The money came early in the morning at 5am. When I checked my phone at 5:30, I saw an M-Pesa message confirming the transfer had arrived. My husband was still asleep, but I woke him up immediately to share the news. We were overjoyed, especially because we had been struggling to find school fees for our children. They’d been sent home to collect fees, and with the term almost ending, the teachers needed the payments cleared. Without this transfer, we had no other options, and seeing the money brought us such relief and hope.

The biggest difference in my life after receiving the transfer is that my children can now sleep comfortably on a mattress. Before, it was a constant worry for me, knowing they were sleeping on a hard wooden bed with no mattress, which made their nights uncomfortable. While I was able to manage other basic needs, the mattress was something I couldn’t afford, and it caused me a lot of stress. Now, seeing my children happy and resting well at night brings me great relief. They wake up refreshed, and I feel peace knowing they have something comfortable to sleep on. This change has made our home feel much warmer and more complete, and I am grateful every day for this simple yet essential improvement.

The cash transfer brought a wave of relief to our lives, like a heavy weight being lifted. I used $20 to help cover my children’s school fees. We had already paid part of it, but we still owed money, and with six children, school fees are a constant worry. My husband earns a living from livestock trading, but his income isn’t always enough to meet all our needs. I stay home to look after the livestock, so this support from the transfer eased a big burden for us and gave us hope for a more secure future.I also used $24 to buy three plastic chairs, something I hadn’t been able to afford for a long time. Our old chairs were falling apart, and we didn’t have enough seats for guests. Now, with new chairs, our home feels more welcoming. I also bought a mattress for $17, so my children finally have a comfortable place to sleep. Before this, they had to sleep on a wood bed with no mattress, which was hard and uncomfortable. Seeing them rest well at night now fills me with gratitude for this simple but life-changing improvement.Finally, I spent $5 on three water jerrycans because our old ones leaked, making it hard to bring water home. I also bought $50 worth of clothes for my children, as they had very few suitable for outings or special occasions. The rest of the money went to buy food, which is a big help since we usually rely on my husband’s income, which can be unreliable. Life was tough before, with constant worries about fees, food, and even basics like clothing. Now, we feel a sense of relief and security that we haven’t felt in years.