"I can't express how grateful I am for the changes that have come into my life after receiving the transfers from GiveDirectly. One of the biggest differences is that I've been able to build a house with an iron roof. My previous house, which was roofed with palm leaves, collapsed about ten years ago, leaving me without a proper home for a long time. Since then, I had been staying with my son in his house, which was never an ideal situation for either of us. Now, thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, I finally have a house of my own that I am about to move into. I'm eagerly awaiting the second transfer, as it will allow me to complete the construction and make the house fully livable. Once I receive that, I will be able to move in and enjoy the comfort and security of my own home. This has truly been a life-changing experience for me, and I am so thankful for it."

"Before, I used to sleep on the floor. It was uncomfortable, and I often woke up with aches and pains. But now, thanks to the money I received, I have a bed. I can't describe the difference it has made. Sleeping on a proper bed has improved my sleep quality and overall health significantly. Not only that, but I also now live in a good house with an iron roof. Before, my house was made out of palm leaves, and it leaked whenever it rained. We couldn't sleep through the night because of the constant dripping water. But with the transfers from GiveDirectly, I was able to repair my house and put a proper roof over our heads. Now, we sleep soundly, regardless of the weather. The peace of mind and comfort this has brought to my family is immeasurable."

"For years, my family lived in a simple mud-walled house that collapsed during rains, making our nights very uncomfortable. I knew we needed a better home. With $185, I slowly built a one-room house with iron sheets using the second and third transfers. Finally, we had a strong, weatherproof shelter – a small but significant step towards a better future.Despite the challenges of flooding, the iron sheets held strong, providing us with much-needed security. I also invested $80 in fuel for generators to pump water from the nearby river to my farm, focusing on agriculture to grow and store maize for drought seasons. Though the floods destroyed half a hectare of my maize, I continued working hard to provide for my family.Additionally, I used $150 to buy three goats, which serve as a safety net for emergencies or school fees for my children. Life has been tough, and sometimes we’ve gone to bed hungry. I earn a living by burning charcoal and working on other people’s farms. Raising five children alone as a single mother is hard, but I remain focused on creating a better life for us.I am very thankful for the support from GiveDirectly. Their help has been a ray of hope, allowing me to improve our lives and build a brighter future for my children."

"My previous house was small and couldn't accommodate all of my children. Some of them had to live with neighbors because of the lack of space. Additionally, the house was in bad shape, with a dilapidated roof that leaked during heavy rains, damaging some of my belongings. I couldn't afford to renovate or build a new house. However, with recent financial help, I prioritized building a new house with a good iron roof. I bought the necessary building materials including 24 iron sheets, building poles, nails, and timber, and paid the mason for his work. I'm now at peace knowing that I no longer have to face those challenges, and I don't have to worry about the rains anymore."

"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."