"As a small-scale business owner earning little income, I've made some good decisions with the quarterly transfers from GiveDirectly to improve our lives. With $37, including $2 of my savings, I bought a goat, hoping they'll multiply and provide both pride and emergency financial security. Another $30 went towards hiring an ox plow to prepare my land, aiming for food security and a good harvest to feed my family. During the farm preparation, I spent $4 on food for my family. Additionally, I've saved $34 to buy another goat, planning to add to my flock this Friday. My income mainly goes towards feeding my family of six, but with occasional support from my son, we're determined to make the most of these opportunities for a better future." (Occupation: Small business)

"I have two children in the upper classes, and my eldest is soon joining secondary school, requiring careful financial planning for a smooth transition. Currently, I am managing previous term fees arrears with the help of GiveDirectly transfers, significantly easing my financial burden. The difference is profound compared to before I received these transfers; my children are no longer sent home for fee balances because the teachers know I receive support from GD, and I am able to contribute consistently. My family relies on casual jobs for income, but the last season was challenging, leaving us in a situation where we are struggling to afford basic necessities and school fees. I am compelled to allocate the limited income from casual jobs to both essential needs and educational expenses, highlighting the importance of additional financial support to maintain stability and ensure my children's education continues uninterrupted." (Occupation: Small business)

"I have a plan to set up a retail shop, the budget for this is about $600. I cannot get such a huge amount at once to start this business. Since I depend on farming doubling up to goat rearing. I plan to buy small goats since at a tender age they are not so costly. And I know they will grow up with time, and give me good returns when they have grown big. that will enable me to get good money to purchase a cow. The cows will only need a short while to mature and thus I will sell the cow each to be sold for $400 which will be enough for me to start the business"

"I have been dreaming of restocking and expanding my business but lack of finance has been my biggest setback. When I receive the transfers, I will invest KES 30000 to buy more stock for my business. This will earn me more profit and stabilize my enterprise. I am also planning to cultivate my farm, I will use KES 20000 to buy farm inputs and prepare my piece of land. I will no longer struggle to buy food expensively for the family." (Occupation: Small business)

"I'm deeply thankful that my life has taken a positive turn with the assistance of the transfers. Presently, I'm engaged in a fast food business, catering to school students. I've transitioned from the arduous task of selling charcoal, which yielded minimal income. With my upcoming transfers, I intend to invest in a new bed and mattress. Currently, I sleep on the cold, bare floor, and acquiring a bed and mattress will ensure I enjoy restful nights and improved comfort."

"My objective for the remainder of this year and beyond is to diligently save enough funds to construct a new house. Throughout this rainy season, I have faced challenges with a leaking roof that has unfortunately damaged some of my belongings. Additionally, the deteriorating condition of the house's support poles has heightened my concern, emphasizing the need for urgent action to prevent a potential collapse. To ensure I can achieve this goal, I consistently save each month in our local savings group. I am immensely grateful to GiveDirectly for their support, and I am optimistic that with their help, my dream of building a new house will soon become a reality." (Occupation: Small business)

"Returning to school is my top priority at the moment. I graduated from high school in 2021 but was unable to pursue further education due to financial constraints. My parents are peasant farmers, and their limited income barely covers our family's basic needs. I am eager to enroll in an orthopedic and trauma management course. To finance my education, I plan to save money from my transfers and any profits I earn from small business endeavors. Achieving this goal is extremely important to me as it not only fulfills my personal aspirations but also gives me a chance to make my parents proud. I am optimistic that with the help of Give Directly, my dream of furthering my education will soon become a reality."

"As a married father of six school aged children, two boys and four girls, my wife and I have faced great challenges due to unemployment. We have relied on charcoal burning, but the income has never been enough to cover our family's needs, including school fees for our children. The struggle to make ends meet has been emotionally draining, especially as I have always wanted to provide a comfortable life for my loved ones. Our situation was saddening, with debts from every corner. One day, while I was at home, I heard from neighbors that they had received transfers from GiveDirectly. My phone had issues and was not working, so I borrowed a device from a neighbor and inserted my SIM card to confirm if I too had received the transfers. To my surprise and relief, I discovered that I too had received financial assistance from GiveDirectly. It was a moment of sheer joy and gratitude, knowing that our circumstances were about to change for the better. My immediate thought was to invest in a motorcycle, a means to progress the charcoal business that we had, which would significantly improve our family's quality of life."

"Working as a herb doctor, the income I make is mostly enough for providing basic needs like school fees and food for my wife and two children. There is nothing much I could do with the earnings beyond the essentials. It is due to this reason that I have not been able to install a water tank, an idea that was born from the water scarcity in my region. Having the water tank will mean that I can harvest and store rainwater for a long period. My goal is to install an underground tank with a capacity of at least 5000 liters." (Occupation: Small business)

"I am struggling with the leaking roof of my grass thatched house. I am planning to build a two roomed house for my family with GiveDirectly's cash transfer and this will cost me about KES 50000. I am privileged to have tailoring skills. With the skills I can feed my family well without struggling. There is no tailoring service in my area and people in the community travel to Marigat town to repair and make their clothes. This can be a good opportunity for me to utilize my skills and tap more income to my family. I intend to buy a sewing machine with KES 30000 and kickstart my business."