"Looking ahead to the coming year, my goal is to start my own welding firm after I complete my studies in May 2025. This dream has been my driving force throughout my time at Mariakani Vocational Center, where I've worked hard to master the skills needed to succeed in this field. Once I finish school, I plan to save the money I receive and carefully set aside each amount to build up the funds I need to start my business. By doing this, I will not only be able to pursue my passion but also provide for my family. My mom has shouldered the heavy burden of educating my five siblings through her casual jobs, and I want to ease that load. With my welding firm, I’ll be in a position to support her and contribute to the future of my siblings."

"In the upcoming year, my main focus is on providing my children with quality education, as I believe it is crucial for unlocking their future potential. I am committed to giving them the best chance to succeed and become independent individuals. In addition, I will be saving $10 every month, setting it aside carefully bit by bit. Once the amount accumulates, I plan to buy a goat, which will serve as an investment. My goal is to gradually build a small herd over time, which will help support my children's education and our family's needs. By the end of the year, I hope to see my children thriving in school and to have taken the first step towards a better future by acquiring the first of many goats."

"In the upcoming year, my greatest hope is to save enough money to help my younger brother, who has been called to study nursing, attend college. Since our dad passed away, my mum has been struggling to make ends meet by doing odd jobs. It would mean a lot to her if I could step in to support our family. I plan to save as much as I can from my earnings by cutting back on unnecessary expenses, so I can contribute towards my brother’s education and help ease the burden on my mum. My brother has always dreamed of becoming a nurse, and I believe that with my support, he can achieve this goal. By doing this, I hope to honor our father’s memory and pave the way for a brighter future for our entire family."

"In the upcoming year, I hope to start a grocery business. Currently, I make a living by burning charcoal, but this has had negative effects on my health. The physical exhaustion and strain I experience daily are unsustainable in the long run. By starting a grocery business, I aim to work in a healthier environment while still providing for my family. This business will enable me to offer fresh produce and everyday essentials to my community, while also creating a stable income that doesn't compromise my well-being."

"My main goal was increasing my business which I am seeing now bearing fruit. I would still focus on this as I have expanded the business I have been able to take care of my family's basic needs. My ultimate goal would be to ensure my children go through school without really struggling. This will be achieved if my business continues as is."

"I would want to start by first finishing my goal of having a new house and then fully focusing on educating my children. My task as a parent is to ensure my children live well in a conducive environment that allows them to flourish and that makes it important for me to really push my financial limits. I plan to use my earnings from my food business and my husbands animal rearing business to fill the gap for the basic needs even as I focus my transfers on our house. Once the house is done the cash will be redirected to the education of my children."

"School fee is a big challenge for us, four of our children are ongoing with their education. Three in secondary school, and one in college. Raising fees for them is hard. We depend on my husband's police officer salary and farming. It's inadequate for our children's education. Farming is also difficult due to the long drought period and inconsistent rains. Most of the time we lose our crops. It makes it hard to invest in farming to support our income streams. Sometimes our kids are sent home because of unpaid fees areas."

"In the coming year and beyond, I have two key projects that I’m eager to pursue. My long-standing passion for driving. I plan to enroll in a college to earn a Certificate that will qualify me for professional opportunities in driving. To fund this, I will allocate a portion of my monthly savings towards my education. Additionally, I aim to start a business for my wife, which will help her contribute to our family’s well-being. Relying on a single source of income can be challenging, especially when job availability is inconsistent and our children sometimes go to bed hungry. By establishing a family business, we hope to supplement our income and improve our financial stability. I’m grateful to be part of a group savings scheme, and this December, it will be my turn to receive our savings. I plan to use this to kickstart our dream business."

"I have always had dreams of building a new three-room house for my family because the current house that we are living in is on the verge of collapsing and beyond repairs. Thanks to the Merry Go Round group in our village that I joined, I have been successfully saving a portion of my transfers that I have been receiving from GiveDirectly, and I am happy to say that I received my share of $240 this month. My plan for this year is to therefore use this money to buy building materials and start constructing our new home. I am looking forward to completing the house soon, as I have enough funds to begin the building process. Once the house is completed, my plan for the coming year is to continue saving a portion of my transfers in the same group with the aim of starting a business. When it is my turn to receive the pooled funds again, I will use that money to start a food kiosk where I can cook and sell meals to support my family. By the end of this program, I hope to have something concrete to be proud of, which is a home for my family and a reliable business that can help sustain us and my children's education. I am very grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has provided us."

"In the coming year and beyond, I have two key projects that I’m eager to pursue. My long-standing passion for masonry, inspired by my father's dedication to the craft, has motivated me to seek formal training. I plan to enroll in a college to earn a Certificate that will qualify me for professional opportunities in masonry. To fund this, I will allocate a portion of my monthly savings towards my education. Additionally, I aim to start a business for my wife, which will help her contribute to our family’s well-being. Relying on a single source of income can be challenging, especially when job availability is inconsistent and our children sometimes go to bed hungry. By establishing a family business, we hope to supplement our income and improve our financial stability. I’m grateful to be part of a group savings scheme, and this December, it will be my turn to receive our savings. I plan to use this to kickstart our dream business."