The money arrived while I was sleeping, so I didn’t even realize it had come. Early in the morning, my son took my phone, checked it, and excitedly told me, "Mum, the GiveDirectly money has arrived!" Hearing those words filled me with relief and happiness. My son had been sent home from school because we couldn’t pay his fees, and he had already missed a full week of classes. I felt so much stress, not knowing how I could send him back. The very first thought that came to my mind was to use the money for his school fees so we could have peace at home and he could continue with his education.

The biggest difference in my life after receiving the transfer is the relief from school fees stress. Before, I struggled to keep up with fees, and my child had to miss a week of school because I couldn’t pay. It broke my heart to see him falling behind in his studies while I had no way to help. Now, he is back in school, learning well, and I feel so happy knowing he can focus on his education without interruption. The transfer has taken away the worry of finding money for school fees, something that used to keep me awake at night. Now, I feel at peace, knowing I can keep my child in school, and I have more hope for his future.

Life had been a constant struggle, and I had grown used to facing it all on my own. Raising four children without any support was overwhelming; I had never married, and every responsibility fell on me. Paying school fees was one of my biggest burdens—I often had to sell my livestock, organize small fundraisers, or rely on farming to scrape together enough. When I received the cash transfer, I used $80 to pay for their fees, finally easing that load. Knowing my children could continue their education without interruption gave me a deep sense of relief and hope.With another $60, I bought a bed and mattress, something I’d needed for so long. Before this, I had been sleeping on a broken bed with no mattress, which made for long, uncomfortable nights. Having a proper bed to sleep on has changed my nights completely, and I finally wake up rested and ready for the day. It’s a simple thing, but for me, it’s been a huge improvement. I’m grateful for this small comfort, which has made such a big difference in my life.Lastly, I spent $40 on food. I used to rely on casual jobs to feed my family, but work was never guaranteed. My usual place to burn charcoal, a source of income for us, was no longer available after the lake submerged the trees. With the cash transfer, I could buy enough food to keep my family going without the constant worry of where our next meal would come from. This support has truly changed our lives, giving us stability and a chance to focus on other things besides daily survival.