"My house, roofed with only five iron sheets, was far too small for my family of four. Whenever I had visitors, they had to sleep at my neighbor's place because there simply wasn't enough space. When I received my second transfer from GiveDirectly, I seized the opportunity to construct a one-room house, both roofed and walled with iron sheets, which cost me $350. This new house provided us with much-needed space and comfort. Previously, I had only two plastic chairs, which were inadequate for us, so I bought three additional plastic chairs for $21 and a table for $85. Food has always been a challenge for us, especially since I am a single mom relying fully on casual jobs. To help with this, I purchased a bag of maize worth $27, ensuring that we had enough to eat. Unfortunately, my daughter fell ill with malaria during this time, and I had to spend $10 on her medication. We desperately needed clothes because our old ones were worn out and tattered. With the remaining money, I bought new clothes for myself and my three children, bringing them joy. Seeing their smiles was worth every sacrifice I had made."

"I began my journey of building a new house with my first cash transfer. I used that initial amount to buy a few materials to start the construction. After receiving my second transfer, I purchased the remaining building materials, including iron sheets and posts, which were essential for completing the structure. My previous house had an iron sheet roof and muddy walls, but during the floods, those walls were severely damaged; you could see right through to the outside. Repairing it had proven to be a challenge, which motivated me to build a new house on raised ground to avoid future flooding. I constructed a one-roomed iron sheet house that cost me $420, while the remaining $30 went toward buying food. Since we lost our crops to the floods, we have been relying solely on casual jobs and charcoal production to meet our needs, but that income is often inconsistent and unreliable."

"Receiving my second transfer was a turning point for my family. I spent $100 to expand our house because, as a family of eight, we had been cramped in just one small room. Initially, our home had a roof made of only five iron sheets, but now we have a roof made of seven iron sheets, creating a more comfortable living space for us. After being displaced by floods about five years ago, we have been living on someone else's plot, and recently, the owner offered to sell me the land for $350. With this transfer, I was able to reduce the amount owed by $120, and I plan to clear the remaining balance later. In addition, I rented half an acre of land for $50, where I plan to prepare and plant maize next month. Alongside this, I already have another half-acre of land at home where I plowed for $19, bought black nightshade seeds for $5, and spent $21 on irrigation. For years, my husband and I have been dreaming of our pre-wedding, and now that we have been saving diligently, I was able to set aside $135 from the balance of the transfer to cover some of the preparation costs. I am excited that our plans for the pre-wedding will finally come true next month. Thank you, GiveDirectly!"

"After receiving my second transfer, I was finally able to improve our living situation. Previously, my family of five was crammed into a single room with an iron sheet roof and muddy walls. Our home was vulnerable, especially during the rains when the walls felt like they could collapse at any moment. Cooking outside was not only inconvenient but also unhygienic, and when it rained, we could not cook at all. With the $200 from my transfer, I built a one-room iron sheet house and a small kitchen, using some iron sheets I had already saved up for. In addition to improving our shelter, I wanted to secure our future, particularly concerning my children's school fees. I decided to invest in livestock by buying three female goats for $165, knowing they would multiply over time. As a crop farmer, I also allocated $70 for plowing and creating ridges for my next planting season. I plan to plant green grams next month, which I believe will provide a good yield. Food was a struggle. With the remaining money, I purchased half a bag of maize, as our previous maize crop was swept away by floods this year. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"When I received my cash transfer, the first thing I thought of was expanding my small house. The roof was made of only four iron sheets, which made it cramped for our family. With $155, I bought six more iron sheets and nails and paid for labor to expand the house. I also added two more iron sheets to the roof, making the house much more spacious. Additionally, I spent $180 to buy three sheep. I wanted an investment that would constantly remind me of the support I received from GiveDirectly. These sheep represent a future source of income for us, and I am committed to taking good care of them. Food has always been a challenge for us, especially after we lost all our crops to the floods. My husband and I try to produce charcoal, but it’s not a reliable source of income. So, I used $63 to buy two bags of maize and set aside $10 for milling, which will sustain us for a while. I also decided to spend $30 to buy new clothes for each member of my family. It’s been a long time since we were able to do that because most of our income went toward immediate needs like food. Lastly, I spent the remaining $12 on household items like utensils and water containers, which we didn’t have enough of before. I am grateful for the changes this transfer has brought to our lives."

"When I received my second transfer, my first thought was of my mother. Her house, made of mud walls and an iron roof, had been standing for years but had become weak and damaged by termites. Just a month before the transfer, a strong wind blew the house down. Thankfully, my mother was not hurt, though she had to move in with a neighbor. When the money came, I knew I had to prioritize rebuilding her home. I spent $350 on iron sheets, posts, frames, nails, and labor to give her a new house with iron sheet walls and a roof. Now, the house is complete, and my mother is happy. She’s incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly and sends countless blessings for their support. Additionally, I am a farmer, and this is our main source of income. Unfortunately, I lost 1.5 acres of maize and an acre of beans to the recent floods, which left us struggling with food shortages. With part of the transfer, I bought a bag of maize for $35 and other essentials for $20 to get us through. I used the remaining $45 to clear my land, preparing it for the next planting season, as I plan to give crop farming another try."

"My primary goal for the coming year and beyond is to complete building my dream house, a project I’ve already begun. Not having a proper home has been challenging, but I’ve always envisioned living in an iron-roofed house. To bring this dream to life, I’ve been setting aside a portion of my monthly income to buy building materials gradually. So far, I’ve managed to buy a few iron sheets and some building poles, and I’m hopeful that construction can begin soon. An iron-roofed house will provide much-needed protection from the rain, which has been a constant struggle in my current living situation. I am determined to save more to purchase the remaining poles, timber, nails, and cover labor costs to bring this dream to fruition. In addition to my housing project, I’m also committed to enrolling my child in secondary school, as he completed primary school last year. Ensuring he continues his education is very important to me, so I’ve started saving $1,000 each month towards his school fees. Thanks to these efforts, I have managed to build most of the house and only have the door left to complete."

"I've been living in a grass-thatched house for years, but my dream has always been to have an iron-roofed house. To make this dream a reality, I've been setting aside a portion of my monthly income to gradually purchase building materials. So far, I've managed to acquire 22 iron sheets and some building poles, and I'm hopeful that I can begin construction soon. My primary focus is achieving this goal, as an iron-roofed house will provide much-needed protection from the rains, which have been a constant challenge in my current home. I plan to continue saving to buy the remaining building poles, timber, and nails, as well as to cover labor costs. Alongside this, I am also using part of my transfer to boost on my poultry and goat business , which will support me in finishing up the building work and achieving a more secure future."

"Together with my family of five, we have been living in a cramped one-room house with an iron roof and walls. The space was too small for us, making it difficult to store even our essential household items. When we had visitors, we often had to accommodate them in my mom's house, which was not ideal. After receiving my second cash transfer, I decided to build an additional one roomed house with iron walls and a roof, which cost $350. Now, thanks to GiveDirectly, we finally have some breathing space in our home. To ensure we have enough milk for our children, I also bought a goat for $50, adding to the five goats we already had. This will help us secure a steady supply of milk, and we can also sell some to address any future emergencies as they multiply. Additionally, I spent $10 on food, as we were facing a significant food shortage after losing our crops to the floods. I gave my wife $30 to buy new clothes for our children since theirs were worn out, and I allocated $10 for labor to clear and prepare our land for planting. I am grateful to GiveDirectly."

"Building a proper home has been a long-standing goal for me, especially given our difficult living conditions. Before, we lived in a small house made of mud walls and a grass roof that leaked whenever it rained. Sometimes, parts of it would even fall apart during storms, which was both stressful and unsafe. So, when I received my second cash transfer, I spent $43 on building materials to construct a two-room house made of iron sheets. Now, our family finally has a secure and sturdy home, which gives us so much peace of mind. With the remaining $20 from the transfer, I paid for school fees for my three children. Education is very important to us, but it has always been challenging to cover fees. My husband and I rely on casual jobs to support our family, but the work isn’t always steady. Often, there are days when we can't find any labor, leaving us worried about meeting our children's needs. This transfer helped ensure they can stay in school without the constant fear of being sent home for unpaid fees. Life was much harder before this support. At times, we felt defeated, especially when there was no work and nothing left to depend on. Now, though, our new house and the chance to keep our children in school have brought us a renewed sense of hope. I am deeply grateful for this support, as it has helped my family move forward in ways we couldn’t have managed alone."