My primary focus is on a simple yet significant goal: purchasing a bed. For what feels like an eternity, I have endured restless nights sleeping on the cold, hard floor, leaving me drained and exhausted each morning. However, with the promise of financial support from my spouse next month, I am filled with hope that I can finally turn this dream into a reality. A comfortable bed might seem like a small thing to some, but for me, it represents a tremendous improvement in my quality of life and overall well-being.

Thanks to GiveDirectly, I now have a house to call my own. With their support, I was able to purchase building materials and finally construct a sturdy and comfortable home. No longer do I have to worry about being exposed to the elements or the safety of my family. GiveDirectly's initiative has truly transformed my life and provided me with a sense of security and stability that I never thought possible. I am immensely grateful for what they have done.

Receiving the second transfer was a turning point in my family's life. For years, we endured the hardships of living in a small house with a leaky roof, which was especially challenging with a young baby to care for. When the second transfer came, I seized the opportunity to improve our living conditions. I purchased iron sheets, building poles, and all the necessary materials to construct a new house, finally putting an end to the discomfort of being rained on. This new home provided us with much-needed shelter and safety, bringing immense relief and comfort to my family. Furthermore, I prioritized the education of my five children, using part of the cash transfer to pay their school fees. As a jobless individual, it had been a struggle to keep them in school consistently, which adversely affected their performance. With the burden of fees lifted, they could now focus on their studies and achieve their full potential. My spouse's income as a hotelier, earning around $5 a day, was insufficient to adequately support our family of seven. With the remaining cash, I ensured we had enough food to sustain us, alleviating some of the financial pressure on our household.

It is fresh in my mind that afternoon when I discovered that I had finally received my cash transfers. I was even on my farm, figuring out how I could cultivate the whole farm using my own hands. It was the happiest moment for me and my entire family because we were certain that the case would eventually help me put up a new house and hire someone to plough my farm.

For the past three years, life has never been fair to me at all. My family of six and I used to shelter in a small, one-room house that was also in a critical state. The house also used to serve as a kitchen; you can imagine the smoke. As a result, my children could hardly sleep, which made them very weak and sick regularly. I had been longing to build a decent one, but due to the financial problems that I have been through, I could not materialize this. My spouse, being the sole breadwinner who relies on hand-to-mouth jobs, could as well not be able to afford to purchase any of the material at his own cost. Therefore, having a spacious house that can accommodate my extended family plus an extra room for visitors makes the biggest difference in my daily life because I no longer have to worry about the unfavorable weather conditions like before.

For all those years, my five children have been straining, especially at night when given school assignments, simply because of the darkness. They were forced to use the light from the firewood, which used to affect them because of the soot it produced. Therefore, I opted to prioritize purchasing a solar panel for them, which cost almost $20. It is now a relief, which I feel is motivation for them to do well in school. Apart from that, my house was in bad shape. During the rainy season, we had to sit on our beds together with my children until the rain stopped. I therefore had to buy the materials, like iron sheets and building poles, which cost $20. As a mother, I feel great now for finally being able to shelter in a decent place like the rest. Also, there is privacy, which has equally restored our self-esteem. I also paid fees for my five children, who are in the neighboring primary school. I always feel bad to see them out of school due to the arrears. This was, however, a result of my being unskilled and only surviving on subsistence farming, which has not been reliable. I am thankful to GiveDirectly for putting a smile on their faces again. With the remaining cash, I have been buying food and sorting out any pending bills.