"I recently completed a certificate course in electrical engineering, and I’m excited to say that I now have the skills to put my knowledge into practice. Currently I do casual jobs that are in line with my expertise, and I am happy to say that I am sharpening the skills I learned and even learning more. One of my long-standing dreams has been to own my own electrical shop, where I can sell electrical items and create an additional source of income. To help achieve this goal, I decided to venture into chicken rearing. I buy young chickens and nurture them until they mature. Currently, I have 50 chickens, and my plan is to allocate a portion of my transfers that I receive from GiveDirectly to purchase chicken feed and medicine so that they can grow healthy. This way, by the time they are ready for sale, I can sell them at a good price. I intend to use the proceeds from selling the chickens, along with some savings from my casual electrical jobs, to fund my electrical shop. If I find that the money isn’t enough, I will consider investing in two small cows. By nurturing the cows and adding value, I can sell them in the future and use the proceeds to open the business I envision. I plan to start this business in Mombasa, where there is great potential for customers, which I believe will help it thrive. I am excited for my future, and I thank GiveDirectly for giving me this opportunity."

"I was initially thinking about buying a cow to secure my financial future after the transfers end. However, with the current drought situation, I've changed my mind. During drought seasons, many cows perish, causing substantial losses for most people. Additionally, my children and I live in a small two-room house, which makes our living conditions challenging. Getting an additional house would provide my children with a better living environment and the privacy they need. To make this happen, I'm saving $20 every month in our savings group to buy building materials for my children's house. Once this project is completed, I can then consider investing my savings in cows or goat rearing. Therefore, this is the major project I want to focus on in the coming year and beyond. I'm grateful to GiveDirectly for their financial support as it has enabled me to take these important steps forward."

"I was at home in the afternoon with some of my neighbors and I had left my phone to charge. While we were engrossed in conversation, one of my neighbors received a message on her phone. The smile on her face indicated that she had received some good news. When we inquired further, she told everyone to check their phones because GiveDirectly had delivered the promised transfer. I didn't hesitate; I was eager to check mine too. I unplugged it and found a lengthy message from Mpesa on my screen. Overwhelmed with joy, I realized that I had also received my first transfer. The idea that I could now afford to build a decent iron-roofed house heightened my happiness, and I expressed my gratitude to them for the support."

"My goal for this year is to expand into livestock brokerage, focusing particularly on goats. The plan is to eventually exchange the goats for cows as their numbers increase. These cows will help me settle a debt that has been stressful for me for years. After purchasing a piece of land on credit, I was left with a $1000 debt, which I intend to clear using the livestock I will acquire through the transfers. Currently, I have a small number of goats, and I am confident that in a few years, my herd will grow sufficiently to facilitate the exchange for cows and settle the debt. Once the debt is cleared, I will finally have peace of mind."

"My plan for the coming years is closely tied to the funds I receive and the savings I've diligently set aside. My primary goal is to further invest in livestock, particularly goats. They are highly valuable because they multiply relatively quickly, providing a sustainable source of income through their offspring and the sale of surplus animals. This strategy not only enhances my financial stability but also ensures a safety net for unexpected expenses or emergencies, especially now that I am a widow who can no longer work due to my advanced age. Currently, I have seven goats and one cow, and I am confident that their numbers will increase over time."

"Having successfully built my two-room house, bought a bed and mattress, and installed solar lights, my next goal is to invest in livestock. Right now, I have two goats that I bought with the transfers, and I’m aiming to expand my herd, particularly with more goats. Growing the herd will give me the opportunity to sell some of the livestock in the future and earn a good profit. As an active member of the savings group, I will continue contributing to it. When it’s my turn to receive the transfers, I plan to use that money to purchase additional goats. I’m very grateful for the financial support from the transfers, which has significantly improved my quality of life and is helping me work towards a more prosperous future."

"When we received the unconditional cash transfer, we were in the middle of building a rental unit with three rooms. Unfortunately, we paused the project at the roofing stage because we lacked the funds to continue. With the $372 from the transfer, I bought 24 iron sheets and roofing nails to finally roof the house. This step felt like a huge relief as it meant we could make progress and eventually finish the unit. Next, I paid $65 to a mason who completed the roofing. His work was efficient, and I was pleased to see the house taking shape. Alongside this, I knew my children’s education was just as important. Both had been sent home because of unpaid school fees, so I used $40 to pay for my child in Form 1 and another in Grade 7. This ensured they could return to school and focus on their studies without any more interruptions. The remaining amount went towards buying food for the family. With the construction ongoing, I needed to make sure we had enough food to sustain us during this busy period. The cash transfer allowed me to meet multiple pressing needs, and for that, I am grateful. Now, with the roof in place and my children in school, we are hopeful for the future."

"In the coming years, I plan to use some of the transfers to purchase additional chickens and start practicing poultry farming. My hope is that these chickens will multiply and increase in number, allowing me to eventually sell them and use the profits to address pressing needs, such as buying food and paying my children's school fees. This has been a continuous challenge for me. The idea of poultry farming seems promising, especially given the harsh climatic conditions that make crop farming unproductive. I am therefore hopeful that my situation will improve soon because of this support."

"My goal in the coming months and years is to become a livestock farmer. I have started this journey with my Merry-Go-Round group by saving a portion of my GiveDirectly cash transfers to purchase more goats and guinea fowl. Currently, I have a small number of these animals and am excited to see them multiply and increase in value over time. I am eagerly awaiting my turn to receive the cash and buy more livestock. This effort will not stop here; I plan to continue saving in the merry-go-round group to further grow my herd, which I believe will be beneficial, especially in supporting my children. As I age, I will no longer be able to work, so this is a crucial step for my future."

"After finishing the construction of the stall, my goal for this year is to save more cash so that I can acquire capital and open a small eatery in my village specializing in tea, snacks, and foodstuffs. I have been considering this plan for some time, but the lack of startup capital has been a major obstacle. Establishing this eatery will significantly boost my family's income, allowing us to meet our daily needs more comfortably. I am hopeful that by December of this year, I will have saved enough to open it. I am confident that having this eatery will bring significant improvements to my life, and I look forward to sharing my success story with this organization in the near future."