I have always dreamt of owning cows to help plow my farm and potentially renting them out to others with their farming needs, which will also earn me some money and cater for some of my needs. Recently, I made an effort using my previous transfers and started a business. My plan now is to save a portion of my future transfers and some of the profits from my business in a savings group so that once the money matures, I hope to use these savings to buy cows and a disc plow and then train the cows to plow the fields. Once I achieve this, I will be very happy, as I know that I will not be using my money to hire some cows to plow my farm, as I will be having mine and hence saving that money for other uses. Thereafter, I intend to redirect a portion of my future transfers to reinforce my house and make it stronger. To do this, I plan to save my future transfers and profits from my business to purchase building materials that will help reinforce my home and increase its durability. I am hopeful that these plans will come to fruition.

I started a kiosk business where I sell groceries and household consumables, which provides income that helps me to support my family. Currently, my business is not large enough, but I am working hard to boost it so that it can grow in size and increase its revenue. I therefore used $96 of my recent transfers from GiveDirectly and invested in my business, hoping that the business will become a reliable source of income in the future and help me care for my family. I then spent another $4 to buy a chicken, with the hope that they will multiply and increase in number so that in the future, I may sell some of them to help whenever there is a need. Lastly, I used the remaining $2 to buy some additional food to add on to what we had at home, ensuring my family would have something to eat. I am grateful for the support GiveDirectly provides to me and my family.

In the coming year and beyond, my heart is set on the goal of securing two plowing bulls for my family's future. It's a dream that carries the weight of generations past and the promise of generations to come. With a cost of around $300, it may seem like a small feat to some, but for me, it's a monumental step towards stability and prosperity. Through diligent saving from the profits of my humble business, I've crafted a plan to turn this dream into a tangible reality. I envision a future where the rhythmic plowing of fields becomes not just a means of livelihood but a symbol of resilience and progress. With two sources of income from both the plowing and the shop, I see a horizon where I can provide for my loved ones without the constant strain of uncertainty.

Out of the last three transfers totaling $102, with a heart full of determination and a vision for growth, I immediately decided to invest it in my shop business. My shop, once a modest space offering a limited range of goods, was about to transform. I carefully assessed the needs of my customers and realized that diversification was the key to success. Armed with this insight, I set out to expand my checklist, ensuring that my shop became a one-stop destination for all their needs. With each purchase, I carefully curated a selection of items ranging from stationery and personal effects to foodstuff. The process was exhilarating as I watched my shop evolve into a bustling hub of activity. As the shelves filled with an array of products, I could sense the excitement building among my customers. Gone were the days when they had to visit multiple stores to fulfill their requirements. Now, they could find most of the items they required at my shop. With my shop fully equipped, I not only provided for my family of ten but also became a pillar of support for my community.

After successfully replenishing my kiosk with high-demand products, I intend to shift my focus towards investing in livestock. My strategy involves allocating my transfer funds from February to September to acquire goats, viewing it as a promising investment due to the expected appreciation in their value over time. The income generated from selling these livestock will not only address my immediate needs but also serve as a financial safety net in case of emergencies. I am delighted that this financial support has contributed to my economic stability, a significant contrast to the past when I faced challenges in managing bills.

Over the last couple of months, a significant portion of my transfers has been allocated to expanding my business inventory. The $54 investment has effectively stocked my kiosk, ensuring it is well-supplied with all necessary items. During the festive season, I spent $14 on food, allowing my family to indulge in a delightful Christmas celebration. Additionally, I acquired a goat for $40, contributing an extra $6 from my savings. I express my happiness and gratitude for the financial support received through transfers, as it has played a crucial role in economically empowering me by enhancing and boosting my business.

With another rainy season on the horizon, I see another opportunity to grow food crops on my farm. My primary goal is to increase the stock of food we recently harvested from the last planting season. This will ensure that my family has an adequate food supply. With this, I aim to use the cash transfers to expand my vegetable-selling business into a kiosk business, which I believe will bring in more profits and provide greater stability. Currently, it is the sole source of income I rely on to support my children's education, and my greatest wish is for it to grow and generate more income.

I have always had a desire to own livestock. However, financial constraints stemming from more immediate needs like food and school fees for my children have always held me back. My vegetable-selling business, while a source of income, does not generate enough to cover all these expenses and still allow me to purchase livestock. I am glad that the recent four months of rainy weather enabled successful farming, and we were able to harvest maize. This presented the perfect opportunity for me to invest in livestock, as the immediate food concerns were alleviated. I used $45 to acquire two goats and spent $4 to purchase a hen. Keeping livestock is crucial to me, as I am confident that as they breed and the herd grows, I will be able to generate income by selling them, making them an essential source of wealth. Also, I allocated $32 to boost my vegetable-selling business by purchasing more stock. I had previously used most of the capital for household expenses, so this replacement was essential to keep the business running. Although the progress is gradual, I am excited to see the business improving day by day. The remaining funds were allocated for food items that we could not ideally grow on our farm, such as sugar, oil, and even essential supplies like soap. I am deeply grateful for the support I have received through the cash transfers to this date.

To achieve my ultimate goal, I invest my monthly transfers in purchasing livestock. The aim is to amass a substantial herd, which I can eventually sell. With the proceeds, I plan to acquire bulls that will be utilized for tilling and plowing farms during the rainy season. Currently, our areas have started receiving rain, but the absence of machinery presents challenges when working on the farms. As a solution, we rely on the bulls for plowing the land. This approach enables me to generate income by utilizing others' land, providing a means to support my family's needs.

After the rainfall stopped, I ventured into livestock farming and abandoned my primary farming income. Unfortunately, selling livestock has been challenging due to drought conditions, resulting in lower market prices. Despite the difficulties, I used my transfers to purchase three goats for a total of $90. However, I still owed $56 to the owners. To repay them, I sold the goats for $120, making a profit of $30. Currently, I have three goats and I am pleased with their growth in their numbers. My goal is to build a large cattle herd, which I can eventually sell for a substantial profit. This profit will be used to provide education for my three children who are currently in primary school.

I embody the positive transformation that has been witnessed with the organization's return to our town and the associated funding. Before the year was over, I managed to start a business selling groceries to assist me provide for my family. I had been saving money during the months. This year, I want to make sure that I use the funding I will continue to get to make my company more successful and sustainable. After that, I was also expecting to utilize the money to purchase a few farm animals, especially goats and chickens as they are less expensive than cows.

I own a small business where I sell some groceries and other food items, so when I recently received a transfer, I combined it with the $14 that I had previously saved from the previous month's transfers and restocked the store. I spent $20 to cover the monthly payments on a motorcycle I had purchased on credit. Since I began getting the transfers, my life has gotten better, and I am appreciative of that. I use my motorcycle to transport the goods to my shop and occasionally use it as a motorcycle taxi, so I don't have to pay for that service. In addition, because I now have a strong stock, my earnings have increased.

I echo the GiveDirectly program for it is well thought out. Giving someone some money unconditional gives the recipient the liberty to decide on how to use the money as per their demanding needs. The follow-up which is done some time to time also awakens our minds knowing that we are being cared for and the organization has good plans for us.

I desired to buy a motorbike to aid me in my grocery business. Before getting the recent transfer, I had some savings amounting to $170. When I received the $30 I combine the amount and bought a motorbike on hire-purchase. I paid a deposit of $200, and I am paying a weekly installment of $28 for 72 weeks. Since I have a grocery business, I saw it prudent to get the motorbike which helps me in carrying the vegetables from the vegetable gardens to the grocery.

My phone vibrated with a message notification around 9 p.m just before I got to bed. Immediately, I checked what it contained and confirmed that Give Directly had delivered its promise of a monthly cash transfer. It was a nice surprise since the money came earlier than the anticipated date, which was September. I felt excited to have an opportunity to expand my kiosk business.

Before the cash transfer, my business was not progressing well. The daily flow of customers was quite low due to insufficient stock, which consequently reduced my profits in the end. Gladly, the cash transfer allowed me to buy more things to increase the stock of the shop. I am grateful that the kiosk now gets more customers than before, which also improves my returns. I am confident that the upcoming cash transfers will help expand the store further. 

With my advanced age, it is difficult to do strenuous activities to earn a living and provide for my wife and occasionally support my seven grandchildren. So, to fend for my family, I own and run a small kiosk business that generates just enough profits for at least one meal per day. When I received the transfer, my idea was to expand the business by adding new stock. This is why I spent KES 900 on new items for the shop. I acquired a chicken with the remaining funds to increase my flock to four hens. The goal is to let these birds breed, grow the flock, and sell them later to generate money for household expenses.