Becoming an entrepreneur has always been my dream, and I intend to venture into the Mobile Money Agency business. To make this come true, I decided to use different strategies. One is i used my previous transfers to buy goats and chicken so that they would multiply and increase in number and value so that by the end of the year I may be able to sell them and put the proceeds into my business startup. Another strategy is that I have been saving another portion of my transfers in a savings account. My plan for this year is to continue saving a portion of my transfers in my savings account so that by the end of the year I may use the saved money and the proceeds from the sale of the livestock to start the business. My dream is for the business to grow in value so that in the future, once the program comes to an end, I may have something to rely on that will sustain me and also enable me to help take care of my family.

The recent transfers came at a crucial time when my younger brother, who is in secondary school, had been sent home to collect school fees because he had some unpaid school balance that was yet to be cleared. At that time, my parents did not have any money and were completely stranded and did not know what to do. I therefore gave $20 of my recent transfers to him so he could return to school, pay the fees, and continue with his studies. I also gave my parents $19 to add to what they had and buy food for the family so we would not go hungry. Additionally, I spent another $29 to buy livestock, a goat and two chicken, with the hope that they would multiply and increase in number and value. In the future, I plan to sell them and use the proceeds to start a business that has always lingered in my mind, a Mobile Money Agent. I also saved $30 in a savings account with the same goal of starting this business. Finally, I spent the remaining $4 to buy some clothes for myself, to make myself feel happy and refreshed. I am hopeful that my business idea will come to fruition and that the livestock I purchased will grow in number and value. I am grateful for the opportunity to improve our situation and work towards a more sustainable future.

My plan for the upcoming year and beyond is to open an MPESA shop in my village by January. Currently, there isn't a single one in the entire area, so I see a big opportunity there. I believe the demand will be high, and I'll likely receive some good offers. This venture will be incredibly beneficial for me, especially since I'm still single. By the time I start a family, I'll have saved up enough to support their needs. I intend to fund the shop using the transfers I receive and the little savings I've accumulated from my driving job. It's an exciting prospect, and I'm eager to see it come to fruition.

The money came right on time because I had been admitted to the nearby hospital after a road accident left me badly injured. My financial reserves were exhausted, and I couldn't understand how I would manage the mounting medical bills. The timely cash transfer felt like a blessing from above, alleviating the immediate stress and allowing me to focus on my recovery. With a portion of the funds, I repaid a dear friend $20 in money she had lent me during my hospital stay. This repayment lifted a heavy weight off my shoulders, granting me peace of mind and restoring the balance in our friendship. Additionally, I invested $30 in buying a goat, adding to my small livestock. This purchase wasn't just an investment; it was a safety net. In times of emergency, I could sell one of my three goats to cover unexpected expenses, ensuring some financial stability during these trying times. With the remaining $18, I bought essential food items to sustain me while I was jobless at home, recovering from my injuries. The cash transfer has been nothing short of life-changing, helping me navigate one of the most challenging periods of my life. The funds bridged the gap when I was most vulnerable, providing not just financial relief but also emotional comfort, knowing that I had a support system. I can't fully express my gratitude for this assistance.

I want to start my own business of selling goats and chickens. I have already purchased three chickens that have hatched, bringing the total to eighteen chickens. My plan is to sell them to make a profit and improve my life. Additionally, once I have accumulated enough money from my business, I intend to build my own house because the one I had fell due to heavy rain, leaving me without a place to call my own.

My sister is currently in secondary school, specifically in Form Four. As she headed to school, I decided to assist my parents by contributing towards her school fees. From the transfer, I allocated $20 to her school fees. I also took $10 and covered her rent where she currently resides, aiming to ease her focus on her studies. The remaining $4 was utilized to purchase food for our family, ensuring we had something to eat for the week.

At the moment, I find myself living in my brother's house following the unfortunate collapse of my own due to heavy rains. My immediate plan is to save a portion of my income every month with the aim of accumulating enough funds to purchase the necessary building materials, including iron sheets, building poles, timber, and nails. To this end, I've been diligently setting aside $14 each month, in addition to some personal savings accrued from my job. In pursuit of my housing goal, I'm also exploring the possibility of obtaining a loan using my savings as collateral to facilitate the construction process. My vision is to construct a spacious three-room house that will not only provide me with a comfortable residence but also liberate me from the challenges of relying on the generosity of others for shelter.

Some time ago, my house unfortunately collapsed. Lacking the necessary financial resources to construct a new one, I had no choice but to take up residence in my brother's home. This situation has been a source of discomfort for me, as he also has his own family living in the same household, and I am at an age where I would prefer to have my own space. My earnest desire is to build my own house in the near future, where I can enjoy a peaceful and independent life. To work toward this goal, I've established a savings plan where I diligently set aside $14 every month. My ultimate objective is to achieve the stability of having my own dwelling, alleviating the stress of residing in someone else's home. I also allocated $27 to cover my medical bills, and I was able to receive the necessary treatment. In addition to these responsibilities, I am engaged in a poultry project, where I maintain a flock of 28 birds. Hence, I also purchased adequate feed for them, which cost $5. Furthermore, I paid $20 on my sibling's school fees, ensuring that they could continue their education without the threat of being sent home. With the remaining funds, I secured essential groceries, indulged in some shopping for new clothes and shoes for myself, and extended support to my parents by contributing towards cultivating our farm.

I had a house that I built some years back, but it is now in a dilapidated state, my main goal is therefore to have a new house. I plan to buy more livestock as I had already started and later sell some of them and also save any little amount of money that I could get so that by the end of this year, I could commence on my construction project.

The transfer that I received was of great help. I had completed my college education, but I did not have the money to go and get my certificates from school since my parents also had no reliable source of income because whatever little they got was also used to support my younger siblings. I had no option, but to wait until managed to get the money. Luckily, with the support from GiveDirectly, I managed to clear the remaining $15 that was pending and finally acquired my certificates and now, I am actively looking for a source of income to support my family. I also spent $7.50 on buying food for my family and managed to save the remaining amount of $12.20 in my savings group. I was so grateful to GiveDirectly for the much support.

My objectives for this year include starting a new business so that I can use the money I make to take care of my basic needs and then those of my entire family. Since most of the shops back in the village are rather far from our house, I was hoping to start up a kiosk and sell a variety of goods. Additionally, I hoped to build a much larger home for myself and renovate the roof because when it rains, the house usually ends up being completely soaked.

I began receiving my transfer when I was still a student. However, the transfers have come in handy in helping me pay school fees. After sitting for my KNEC exams in October 2022, I started investing in livestock. Every month I could buy at least a goat and a hen. At the moment, I own three goats and three hens. My goal has been to raise more livestock that will form part of my supplementary income. From them, I am hopeful that I shall break the vicious cycle of poverty that my family has been experiencing for the past years. Courtesy of the transfers, we have experienced relief from the hunger that was seriously affecting our family. Currently, it is not that easy to go to bed hungry because when transfer delays, one can easily take food items from the shop on credit. I am indebted to GiveDirectly for the positive change in my life.

In my opinion GiveDirectly does very well by doing their enrollment in the most transparent manner. This gives everyone a chance to benefit from the transfers. The fact that the support is given in form of cash is also very good. Everyone has an opportunity to spend the money in the ways they are most comfortable with.

I am a college student and this money has been of great help to me. My father lost his job just when I joined college and it became very difficult for me to continue with my studies since he was the only person that I relied on. I also have my younger siblings who are still in school and who look up to him to meet their needs in school. Things got better when I started receiving money from GiveDirectly since I can now meet the cost of paying school fees and that of pocket money. I received the last amount when I had a huge school fee arears of $800. Of course the transfer could not pay the entire amount but I used $20 to pay part of it. I also received the money at a time that I had fallen sick and therefore I used $3 to seek medication at a local dispensary. The amount that remained of $6 was used as my pocket money. I have since processed a loan at cooperative bank that will mature in the next few days. The loan shall be used to clear my school fees balance as well as start a small business that will be run by my sister who is currently at home. The proceeds from this business and the transfers from GiveDirectly shall be used to pay back the loan as well as pay my school fees.

I was at home around 8.00 p.m. while I was taking supper when I heard a message alert. Upon checking the phone, I found I had received the money and felt so happy. I waited until the following day when I spent the money. I was sick but never had any money for medication.

I am grateful because I was sick then but never had the money for medication. When I received the transfer, I went to the hospital and sought medical attention. I am currently recuperating well courtesy of GiveDirectly’s financial support. I appreciate and pray to God to bless GiveDirectly.

I am the second born in a family of nine and am currently in college pursuing a certificate in mechanics. During holidays I do casual work and save for fees. My mother, a small business owner, helps me pay the college fees. I was sick during August when I received the money and thus used KES 550 to seek medication. I used the remaining KES 650 for examination fees since the school requires me to pay KES 8000 to be able to sit for my last exams that are due in December. I am grateful to GiveDirectly and pray to God to bless the entire organization for supporting me financially.