My main focus at the moment is finishing the construction of my new home. So far, I have acquired the necessary building materials and have begun the construction process. I am extremely grateful to GiveDirectly for their support. Without them, I would have continued living in my small, grass-thatched house for years to come, as I was unable to afford the materials on my own. As an elderly person without any support, this program has been a lifeline for me. Additionally, I am determined to ensure that my five grandsons, whom I am responsible for, complete their studies and achieve their educational goals. Our lives have been centered around subsistence farming and also burning and selling charcoal in order to make ends meet. Despite our poor financial situation, my hope is that my grandsons will achieve their educational aspirations.

I am so grateful to GiveDirectly, as my life has been personally transformed, something that I never imagined would happen. In my village, the support has been a lifeline to everyone who had the opportunity to enrol, and the money has greatly improved our living standards. New shelters have been constructed, children are attending school, and we also own some livestock, courtesy of the program. All of this happened because of the transfers, and I cannot think of anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.

I have faced numerous challenges in life, especially in meeting my basic needs such as food and shelter. But GiveDirectly came into my life and brought great relief not only to me but also to my family. Before their assistance, I had never experienced the comfort that comes with living in an iron-roofed house. I always admired the decent shelters of my relatives, but I could not afford even a single iron sheet to build my own house. As a result, I had to live in a grass-thatched house that was unstable, in bad shape, and not spacious enough. With the recent transfers from GiveDirectly, I took a larger portion and bought building poles and iron sheets to build a decent house. This will be my greatest achievement: having a decent iron-roofed house for me and my spouse. It will also be good for our health since we are both old. We have no one to support us, and the thought of building a new house seemed impossible, given my financial status and the struggles I faced with my family. But thanks to GiveDirectly, building a decent iron-roofed house is no longer just a dream. I will no longer suffer the cold bite of the rain or stay in the cold with my family. Additionally, my daughter suffered from goitre, and I spent over $100 on her medication. She underwent surgery, and the growth was successfully removed. She is now slowly regaining her health. Finally, I used the remaining amount to buy food paid fees for my five grandchildren, who are currently at lower levels of education.

It was around 4 pm, and I was finally home after a tiring day working on the farm. My phone was out of reach, in the hands of my helper. As I relaxed, she came running into the room, beaming with joy and shared the news that she had seen a confirmation message on my phone stating that I had received $550 from GiveDirectly. Instantly, my fatigue melted away, replaced by sheer excitement. I couldn't contain my happiness and let out a loud ululation, grateful for the unexpected blessing that would ease our burdens and sorrow of seeking shelter from neighbors since our house had collapsed for the heavy rains we experienced.

Life was incredibly tough when my house collapsed during the heavy rains. It was heartbreaking to see . family struggling, seeking shelter from a neighbor while my husband endured the cold nights. However, after receiving the cash transfer from GiveDirectly, our lives took a turn for the better. Though the new structure may not be exactly as I had hoped, the relief of having a place to call home is immense. Now, even amidst challenges, there's a sense of stability and security that fills our hearts with gratitude.

During the rainy season, our house collapsed, leaving us in a dire situation. While I sought shelter from neighbors, my elderly husband had to endure sleeping under a tree, which worried me deeply. When the first transfer from GiveDirectly came through, I knew exactly what I had to do. I used some of the money to buy 14 pieces of iron sheets for $154 to start building a new house for my family. However, before construction could begin, I fell ill and had to spend $80 on medical expenses during a six-day hospital admission. Despite the setback, we managed to put up a temporary structure using iron sheets, while my husband gathered building poles from the forest to improve our living conditions. With the remaining money, I made sure to buy food to provide for my eight grandchildren, who were left in my care by their mother who is still searching for employment.