"About a year ago, my house collapsed, and I had no place to live. I ended up sleeping on the veranda of my son's house because there wasn’t any extra room for me inside. Fortunately, my daughter spoke to her husband, and they began building a house for me earlier this year. However, due to financial difficulties, they had to pause the construction, leaving the house incomplete. When I received the transfer, I decided to use $370 to complete the house. I bought six windows, paid for labor, purchased a door, and finished the plastering work. Additionally, I spent $150 on my granddaughter's tuition fees. She had been sent home from college because of unpaid debts, and I couldn’t bear to see her stay at home when she was so close to finishing her studies. The remaining amount was spent on a sack of maize and groceries, as I often struggle to afford food for myself."

"Building a house has been a long-held dream that I could never achieve due to lack of funds, especially as my children depend on me. With this transfer, I finally started constructing a proper home for my family. Although some work remains, this milestone fills me with happiness and gratitude because it feels like a dream I never thought would come true."

"When I was introduced to Give Directly and learned I would be enrolled in one of their projects, I was excited and immediately began planning. My biggest goal was to build a better house for myself, as my old house was on the verge of collapsing. I lived in constant fear that one day it would fall while I was inside or nearby. The roof was in terrible condition, with old iron sheets that leaked whenever it rained, creating a miserable and unsafe living environment. I decided to use $481 from the transfer to purchase building materials, including iron sheets and other essentials, to start building my new house. Though the house is still incomplete, with only doors left to install, I plan to use my next transfer to finish it. Additionally, I spent $53 on food items, including a sack of maize, groceries, and cereals, as it has often been challenging to ensure my family has enough to eat. Finally, I used the remaining $16 to clear my daughter’s tuition fees, allowing her to sit for her exams without any obstacles."

"The most significant difference has been installing a tap water system in our home. For years, my wife and I struggled to fetch water, even as our bodies grew weaker with age. Now, not only is water easily accessible, but I also plan to sell some of it, which will provide us with a small income to sustain ourselves."

"When I received the money, my first thought was to settle a tuition debt of $25 for my grandson. He was just about to finish the school term, and I wanted to ensure he could proceed to the next term without any interruptions. I take care of my grandson because his mother had him when she was still very young, so I help her by providing for him. Additionally, I decided to spend $250 to install a tap water system in our home. For years, we had no access to piped water, and my wife often had to fetch it from far-off places, which became challenging as we live in an arid area where water sources can run dry. My wife is now elderly and struggles to carry water as she once did, so installing the tap was a priority to ease her burden. I also rented a tractor for $70 to plow our farm in preparation for the next rainy season, as it’s become too difficult for us to work the land manually. I spent $140 on household items, including cutlery and two large cooking pots, one for 25 kilograms and another for 15 kilograms. These pots will be for personal use and rental during village events, allowing us to earn some income. Lastly, I used the remaining $65 for nutrition, buying a sack of maize, groceries, and cereals to ensure we had enough food. As we are both elderly and no longer have stable jobs, this eased the burden on my son, who often supports us financially."

"For the longest time, I have dreamed of building a proper home for my family. Although it’s just my wife and me now, we are hopeful that, if God allows, we will have children in the future. The house we currently live in is very small, with only one room, and I wanted to prepare for the day when we have a bigger family. When I received the cash transfer, my first thought was that this was the opportunity to build a family home that could accommodate us all. I spent $365 on materials, including a round of bricks and a lorry of sand, to get started on the house. Since I am a mason by trade, I decided to construct the house myself to save on additional costs. I also used $60 to service my motorcycle, which I rely on to transport people and goods, helping me earn an income. The remaining $125 went toward essential family needs, such as food. I bought 25 kilograms of rice, 20 liters of cooking oil, and more than a dozen bags of maize and wheat flour to ensure we had enough to eat."

"The most significant difference is that I now have the resources to build a better home for my family. This has been one of my biggest dreams, and with the organization’s support, I am finally able to make it happen. Being able to prepare for our future as we hope to have children someday means so much to me, and I can’t wait to complete this house."

"The most significant difference this money has made is that I was able to buy my own piece of land. Although I still owe a balance, I’m confident that the next transfer will help me settle the debt. This is a dream I’ve held onto for so long, and having the funds to make it happen has brought me closer to achieving it. My family and I are one step closer to having a home of our own."

"When the money came in, I wasn’t immediately aware of it because my phone received so many messages that I couldn’t keep track of them all. Since I am not literate enough to read my messages, I only realized what had happened after hearing rumors in the community that others in the program had received their transfers. Curious, I went to a trusted friend for help checking my phone. He confirmed that the funds had indeed arrived, and I felt a wave of relief and excitement. It was an unexpected but incredible moment, as I didn’t think the money would come through at that particular time."

"The money came in the late evening, around 6:00 p.m., as my nephew and I were returning home from running errands in a nearby town. He was the one who checked my phone and confirmed the transfer. I was overjoyed and felt a wave of relief because this money symbolized the beginning of so many long-awaited changes. It was a moment I hadn't anticipated, and knowing that I now had the resources to make my plans a reality filled me with immense gratitude. I couldn’t wait to start working on the projects I had envisioned for so long."