When I got my first payment, I was at home doing chores. But I didn't see it for two days because my phone was off. I used to take it far away to charge. After two days, I went to get my phone. I gave it to my helper to check if the money had arrived because I can't read messages. I never went to school, so reading is hard for me. When he checked, the money was there. I was so happy because I got the money just in time. My kids were sent home from school because I hadn't paid their fees. So, the first thing I did was pay their fees so they could go back to school right away.

Since I got my first transfer, my life has improved a lot. I never imagined I'd live in a house made of iron sheets. I've always lived in a house made of grass and mud since I was born, even before I got married. I've already bought iron sheets, and I'm sure when I get my second transfer, I'll build a really nice house and live comfortably, sleeping well. Thank you so much, GiveDirectly, for changing my life.

Life on my side hasn't been easy; struggling to meet our basic needs has been tough. I have two kids, my daughter, and my grandchild. My husband is very old and sick; he's been suffering from tuberculosis for a long time and his eyesight is poor. But even though he can't see well, he helps by collecting charcoal and taking care of our grandchildren when I'm away doing casual jobs.When I received my transfer, I paid $30 for my kids' school fees—both my daughter's and my daughter-in-law's because she's also in school. Usually, I rely on farming to pay for their fees, but this year we didn't harvest anything due to the prolonged drought.After that, I used $50 to buy iron sheets. I decided to buy them in pieces because the money wasn't enough. When I get the second transfer, I'll buy more iron sheets and build a new house. The one we're living in now is made of mud and grass. When it rains, it leaks from the roof, and it's almost falling apart.Additionally, I spent $50 on food for my kids so we'd have enough to eat and I wouldn't have to work so hard burning charcoal. Finally, I bought one goat with the remaining money because I already had one, and I thought it would be a good idea for them to graze together.We're really grateful to GiveDirectly for helping us. Life used to be very hard, but now I can see some changes and improvements. We hope that by the end of the transfers, we'll be living a much better life.