I had just gotten home from the day’s work, and we were sitting under a tree with my in-laws, relaxing after a long day. Suddenly, my phone chimed with a message notification, and out of curiosity, I went to check. To my surprise, my in-laws also received messages at the same time. We all quickly realized it was money from GiveDirectly. Without thinking, we jumped up from our seats, hugging and cheering. It was such a joyful moment! We celebrated right there, knowing that our long-awaited plan to build a pit latrine would finally be a reality.

The biggest difference I have seen since I received the transfer is that I now have a pit latrine of my own. For the last four years since we moved here, my family and I have been sharing a pit latrine with our neighbors, and it reached a point where they started complaining. They would often accuse us of leaving it dirty, even though we always made sure to clean it after using it. The tension was uncomfortable, but thanks to the money from GiveDirectly, we were able to build our latrine, and that has lifted a huge burden off our shoulders. Now that we have our own latrine, the misunderstandings with our neighbors have reduced significantly, and everyone is happier. It feels good to have that independence and privacy, and we no longer have to worry about who is saying what or getting into unnecessary arguments over cleanliness. Having this basic facility has improved our peace of mind and made life here much more comfortable.

For a long time, my family and I had been sharing a pit latrine with our neighbors. While this arrangement worked for a while, it eventually caused tension. The neighbors started complaining about the overuse, and we knew we had to make a change. So, when the transfer came in, we set aside $90 to build our pit latrine. This has brought a sense of relief and privacy to our household. Another priority for me was ensuring my son could continue his education without interruptions. He’s in Form 1, and I have been relying on my sister to help cover his school fees. I didn’t want him to be sent home again for unpaid fees, so I took $80 from the transfer to pay for part of his tuition. It felt good to contribute directly to his education this time and ease the burden on my sister. With the remaining funds, I focused on food. I used the rest of the money to buy household food items, ensuring we had enough to keep us food secure for the coming weeks. It gave me peace of mind knowing that my family wouldn’t have to worry about where our next meal would come from, at least for a while.