My goal was to have my own house. After my husband and I separated, I had nowhere else to go but to return to my parent’s place and I had to look for money to build a house and live with my two children. Since I started the construction, I, therefore, plan to finish it up completely by end of this year and to achieve this, I had saved some amount and will still continue saving the little I get to help me achieve my dream.

GiveDirectly is doing everything good and also doing a good job in terms of supporting us financially to enable us to have a better life. Without the support, I would have struggled so much to get the money for my house construction and I am forever grateful.

The transfers had been so far of great help. My husband and I had not been in good terms for the longest time, a situation that forced us to part ways. I left my matrimonial home and went back to my parent’s because I could not bear the daily fights and quarrels. I left with nothing but I thank God for the financial help that I have been receiving from GiveDirectly because so far, I have managed to start building my own house and also buying a few household items. With the second transfer, I spent $140 on construction and by now it is almost done and I can longer wait to see it completed. I also managed to buy a bed and a mattress costing $72, bought food worth $45, paid $25 for school fees for my school-going child, bought a phone worth $50 and also bought two goats because I would also love to start a livestock-rearing project. I, therefore, saved the remaining part of $138 because I have the dream of finishing up my house construction and I greatly that GiveDirectly for having this type of program.

It has always been my dream to build a larger house with more space to accommodate my two children, who have always slept on the kitchen floor of my previous home. I was overjoyed when I received the first transfer, knowing that my dream was finally coming true. I received the good news via message notification around 7 p.m., and despite my joy, I called my husband, who rushed home to confirm the good news with me. He was equally pleased, and we thanked God for GiveDirectly's assistance.

The biggest difference in my daily life since receiving the first transfer is the peace of mind that my children are experiencing as a result of improved sleeping conditions. They used to wait until we were finished with the kitchen before going to sleep, but now they can sleep whenever they want in their separate room. They are happy and hopeful that they will soon be sleeping on a new bed and bedding, despite the fact that they have not gotten all of the sleeping materials.

When I received the first transfer, a large portion of the money came in handy when I started building an extension to my current house to create two more rooms. I needed a separate kitchen area as well as a bed area for my children, who had been sleeping on the kitchen floor after we finished cooking every night. I spent $170 on purchasing and transporting 16 iron sheets, $35 on construction materials, and $65 on labor after the construction work was completed. I am relieved that we now have enough space under a good roof that keeps raindrops out. I also spent $60 on two goats that I am currently raising to sell in the future, $40 on groceries, $25 on a storage box that I am currently using to store clothes, and the remaining $20 on the solar panel that I had been paying in installments. I am grateful for the assistance and eagerly await the second transfer, which will enable me to purchase a new bed and bedding for my children.