After my house collapsed many years ago due to a palm tree falling on it, I was unable to renovate it. The relief was immense when I received the transfer, as it enabled me to afford the necessary building materials, including eleven pieces of iron sheets and building poles, to construct a new house. I am currently in the process of building the house and I am happy and at peace knowing that I will no longer struggle with housing. Additionally, I spent $150 on purchasing three goats which I am currently rearing. For years, I had been taking care of other people's goats without owning any. I am glad to now have my own, and my expectation is to allow them to multiply, providing a potential source of income in case of financial need, as I am not formally employed but rely on subsistence farming. I also spent $75 on buying foodstuffs, including maize flour, to ensure that my family and I have enough to eat in the coming months. I also used a portion of the remaining amount to pay school fees for my child and my six grandchildren, whom I also support in their education. Finally, I invested the remaining portion in cultivating my three acres to ensure food security for my household. By planting early, I am confident of getting a good harvest, which will guarantee a consistent food supply for my household.

I am currently in the process of building a new, comfortable, and spacious house. Previously, I was unable to do so after my old house was destroyed by a palm tree many years ago and was left in a very bad state. As a subsistence farmer with no income, I couldn't afford to buy the necessary building materials to construct a new house. Living in such a house, with its exposure to the cold, scorching sun, and sometimes heavy rains, was a truly challenging situation. Fortunately, with the recent transfer, I managed to purchase eleven iron sheets and building poles, and I have begun the construction on my new piece of land. My hope is to complete the construction soon so that I can have a stable and comfortable place to live and no longer have to worry about the rains. In addition to this, I have been looking after other people's livestock, despite not owning any livestock myself. I am pleased to have recently purchased three goats, and my goal is to breed them and grow my own herd. These animals will serve as assets, and as they reproduce, I can sell them and generate some income.

I remember attending a burial in a neighboring household, leaving my phone at home with my daughter. I had lost a close neighbor and was deeply engaged in the preparations and other activities related to the burial. Amidst the grief, my daughter arrived and gave me the phone, informing me that GiveDirectly had sent my first transfer. This was a great relief for me. Despite the sorrow, I was able to smile again and couldn't wait to build a new house for myself after a palm tree fell on my old house, destroyed it, and left it in a dilapidated state.