I was in the kitchen, preparing vegetables for dinner when my daughter came home from school, all excited. She told me that some villagers were celebrating because the transfers had arrived. Since I didn't know how to read, I asked her to check my phone for me. When she confirmed that the money from GiveDirectly had indeed come, I felt a rush of joy that I couldn't hold back. I was overjoyed! Not long after, a GiveDirectly staff member arrived in the village to take photos and videos of us celebrating. I was filled with gratitude, knowing that I could now pay for my daughter's school fees and buy food for our home. It felt like a dream coming true.

Before I received the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly, I was in a tough spot. I didn't know how I was going to pay my daughter's school fees. She had been sent home several times to collect the money, but each time she returned with nothing, which meant she would just be sent back again. It was heartbreaking because I knew how much she wanted to be in school, but I couldn't afford it. When the transfer came through, I was finally able to pay her fees. Now, she can stay in school without worrying about being sent home, and she can focus on her schoolwork like any child should. It's been the biggest relief for both of us.

When I received the cash transfer, the first thing I did was use $100 to pay the school fees for my daughter, Sheila, who is in Form 2. She had been sent home multiple times because I couldn’t make the payments on time, especially after the floods destroyed 1.5 acres of my maize crop. Getting this money was a huge relief, and it helped me sort out that urgent situation and keep her in school. I also bought two plastic seats for $14. Before this, we had been sitting on jerricans whenever we had visitors, and it was quite embarrassing. The seats have made a big difference, especially when guests come over. Additionally, I spent $20 on maize, rice, beans, and cooking oil to ensure that we had enough food to eat. This has eased the burden of worrying about what we will have for our meals each day. With  $48, I bought a new mattress because the one I had was old, and I wasn’t sleeping well at night. I used to wake up feeling tired and achy, but now I sleep much better. I also managed to buy two pairs of shoes for each family member. It’s important to me that we all look smart, and the shoes were something we needed. Overall, the money has allowed me to make improvements in our daily life and relieve some of the stress we were facing.