"My foremost goal is to initiate a new venture focused on buying and selling chickens, with a planned launch by February. The crucial capital for this endeavor will be sourced from my merry-go-round savings. The primary objective behind delving into entrepreneurship is to secure a steady stream of income that can be dedicated to funding my children's educational journey until they successfully graduate. It's not just about creating a business; it's about laying the financial foundation for my family's future and ensuring that my children have the necessary support for their education. As February approaches, I am filled with a mix of excitement and determination, envisioning a business that not only sustains itself but becomes a cornerstone for the academic aspirations of my beloved children."

"My overarching goal is to accumulate and wisely invest the profits generated from my charcoal business. Having missed the opportunity for formal education myself, I'm acutely aware of the impact it has had on my family's economic situation. Poverty has lingered, casting a shadow over our household. However, with an unwavering determination, I am channeling the proceeds from my business toward ensuring that my children don't face the same limitations. Education, I believe, is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. By facilitating my children's educational journey, I aspire to empower them to become valuable contributors to society. I envision a future where their knowledge and skills elevate not just their own lives but also uplift our family from the grips of poverty, creating a positive ripple effect in our community."

"I pay my grandchild's school fees of $45 because her mother used to provide for us, and I appreciate the investment in education. In our family of 10, which includes five grandchildren, my husband, and my two children, life took a turn when my husband retired from his carpentry job in Mombasa. With a vision for sustainability, I invested $160 in purchasing a cow, anticipating it to multiply and provide a source of income. Despite having goats, I chose not to buy more. Running a broom-selling business was my previous endeavor, but illness forced me to step away. Now, relying on my daughter, a hairdresser, and my two sons, who work as boda-boda riders in Kilifi, our family's financial support hinges on their efforts. Facing a water problem, I used the remainder of the money received from GiveDirectly to connect water pipes, ending our reliance on borrowed water from neighbors. Unfortunately, I would not help myself to fetch water because of my health challenge.."

"I AM GOING TO BUY A COW BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE TAKING MILK"

"Avery big difference now, I have a cow that we millk something we didn't have before. My family is extremely happy"

"The cash message got me home, and I felt so happy together with my family. The first thought was to buy piece of land."

"There is a very big difference difference now because now I now have my own plot which I didn't have before before"

"For the longest time, I relied on doing casual jobs, moving from one house to another in the village in search of temporary work to earn some daily income. Despite the traditional view that goat herding is a job for men, I chose to do it as it was the only available option. Enduring challenges like heavy rains and keeping up with the fast pace of a large herd became a part of my routine even in my old age. The first transfer brought a sense of relief, reigniting the hope of establishing a sustainable source of income rather than relying solely on hand-to-mouth jobs. Upon receiving the money, we decided to revive our general retail business, which had suffered due to depleted stock. Although the amount wasn't sufficient for our dream of investing in goat farming, a skill I have mastered, we considered the shop a versatile business that needed attention. I invested the entire $180 in restocking the shop, filling all the empty shelves. While I continue to herd goats for a pay in the neighborhood, my daughter manages the shop. I am pleased that the combined income from both sides not only provides daily sustenance for my family of five but also allows us to save and maintain the shop's inventory. On average, my daughter generates around $20 in daily sales, ensuring our daily meals and weekly restocking. I appreciate GiveDirectly for this support and look forward to revisiting the livestock project with subsequent transfers."

"Residing in a one-room house presented a challenging living situation for my wife and four children. Acknowledging the pressing need for a more spacious and private environment, the idea of constructing a larger house became imperative. This proved to be a formidable task for us, given that my wife and I do not hold steady employment but engage in casual labor on farms. Additionally, I am actively pursuing training to become a pastor, a commitment that consumes a significant portion of my time and limits my ability to work regularly. Our little earnings were insufficient to cover the costs of building a house, meeting our family's needs, and paying our children's school fees. I therefore spent $490 of the transfer on realizing our dream of constructing a two-room house. Witnessing this dream come to fruition has brought immense joy to our family, particularly since our boys are now in their teenage years and require personal space for privacy. I also spent the remaining $60 of the transfer to clear the accumulated school fee debt for my children from the previous term. This was vital to ensuring that our children could seamlessly continue their education without disruptions when schools reopened. The relief of settling the school fee debt was profound, sparing our children from the prospect of staying home while their peers attended school."

"The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving this cash is that I now live a life free from stress. In the past, I would be stressed on where to get money to boost my business and to even buy food. I had no one that I could run to for support and I thank God that GiveDirectly came through. I would not have been able to even have a plan if I did not have the money that I got from GiveDirectly."