"I've been struggling with housing for years, living in a small house with a leaking roof. I have nine children who did not have a place to stay because I couldn't accommodate them in our house, so they had to seek shelter in the neighborhood. Due to my financial situation, I couldn't save enough money to build a decent house, and a spacious house was impossible for us. I don't have any income to allow me to save enough to buy necessary materials like iron sheets. My husband does casual construction jobs and is the breadwinner, but most of his earnings go to food and the children's education, so saving to build a house was out of the question. We lost hope of upgrading to a better house while the children had no choice but to continue sleeping in the neighborhood with friends. However, I am grateful to GiveDirectly for sending the financial support that empowered me to build a spacious and decent iron-roofed house. I used the support to buy necessary building materials, including 24 iron sheets, building poles, nails, and timber and built the house. This would have taken us years to accomplish without the transfers, and I am thankful for the help. Currently, my family and I enjoy decent shelter, and I am at peace knowing that even when it rains, we are safe along with our belongings."

"My eldest son finished high school last year and did well in his final exams. He is scheduled to start university this September, and I need to cover his admission costs, fees, and buy him some supplies for his studies. This has been a challenge for me given my limited finances - I am just a subsistence farmer in the village, while my husband takes care of our livestock. However, receiving the financial support from GiveDirectly has provided a huge relief for us. I was able to save $180 in my account, which I plan to use for my son's university admission and to buy him what he needs. I used the remaining amount to buy building materials, including 14 iron sheets, building poles, and nails to build a house for my three sons. They have been struggling with shelter and had to stay at a friend's house in the neighborhood. I couldn't bear to see them go through this every night, so I wanted them to live with me on my compound. It's a relief that I was able to build them a decent iron-roofed house, and now they live with me."

"Parents living under the same roof with grown up boys is taboo in my culture. This is embarrassing to me, I will therefore prioritize building my sons a single-roomed house which will cost $230 of my transfers from GiveDirectly. We never managed to plant maize crops this season as a result of the flash floods. To avoid perennial food shortage in my family, I will spend $150 to stock food for my family. Our area is also favorable for rearing and livestock keeping. I will buy ten goats and this will cost me $200 of my transfers."

"We are planning to build a better house because our current one has old, unstable roofing that could collapse. When I received my most recent transfer, I used $10 to purchase one iron sheet as a first step in preparation. Additionally, I paid $1300 in school fees for my children, a responsibility I now handle independently since I am financially stable. Initially, my brother used to support me because I had no income. I also saved $48 in our savings group with the intention of starting a business in the near future. With the remaining money, I spent $7 on food for my family and contributed $20 towards buying a goat. My mother and I agreed to alternate contributions for each goat purchase. With the smaller remaining amounts, I spent $200 on personal items like pads and body oil, and $2 on grinding maize for family consumption."

"Receiving an unconditional cash transfer was a blessing for my family. I used $200 to pay school fees for my son in secondary school and my two children in primary school. They had been in and out of school several times due to unpaid fees, which disrupted their education. Ensuring their fees were paid meant they could stay in school consistently and focus on their studies without interruptions. I then paid off a $110 debt to the water company that supplies our household. The debt had accumulated to the point where our water supply was disconnected, and I had to fetch water from our neighbors. Clearing this debt was a priority to restore our access to clean water and avoid further inconveniences. I also used $77 to buy a bag of potatoes and 10 liters of cooking oil to start a chips-selling business. This small business is a step towards financial stability, providing a steady income. Additionally, I purchased seven iron sheets and roofing nails for $80 to repair our leaking roof, improving our living conditions. The remaining money went towards buying one and a half bags of maize, ensuring we had enough food. I am incredibly grateful for the help from GiveDirectly, which has allowed me to support my family's education, restore essential services, and invest in a small business for future stability."

"In the past six months, we have experienced floods in our area. This was a difficult moment for us because no one was available to offer help when the floods came. I was forced to hold onto the rooftop of my house so that I can be safe. Despite these trying times, I am happy that all my children are safe and healthy despite being ill due to waterborne diseases."

"My current living conditions are very bad because I live in a one roomed old and broken-down grass-thatched house. During the rainy seasons, the roof leaks and makes our home very uncomfortable. My family knows we need a better place to live, so we are determined to build a stronger and better house. To reach this goal, we have been saving part of our monthly transfers. So far, we have managed to buy 10 iron sheets, which is an important step in building a stronger home. We need a total of 20 iron sheets and are working very hard to make this dream come true."

"At a crucial time when I fell ill, the GiveDirectly cash transfers arrived, enabling me to seek much-needed medical attention. I allocated $34 towards hospital fees, and I am grateful to say that I am now in good health, thanks to the care I received. Recognizing the importance of my children's education, I spent $20 to pay their school fees. This ensures they can continue their studies without interruption, investing in their future. Given the severe drought and hunger affecting our region, our food reserves were depleted. I therefore allocated $24 to purchase food for my family, guaranteeing they would not go hungry during this difficult period. My home also required urgent repairs, as the current roofing was worn out. I used $16 of the transfers to buy iron sheets, ensuring we have a safe and comfortable place to sleep. As a first step towards building a herd of cows, which has long been an aspiration of mine, I bought a chicken for $4. My hope is that the chicken will multiply and increase in number. I then plan to trade the chickens for goats, which will also multiply. Eventually, I will trade the goats for cows. Finally, I spent the remaining $4 to buy soap for cleaning ourselves, maintaining our hygiene and well-being."

"My home was in dire need of repairs, which can be quite costly. To address this pressing issue, I allocated $19 from my GiveDirectly cash transfers to purchase iron sheets for roofing purposes. This investment will help protect my family and improve the overall condition of our living space. Recognizing the importance of education, I then spent $7 to pay school fees for my children. Ensuring they have access to quality education is crucial for their future success. To build a sustainable source of income and food security, I used $28 to purchase a goat. My hope is that the goat will multiply and increase in value over time. In the future, I plan to sell the goats or their offspring when in need, providing a valuable safety net for my family. Acknowledging the ongoing hunger crisis, I allocated $14 to buy food for my family. This ensures they do not go hungry and have access to nutritious meals. Finally, I fell ill and needed to seek medical attention. I used $34 of the transfers to cover the cost of treatment at the hospital. I am grateful that I am now in better health thanks to the care I received."

"When I received the cash transfer, I first bought a charcoal oven for $200. I had been taught how to bake a while back, but I never had the means to get an oven. With the new oven, I started baking cakes and bread. Using $10, I also purchased baking flour and other essential ingredients to kickstart my baking business. This small investment has already begun to bring in extra income, which is a huge relief. Next, I used $250 of the transfer to buy construction materials like iron sheets and roofing nails. Our current house is too small to accommodate my entire family, forcing some members to sleep at the neighbors'. I am eagerly waiting for the mason to come and start the construction of our new house. Lastly, with the remaining money, I bought household food items and detergents. It's a season of food scarcity, and this money could not have come at a better time. The cash transfer has allowed me to secure essentials for my family, ensuring we have enough to eat. This support has been transformative, giving me the means to improve our living conditions and sustain our basic needs."