support has allowed us to put food on the table while my watermelon crop matures.My wife is an early childhood teacher, and her salary helps us pay school fees for our three children, though it’s modest. Her support has been invaluable, especially during tough seasons when farming yields were low. Now, with this new venture, I feel more optimistic about our future and the stability it could bring. Watermelon farming holds real promise, and this cash transfer has allowed us to start building a more secure and hopeful future."

"In the coming years, I plan to open a business shop right at home so that I can earn profit without needing to go elsewhere. This will allow me to focus on growing the business steadily while staying close to my family. Alongside the shop, I want to continue farming, as it will support us with food and extra income. I believe this combination will not only improve our lives but also help secure a brighter future for my children by supporting their education. With the shop and farm together, we’ll have more stability and fewer financial worries. My goal is to create a strong foundation that will sustain us for years to come."

"Loneliness is the greatest challenge am currently facing.I am a teacher at Loruk primary school which is 15 kilometers from my home.I commute to school daily ,this is hectic and straineous for me because I have to do household chores and cook for myself later in the evening.Life has been challenging to me since the demise of my lovely wife in the year 2022.I am currently stranded and confused on wether to remarry or not.I have fears on restarting marriage life because my 4 children are now elderly, my last born is currently 20 years . The thought of having a baby at my age of 50 freaks me out a lot moreso since am now a grandfather.I am currently learning to let go of the good memories we had with my wife , (hough painful) so that my life can go on smoothly."

"As a single mom of three, I have faced many challenges, but I am determined to create a better future for my family. This year, I did not plant anything on my acre of land because I was blessed with a beautiful daughter, and I wanted to focus on her during this precious time. Currently, I rely on casual jobs to support my children, but I know that farming has the potential to provide us with greater stability. This coming year, I am planning to return to farming, eagerly waiting for the rains to start so I can plant again. I intend to use my final transfer to meet production costs. With successful harvests, I will use the income to support my family and secure a brighter future for my children."

"I began my journey of building a new house with my first cash transfer. I used that initial amount to buy a few materials to start the construction. After receiving my second transfer, I purchased the remaining building materials, including iron sheets and posts, which were essential for completing the structure. My previous house had an iron sheet roof and muddy walls, but during the floods, those walls were severely damaged; you could see right through to the outside. Repairing it had proven to be a challenge, which motivated me to build a new house on raised ground to avoid future flooding. I constructed a one-roomed iron sheet house that cost me $420, while the remaining $30 went toward buying food. Since we lost our crops to the floods, we have been relying solely on casual jobs and charcoal production to meet our needs, but that income is often inconsistent and unreliable."

"Receiving my second transfer was a turning point for my family. I spent $100 to expand our house because, as a family of eight, we had been cramped in just one small room. Initially, our home had a roof made of only five iron sheets, but now we have a roof made of seven iron sheets, creating a more comfortable living space for us. After being displaced by floods about five years ago, we have been living on someone else's plot, and recently, the owner offered to sell me the land for $350. With this transfer, I was able to reduce the amount owed by $120, and I plan to clear the remaining balance later. In addition, I rented half an acre of land for $50, where I plan to prepare and plant maize next month. Alongside this, I already have another half-acre of land at home where I plowed for $19, bought black nightshade seeds for $5, and spent $21 on irrigation. For years, my husband and I have been dreaming of our pre-wedding, and now that we have been saving diligently, I was able to set aside $135 from the balance of the transfer to cover some of the preparation costs. I am excited that our plans for the pre-wedding will finally come true next month. Thank you, GiveDirectly!"

"I plan to expand my livestock by purchasing more sheep. I had never owned any goats or sheep until I received my second transfer from GiveDirectly. My aim is to eventually have more than ten sheep, as I believe they thrive in our area. I am planning to use part of my final transfer to buy additional sheep, as this investment will be instrumental in improving my family's financial situation. As a single mom, raising these sheep will help me cover school fees for my children and address other essential needs in the future."

"Living in a muddy-walled house had become increasingly difficult for me, especially this year when the heavy rains caused extensive damage. The walls deteriorated further, creating several holes; as a result, we had to manage our small kitchen with my daughter and two grandchildren. After receiving my second transfer from GiveDirectly, I used $350 from the funds to build a one room iron-sheet house. Now, we live in a decent home, a transformation I am truly grateful for. In addition, we also lacked proper clothing, so I spent $45 on our clothes, as it was essential to ensure that we had decent attire. Furthermore, I allocated $35 to purchase a bag of maize, which helped sustain us for a while, and spent an additional $20 on other food items. I am thankful for this support."

"After receiving my second transfer, I was finally able to improve our living situation. Previously, my family of five was crammed into a single room with an iron sheet roof and muddy walls. Our home was vulnerable, especially during the rains when the walls felt like they could collapse at any moment. Cooking outside was not only inconvenient but also unhygienic, and when it rained, we could not cook at all. With the $200 from my transfer, I built a one-room iron sheet house and a small kitchen, using some iron sheets I had already saved up for. In addition to improving our shelter, I wanted to secure our future, particularly concerning my children's school fees. I decided to invest in livestock by buying three female goats for $165, knowing they would multiply over time. As a crop farmer, I also allocated $70 for plowing and creating ridges for my next planting season. I plan to plant green grams next month, which I believe will provide a good yield. Food was a struggle. With the remaining money, I purchased half a bag of maize, as our previous maize crop was swept away by floods this year. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"GiveDirectly excels in its approach to enrollment by sending officers door-to-door to ensure that every household has the opportunity to enroll without anyone being excluded. The enrollment process is entirely optional, allowing individuals to decide whether or not to participate. After recipients receive their transfers, GiveDirectly conducts follow-ups to confirm that the money has been received and to understand how it is being spent. This practice not only promotes transparency but also encourages responsible financial management among recipients. I believe GiveDirectly is doing an excellent job, and I would not recommend any areas for improvement; I encourage them to continue using this effective approach."