"I have always dreamed of fully practicing my profession as a tailor, but I have never had the chance to do so because I simply cannot afford to buy a sewing machine. In times of need, I borrow my friend’s sewing machine to sew a few clothes and earn a little income, but it is never enough to truly make a living from it. Now, I see that my dream might actually come true. When I receive my transfers , I plan to spend KES 15000 on purchasing my own sewing machine. This will allow me to earn a steady income and better provide for my family of six. I also plan to spend KES 30000 in purchasing goats therefore help secure a better future for us. I am hopeful that with these two steps, I can create a more stable income and work towards a brighter future." (Country: Kenya)

"My main source of income is selling second-hand clothes, which I have been hawking around the village. However, I now have a new goal for this business: to open a shop and start selling the clothes from there. I believe this will be a huge relief for me, as I am tired of enduring the scorching sun and walking long distances to showcase the clothes. Sometimes, I feel completely drained, and harsh weather often prevents me from working, which affects my earnings. Once I open the shop, I won't have to trek anymore, and I’m confident that my income will improve. With a steady income, I can ensure that my daughter, who recently joined secondary school, completes her education without any challenges. I plan to achieve this goal through my monthly savings in the savings group, and I strongly believe that in a few months, this dream will become a reality." (Country: Kenya)

"My primary goal now is to buy more goats and keep them on my homestead. Since goats are expensive and I cannot afford them on my own, I have decided to join a merry-go-round where I save about $10 a month. My aim is to increase my savings until I can purchase goats. Over time, these goats will multiply, and I plan to exchange some of them for cows. In addition to saving through the merry-go-round, I currently sell mandazis, and I plan to use some of my earnings to ensure I achieve this goal. I am confident that once I succeed, I will no longer feel stressed. Owning livestock will provide me with a sustainable source of income, especially for paying my children's school fees, which has been a constant challenge. This accomplishment will bring me much-needed relief and peace of mind." (Country: Kenya)

"In the coming year and beyond I want to invest in chickens for my poultry business. I love raising chickens because they multiply quickly and have a ready market, making them a reliable source of urgent funds in the future. I am also committed to ensuring my children stay in school and that we always have enough food. So far, I have managed to purchase ten goats and five chickens, and I am dedicated to taking good care of them. I plan to continue using part of my transfers to invest in these projects, as I see them as my future financial security. My primary focus remains on goat rearing, which I began expanding using previous cash transfers. This has already proven invaluable, as I was able to sell some goats to cover my son’s medical expenses when he was injured. This experience has reinforced my dedication to livestock farming as a dependable source of funds in times of need." (Country: Kenya)

"With a son in school, my greatest priority for the coming year and beyond is to ensure that he completes his education and I am very much committed to supporting his studies. To achieve this, I plan to continue dedicating a portion of my transfers from GiveDirectly to paying his school fees. Unfortunately, my husband and I have been unwell for some time, and managing our health has become a significant challenge due to financial constraints. To address this, I will use a portion of my transfers to purchase the monthly medicines we need to improve our well-being and lead a normal life just like our fellows in our community. Additionally, the drought in our region has been so bad, bringing hunger and uncertainty into our lives. To ensure my family has enough to eat, I intend to continue using part of the transfers to buy food until the rains come and we are able to harvest enough to sustain ourselves. Also, looking ahead, I am determined to build a more sustainable future. Once we receive rain and are able to secure enough food to last us for a longer period, I plan to save a larger portion of the transfers and invest in purchasing more goats, with the hope that they will multiply and grow in value. This approach is my way of securing a reliable and lasting source of income for the future, especially when this program eventually comes to an end. I am deeply grateful for the cash support from GiveDirectly." (Country: Kenya)

"I run a small business where I cook and sell fried potatoes. This business helps me earn a living and support my husband in taking care of our family as well as allow me to have some savings for my future plans. Seeing my business thrive brings me so much pride and fulfillment, and it has inspired me to spread my wings further. I am now planning to start a clothing business, and to achieve this, I intend to use part of my future transfers and savings from my current business profits to begin purchasing clothes to sell. This new venture excites me, as I believe it will open up even greater opportunities for my family’s financial stability. In addition to growing my business endeavors, I also dream of owning a piece of land where I can build a home for my family. Right now, we live on family-owned land, and while I am grateful, I long for a place that offers security and a future for my children. To achieve this, I plan to invest a portion of my future transfers into buying more goats. My hope is that the goats will multiply, increasing in both number and value, so I can eventually trade them for cows. As the cows multiply, I aim to sell some of them and use the proceeds to purchase land. Once I acquire the land, I plan to continue growing my businesses and saving diligently to build a house we can proudly call our own. I am deeply grateful for the support I have received. It has given me the tools and confidence to dream big and work toward a brighter future for my family." (Country: Kenya)

"Attending tailoring college and acquiring valuable skills has been a transformative step in my journey. I have always dreamed of owning my own sewing machine, a tool that will enable me to open a store where I can create beautiful clothes and sell materials. This vision excites me because it represents independence, creativity, and the chance to build a sustainable source of income. To make this dream a reality, I have been saving a portion of my transfers and am determined to save even more in the future to bring this goal to life. The thought of becoming self-reliant and running my own business fills me with pride and determination. Beyond my tailoring business, I have another dream close to my heart: owning a piece of land and building a home I can call my own. To achieve this, I plan to save the profits from my business and combine them with savings from future transfers. I am taking a step-by-step approach, knowing that with patience and persistence, I can gradually turn this dream into reality. I am incredibly excited about what the future holds and hopeful that all my aspirations will come to fruition. The opportunity to take these steps toward a brighter future fills me with gratitude, and I am deeply thankful for the support that has made this possible. Each day brings me closer to achieving my goals, and I could not be more optimistic about the journey ahead." (Country: Kenya)

"This year, my goal is to expand my goat herd, as goats have proven to be a valuable asset in my village. Additionally, I plan to invest in poultry farming since chickens have a ready market and can provide a financial safety net in the future. To achieve this, I intend to save diligently from my upcoming transfers to increase my goat numbers, which I can later sell for profit. I am deeply grateful for the financial assistance I have received, which has helped me support my family. With continued support from these transfers and by joining a savings group to facilitate the purchase of goats and investment in poultry farming, I am optimistic about achieving my goals and securing a stable financial future. Furthermore, while focusing on these projects, I am committed to ensuring my children receive a proper education by consistently paying their school fees on time." (Country: Kenya)

"Currently, I have a total of 26 goats, 14 of which I acquired through the transfers I have been receiving from GiveDirectly. My dream is to continue buying more goats using these transfers so that I can grow a large herd. In the future, I plan to sell some of the goats to purchase a piece of land and build rental houses. I am confident this dream will come true because goats reproduce quickly, ensuring my herd grows significantly within a short time. Once I achieve this goal, I will be able to provide for my family with ease and pay for my children's education as they advance to higher levels, which will require substantial financial support." (Country: Kenya)

"Our house lacked solar lighting, so I decided to purchase a new system on credit. We previously had one, but it broke, and to avoid living in darkness, I opted to buy a replacement and pay for it in monthly installments of $20. The total cost was $450, and I’m glad I recently managed to clear the debt using these transfers. Now, my focus is on building a business premise. The owner of the land where I currently do business agreed to sell me a small piece, with the condition that I pay in installments as I continue building. I have already bought poles in preparation for construction. Since the space can accommodate three stalls, I plan to build and partition it into three rooms, renting out two while using the other for my business. The income from the rented rooms will help me pay for the land, alongside my transfers. To make this dream a reality, I plan to invest my transfers and part of my business profits into this project." (Country: Kenya)