With the acquisition of a quarter-acre piece of land under my name, I am excited about the possibilities it offers for planning and development without constraints. In the coming years, my goal is to build a spacious new house that can comfortably accommodate my family of two and provide room for visitors. Already, I have secured some construction materials using the last transfer, including 14 iron sheets and 10 round cedar poles. Currently, I am diligently working on my rented piece of land along the river, aiming to generate proceeds that will contribute to purchasing additional construction materials and covering labor charges during construction. Reflecting on the transformation I have experienced since receiving the money, I feel a sense of joy, hopeful that the challenges of my past life in the war-affected area will not resurface.

GiveDirectly's arrival in our village brought hope to everyone, including me, who had lost everything in a war-affected area. With no home and no prospects, I was grateful to receive support from GiveDirectly, which gave me another chance to rebuild my life. Their unbiased approach ensured that everyone in need, regardless of their circumstances, received support. I am particularly thankful for the opportunity to acquire land and begin construction on a new home. Despite my age and previous hardships, GiveDirectly showed compassion and included me in their program, fulfilling all their promises of support. The entire village shares in this gratitude, as GiveDirectly's generous and fair assistance has made a significant difference in our lives. We pray that GiveDirectly continues its impactful work in other communities, as we have experienced firsthand the positive outcomes of their support. So far, there have been no complaints, only satisfaction with the freedom to make our own spending decisions.

Since fleeing Arabal due to recurring conflicts, I have been living on land generously provided by a well-wisher, where I constructed a simple shelter for myself and my grandson, Joel. Initially challenging, the supportive community and support from GiveDirectly renewed my optimism and restored my independence. Living with Joel, who assists me in collecting the transfers, we have been fortunate to enjoy three meals a day and secure a rented piece of land along the riverbanks for farming and livestock investment. With the final transfer, I prioritized improving our living conditions by paying $250 to the landowner for a quarter piece of land, where I plan to construct a better structure alongside the existing one, which will serve as a kitchen. I allocated $185 for construction materials, including iron sheets and cedar poles, to build a more spacious and comfortable dwelling with enough room for a bed and seating. This upgrade will enable us to accommodate visitors comfortably, unlike our previous cramped quarters. Additionally, I invested $14 in purchasing a small plastic tank for water storage, simplifying water collection and ensuring a more reliable water supply compared to frequent trips to the river with smaller containers. I am grateful for the support from GiveDirectly, which has enabled us to make significant improvements in our living conditions and quality of life.

I have in the past two years been living in a small house that is not presentable at all. I could not even dare dream of building a better house because I am living on borrowed land. After I paid for the land recently, I now have plans of building a better house in it. With the recent transfer, I was able to buy pieces of iron sheets and only waiting to receive the second transfer before I can start the construction work. I will be most grateful and happy once this project is complete.

Having a privilege to not only access free money but also make decisions on how to send the money has been so fulfilling at my age. These are things I never imagined I could do with my age and I feel so happy about it. I can hardly do any casual jobs neither do I have anyone to depend on and this had often left me feeling helpless. I appreciate GiveDirectly a lot for what they have been able to do in my life.

I am an ageing person as you can see with no family members close to me that can help me out on most of the things. I also lost some of my children in the recent past that forced me to relocate to the place I am currently living in. I have been staying here for white sometime now but was afraid that I could be sent away anytime soon. I am glad that with the transfer that I received, I was able to buy this piece of land and now await to build a better house than the one I am currently staying in. I already bought pieces of iron sheets worth $150 and the piece of land cost me $100. I then bought a delight solar worth $50 and maize worth $80. I am extremely happy for what GiveDirectly funds have enabled me to do. These are things that I hardly imagined I could do.

After enrolling with GiveDirectly, my anticipation for the money was real. I made sure to keep my phone close at all times, recognizing that it would serve as the conduit for all the funds. The moment the confirmation message arrived, an overwhelming sense of excitement and gratitude to God washed over me. Eager to verify my account balance, I promptly called my helper, relying on his familiarity with mobile money. Once assured, I dispatched him to the shopping center, and he returned with the entire amount. This unexpected blessing allowed me to fulfill my planned purchases and marked a significant turning point in my financial situation.

Receiving the initial transfer from GiveDirectly has made a significant impact on my daily life, especially in ensuring an adequate food supply for my family of two. Previously, I struggled to work on my farm due to various constraints, making it challenging to provide enough food. Thanks to the generous support from GiveDirectly, I am pleased that I've been able to bring in a variety of food items, marking a positive shift in our daily meals. This ability to access enough and diverse food has brought a sense of relief and gratitude into my life.

I stay with my grandchild, and she keeps me company when school is closed. I feel happy that I won't be lonely until January when she'll be required to go back to school. To make our time together better, I used $50 from the GiveDirectly transfer on food like maize, milk, and beans. Before, I slept on a hard surface covered with old sacks and animal hide. Now, I am grateful because I bought a $130 mattress, and even though I don't have a bed yet, I am enjoying better sleep. I also bought a $20 storage box for packing clothes and important documents making my house organized and getting everything in place. I helped my other grandchildren with $30 for school fees and paid $10 rental charges for the plot where my house is. I have goats, and I spent $20 on deworming medicine for them. I saved the remaining $57 for any urgent needs in my household. I appreciate the support and look forward to what the next transfers can help with.