For too long, I've been relying on my brother's hospitality for a place to sleep, and it hasn't been easy. But now, with a clear plan in mind, I'm determined to build my own house before the year ends. I've already made some progress. I've managed to save up 12 pieces of iron sheets and 30 building poles. My goal was to gather 14 iron sheets and 40 building poles, and I'm not far off. With hard work and perseverance, I believe I can achieve my dream of having a place to call my own, where I can finally find peace of mind and independence.

With the cash transfer I received from GiveDirectly, I spent $20 on two pieces of iron sheets as I gathered materials for building my own house. Another $5 went towards paying my sibling's school fees; he had been sent out of school because we couldn't afford it. It felt good to be able to support him in continuing his education. Then, I invested $9 in purchasing nine building poles, slowly but steadily collecting what I needed for construction. My ultimate goal is to have my own home. Currently, I sleep at my brother's place, which doesn't give me the peace of mind I desire. With 12 pieces of iron sheets and 30 building poles already acquired, I'm getting closer to my dream. I plan to gather 14 pieces of iron sheets and 40 building poles before starting construction.

Right now, my focus is on building a new house. I usually spend my nights in the kitchen structure, which is already a very cramped space as most of it is occupied by the cooking area. Moreover, the structure is in a deteriorating condition, making it inconvenient for me to continue spending my nights there. In the past, building a new house was challenging because there was no source of funds for it. When the cash transfers came in, I saw it as an opportunity to build a new house. This is why I have been using part of the money to buy building materials like iron sheets and tree poles. My goal is to build a two-room house with mud walls and a tin roof, and I hope that the cash transfers will enable me to achieve this dream.

Every time I receive the cash transfers, most of it goes towards the construction project of my house. As an older son, it has become inconvenient for me to share the one-room space in the main house where my mother and sister sleep. So I have been sleeping in the kitchen structure for the longest time. During the day, we use the space for cooking, and at night, I squeeze myself into the small space to spend the night. It was only when I started receiving the cash transfers that I realized my dream of owning a separate space would soon become a reality. After I receive the funds, I usually contribute $6 towards my sister's elementary school fees and spend the remaining amount on either food or building materials. However, recently, I have been directing the balance of $28 towards buying iron sheets and tree poles to build the house. I am grateful because the cash transfers have not only enabled me to support my sister's education and reduce the burden on my mother but have also given me hope of owning a new house.

The prevailing poverty conditions that my parents and I face have hindered my ability to acquire a house of my own. However, my ultimate objective, extending well into the future, is to accumulate sufficient funds from the monthly transfers I receive to buy building materials. This milestone will serve as a crucial step towards realizing my dream of owning a house, potentially as early as next year. The prospect of finally fulfilling one of my lifelong aspirations, which has always eluded me due to financial constraints, fills me with great excitement.

In my personal view, I believe Give Directly performed exceptionally well and exceeded my expectations during the enrollment, census, and registration process. I particularly commend the organization for effectively training their staff, which contributed to the outstanding services they provided. I highly encourage the organization to maintain a strong emphasis on empowering their employees to consistently deliver such exceptional services as they expand into other villages.

With the participation of my five other family members as program beneficiaries, we each contributed $10 and acquired two bundles of 12 kg of maize flour for our entire family's consumption. The soaring prices of food items are causing us significant distress, as adverse weather conditions prevent us from producing our food. Nonetheless, we remain hopeful that we will have an ample food supply for the next few months, given the promising signs we are currently witnessing. We are actively engaged in farming activities such as planting and weeding, anticipating a bountiful harvest. In addition to purchasing food, I invested $24 in buying two sheets of iron. For the past eight years, I have been residing in a modest structure that serves as our kitchen, where meals are prepared for the family. Due to unemployment, I lack a home of my own and rely on my parents for support. However, my parents, who are subsistence farmers, earn a meager income from farming and have additional obligations, such as paying my younger sister's school fees while she is still in secondary school. Now that I have acquired this financial position, I am eager to purchase building materials like iron sheets, poles, and nails. I anticipate that by early next year, I will have a spacious dwelling where I can reside.

I was at the mobile money agent one afternoon when my phone suddenly rang, indicating a new message had arrived. Curiosity piqued, I quickly checked the message and discovered that Give Directly had sent my first cash transfer. The moment filled me with joy and happiness, as I knew that this money would bring some relief to the difficulties my household was facing.

The cash transfer brought about a significant change in my ability to contribute to my family's needs. Before receiving the funds, we relied solely on my mother's income from her charcoal-burning jobs to sustain us. However, with the arrival of the cash transfer, I was able to step in and make a difference. One of the first things I did was allocate a portion of the funds toward the school fees of my sister. It was a pivotal moment for me, as I could now actively support her education and ensure she didn't miss out on valuable learning opportunities. Additionally, I used the remainder of the cash transfer to purchase food for the family. This not only provided us with nourishment but also alleviated some of the financial burdens we were facing.

My mother is the sole provider for my siblings and me. However, her income from casual jobs, like charcoal burning, is barely enough to provide us with daily meals and support my sibling’s education. Despite facing mental challenges, I have always desired to contribute to and support my family financially. The opportunity to do so finally came when I received my first cash transfer. I decided to allocate $5 of the cash transfer to settle an unpaid tuition debt for my sister. She had missed a day of lessons, and I wanted to ensure her education wasn't disrupted. The remaining amount was used to purchase food for the family. Being able to contribute in this way brought me immense happiness and satisfaction. I am grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact and contribute to our family's needs.