The money arrived during the night, and although I heard the message, I didn’t pay much attention to it. Then, in the morning around 8 a.m., I decided to check my phone, and to my surprise, I found that the transfer had come through! I felt a wave of joy and relief, thanking God because just the day before, my child’s teacher had called, reminding me about the school fees that were due. I had been so worried, knowing I didn’t have any way to pay. This money came at the perfect time, and I couldn’t believe my luck. It felt like a true blessing, lifting a huge weight off my shoulders.

The biggest difference in my life after receiving the transfer is the relief of finally being able to pay my child’s school fees without having to sell off my goats. Before, each time fees were due, I would have to sacrifice one of my animals, and now I only have six left. This constant selling worried me because the goats were my backup for emergencies, and I was afraid of being left with none. With this transfer, I could keep my livestock and still cover the school fees, which has been a huge burden lifted off my shoulders. Now, I can focus on caring for my family without worrying about losing my animals every time I need money for school. This support has not only kept my child in school but also allowed me to hold onto the few assets I have left, giving me a sense of security and hope.

Life was hard for me, and I struggled every day to provide for my family. I depended on casual jobs, mostly burning charcoal, just to make ends meet. When I received the cash transfer, the first thing I did was use $105 to pay school fees for my children. This payment lifted such a burden from my shoulders, as I no longer had to worry about them being sent home for unpaid fees. Education is important to me, and knowing they could now stay in school without interruption was a huge relief. With $10, I decided to buy clothes for us. We had very few clothes, and most of them were worn out. This small purchase gave us something nice to wear when we needed to go somewhere important or attend a special occasion. It felt good to have clothes that made us feel confident and presentable, even though it was a simple gesture. For my family, it was a small step towards regaining dignity, and I was grateful for that. Lastly, I used the remaining amount of $65 to buy food. With six children to take care of, providing meals has been an ongoing challenge, especially after my husband passed away 12 years ago. I’ve grown used to tough times, sometimes selling firewood or even going hungry when there was no market. Living in a tent without a stable income has made life difficult, but this cash transfer brought us some stability and peace, if only for a while. I’m incredibly thankful for this support, as it’s given me a chance to focus on my children’s needs without as much stress.