When the money came, it was at night while I was sleeping. I checked my phone at 6am and saw the message. I became very happy and thought to myself that I would take some time to figure out the best way to use the money. The first thing that came to my mind was my child's school fees. I had some arrears, and I wanted to clear them so that my child could study peacefully without any disturbance. I felt relieved knowing that with this money, I could finally bring some peace to my home and focus on my child’s education without worrying about fees.

Before receiving the transfer, getting food at home was a huge struggle. It was very stressful because without food, I couldn’t do any work, and sometimes we had to go without. There were many times when I had to borrow from the shops just to feed my family because casual jobs were not always available. It was never certain if we would have enough to eat. However, after receiving the transfer, everything changed. Now, we are able to have food at home every day, three times a day. My family is much happier and healthier, and I no longer have to worry about where our next meal will come from. This has brought a sense of peace and stability to our lives.

The floods brought so much destruction to my life, sweeping away my four acres of maize and damaging everything I owned, from my household items to my eight goats. Life was already hard, and the floods made it worse. I was struggling to make ends meet, relying on casual jobs and farming whenever the rains were kind to us. My two children depend on me, and after separating from my wife 20 years ago, I’ve been the sole provider. The money from the cash transfer came at a time when I needed it most, offering hope and relief in the midst of my challenges.I used $60 to pay my children’s school fees, which was a huge burden lifted off my shoulders. I used to rely on casual work and farming to cover the fees, but it was never enough, and sometimes I couldn’t even get casual work. I then spent $35 on a mattress because the old one we had was completely worn out, and my children had been sleeping uncomfortably. It was a small comfort, but it meant a lot to see them finally sleep well. I also bought kitchen utensils for $16, as I had very few, and it was difficult to serve guests without proper items. I purchased new clothes for $10, as I had no good clothes to wear, especially for occasions like vacations. The remaining $14 went towards buying new cups, as the ones I had were broken. Lastly, I used the rest of the money to buy food, which was a huge relief. Before, I had to rely on casual jobs that earned me just $3 a day, which was never consistent. Some days, I didn’t even have food to give my children. Now, I feel more secure knowing that I have food in the house and my children’s school fees are paid. The transfer has made a big difference in our lives, bringing hope and stability where there was once struggle.