I had gone to visit my neighbor when, around 5 PM, I saw a message on my phone notifying me that I had received an unconditional cash transfer from GiveDirectly. I didn't tell my neighbor what was happening but quickly made an excuse to leave and hurried home. When I told my wife about the money, she was very excited because it meant we could finally build a better house and assist our three orphaned grandchildren. We sat down together and carefully planned how we would spend the money, and then we cashed out on the third day, ready to put our plans into action.

After receiving the GiveDirectly transfers, my life has changed in ways I couldn't have imagined before. For years, whenever it rained, it was an inconvenience because the part of my house that was roofed with reeds used to leak. I had to scramble to move items to a different room to protect them from the rain. The stress was even worse when I wasn't home, knowing that there was no one else to move the seats, and they would end up getting soaked. But now, thanks to the GiveDirectly transfers, those worries are a thing of the past. I used the money to replace the reed roof with an iron roof. Now, my wife and my grandchildren can sleep well, knowing there are no more leaking roofs to disturb us. I am very grateful for the peace of mind this has brought into our lives. We no longer fear the rains; in fact, we even wish for more rain, as it no longer means dealing with leaks but rather brings a sense of happiness and contentment.

I spent about $240 to buy 22 iron sheets, which was crucial because part of my house was previously roofed with papyrus. The papyrus was easily destroyed by termites, making our living conditions quite difficult. Additionally, I purchased 20 posts and frames for the roof renovation and bought roofing nails, spending around $50.I then turned my attention to my grandchildren by buying them school uniforms to ensure they felt good about going to school. I also paid their school fees, which was a significant relief for our family. We also used some of the money to buy clothes for ourselves, something we had not been able to do in a long time. It felt good to see my family dressed comfortably and proudly. Lastly, I decided to invest in our future by saving $150 to buy goats. Goats are a valuable asset because they multiply quickly and can provide a steady source of income. By planning to buy goats, I am hopeful that this investment will help us become more financially secure in the long run. Overall, the cash transfer has significantly improved our living conditions, supported my grandchildren's education, and allowed me to make a strategic investment for our future.