I was at home with my husband and mother-in-law, busy burning charcoal to sell and provide for our family. Amidst our work, my child ran towards me with my phone, indicating it had rung. Upon checking, I found a message notification, revealing a mobile money transfer from GiveDirectly. Excitedly, I shared the news with my husband and mother-in-law. Since she was also enrolled, she asked me to check her phone to confirm if she had received money as well. Indeed, she had. We hugged each other with immense joy, as this unexpected blessing uplifted us. We reside in a leaking one-roomed house with my husband and 4 children, insufficient for all of us. Consequently, 3 of my children sleep at their grandmother's house, while I sleep with the youngest, who still breastfeeds. Sleeping together as a family under one roof has always been my wish, but due to space constraints and their growing age, it's been challenging. I work as a waiter in a small food kiosk, earning $1 a day, while my husband works as a casual laborer in the market, with no daily guarantee of work. Our combined earnings barely cover family needs, school fees, and the desire to build a house. My first priority was constructing a home where we can all sleep comfortably together as a family.

GiveDirectly has transformed our lives entirely. The construction of our house is underway, which is a beautiful and remarkable development for us. We never imagined achieving this milestone so quickly. Our family is thrilled because we anticipate that soon we will all be sleeping under one roof, which is truly incredible. With the house construction underway and the children's school fees paid, I can now allocate a portion of my earnings to savings, which was previously impossible. This will be beneficial for future needs, while my husband attends to our daily expenses.

We live in a leaky one-roomed house with my husband and 4 children, which is not enough for all of us. Consequently, 4 of my children sleep at their grandmother's house, while I share a space with the youngest, who still breastfeeds. My long-held wish has been for us to sleep together under one roof as a family, but due to space constraints and the children's growing age, it has been challenging. Therefore, I allocated $500 of the transfer towards building a two-bedroom house, fulfilling my dream of having us all together under one roof. Building this house marks a significant achievement for me, and this makes me so proud and confident even when I engage with my fellow parents in the village. Additionally, I used $30 to cover my children's school fees. With schools reopening in January and insufficient savings from the December holidays, this payment was crucial. Now that the fees are settled, I can redirect my earnings towards savings for future needs. As the funds arrived during the holiday season, I designated $20 for buying food and clothing for my children to enjoy Christmas and the New Year. Having new clothes for these occasions is a cherished desire for every child, and it brought them immense joy, lighting up their faces with beautiful smiles.