"Currently, my family and I reside in a small one-room house. I have always wished to build a better and more spacious house for us, but due to limited income as a peasant farmer, this has not been possible. However, since I joined the GiveDirectly program, I have gained hope and determination to work towards constructing a new house in the coming year and beyond. My plan is to build a new house to provide my children with their own space and to give the adults in the family their own space as well. To achieve this, I intend to allocate my transfers towards paying school fees for my children and purchasing building materials for the house. This way, I can gradually work towards constructing a new home for us. Additionally, I have aspirations to own cows for plowing my farm. To accomplish this, I have been investing in chickens, hoping that they will multiply. In the future, I plan to trade the chickens for goats, allow the goats to multiply and increase in value, and eventually trade them for cows. Achieving these goals means a lot to me and will bring me great happiness."

"In the upcoming year and beyond, I aspire to start a livestock farming venture focusing on goat keeping. This is to ensure a stable source of income and secure my future. Goats are perfect for my plans because they are resilient and can thrive in the harsh climate of our area. Unlike cows, which would struggle in such conditions, goats are hardy, affordable to buy, and easy to maintain, making them an ideal choice for someone like me who wants to start small but dream big. To make this vision a reality, I plan to save $10 monthly, gradually building enough funds to buy my first few goats. With patience, hard work, and dedication, I envision this venture growing into something significant that will provide for my family and give me peace of mind about the future."

"As a widow, I depend on my eldest son, a cook at a public school in Malindi. Despite having his own family to support, he has always extended a helping hand to me whenever he can. With the three most recent transfers I received, I decided to take a bold step toward a long-desired dream, which is investing in goats. I used $100 to buy two goats, which I believe are a valuable future investment. I envision these goats as the foundation for a sustainable source of income, providing more goats through breeding. This small beginning promises a better future, and I feel a sense of hope and pride for making this choice. With the remaining $2 from the transfers, I bought food to sustain myself while waiting for the next transfer. Although the transfers are small, they have had a meaningful impact on my life. They have enabled me to fulfill a long-shelved dream, giving me hope for a more self-reliant future. The kindness of my son and the assistance I receive have been crucial, and I am grateful for each step forward."

"In the coming year and beyond, I want to invest in goats. This dream fills me with hope and determination. I already have three sheep, and I believe adding goats will be a great step towards building a small but meaningful source of income. I envision growing a herd that not only brings financial security but also teaches my grandchildren the value of hard work and dedication. To make this dream a reality, I will save $10 monthly."

"In the coming year and beyond, I aim to expand my livestock investment by purchasing more goats. Currently, I have eleven goats, and I view them as a valuable asset that can help me secure a brighter future. My objective is to grow my herd and transform this small venture into something larger and more profitable. To accomplish this, I plan to set aside at least $10 every month. While it may seem like a small amount, I believe that with patience and determination, it will accumulate and make a significant difference. I am dedicated to working hard, saving diligently, and caring for my goats to realize my vision."

"Now that I have completed my house, my focus now is on securing our future and improving our lives, which I aim for it to be free from the financial struggles we faced before. I envision achieving financial security by establishing a livestock base, particularly goats. To achieve this, I plan to use a portion of my future transfers to purchase goats, hoping they will multiply and increase in number and value so that in the future they can become a valuable asset I can rely on, especially when this program comes to an end. I am truly grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has provided us, and I look forward to a future where I can educate my children and care for my family with the help of the livestock asset base I am planning to create."

"Both my husband and I are very old and unable to work. Our health has been deteriorating, making it difficult to engage in any activities that would allow us to earn an income and put meals on the table. We heavily rely on our son, who works as a casual laborer in Mombasa town. However, he does not earn much, so he struggles to support us financially. The financial transfers from GiveDirectly have been a great relief, enabling me to cater to some of our essential needs, such as purchasing food and attending to health-related issues. With the last transfer, I spent $77 to buy food for my family, ensuring that we had plenty to eat and never missed any meals. This has brought us peace of mind, knowing that we do not have to worry about where our next meal will come from. In addition, I used $25 to purchase a goat as a future investment. The goat has since multiplied, and I now have a total of six goats. This gives me hope that the herd will continue to grow, and in the future, I will be able to sell some of the goats to meet my immediate needs. The livestock is not only an investment but also a source of security for us in these uncertain times. I am deeply appreciative of the financial transfers, which have provided us with stability and helped us manage our essential needs more comfortably."

"My house was carried away by the strong and fierce winds that struck our village, leaving me and my family homeless. In response to this, I constructed a small one-room structure where my husband, children, and I now sleep. For this coming year, I plan to build a two-room house where I and my family will live and have the space that we desire. To achieve this, I intend to use a portion of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly to gradually buy building materials and eventually construct a larger house where my family can sleep comfortably. Currently, I have seven iron sheets, and I intend to purchase more sheets and other necessary materials as I can. This new home will provide us with peace of mind and privacy as my children grow. Once the house is complete, I plan to invest in more goats and chickens, hoping they will multiply. In the future, I aim to sell some of them and use the proceeds to support my family’s general welfare, including food, health care, and education. I am truly grateful for the opportunity that GiveDirectly has provided us."

"For the past six years, I’ve been living on my relative’s land after my own was submerged in water. My wish to buy land was not successful since I relied on casual jobs and charcoal production, which earned me an average of $3. I prioritized the needs of my family of five and couldn’t save anything. Upon receiving my second transfer, I decided to buy half an acre of land for $300. Additionally, to supplement my income, I bought two goats for $50 each. I had never owned goats before, but they do well in our area. My purpose for this is to provide milk for my family, and as the goats multiply, I will be able to sell them to address other needs. I also spent $35 on a mattress for my wife and me, giving our old one to our children, who had been using cowhide. Although we had maize at home, we lacked other essentials like sugar, so I used $10 for that and spent the remaining $5 on transport for my wife and me on our way back from the market where we bought our shopping."

"I am confident that with consistent hard work, I can transform my life for the better. I am determined to break free from my current circumstances and strive towards a brighter future. My plan is to begin by investing in livestock, starting with chickens and then gradually expanding to goats and eventually cows. By selling the chickens once they've multiplied to a good number, I aim to acquire goats, which will then provide a foundation for obtaining cows. These animals will not only multiply but also provide valuable resources such as milk, and the bulls that I will acquire can be used for farming. Additionally, I have started buying and selling dried fish to further increase my income. Each step of this journey is fueled by my desire to enhance our living standards and build a sustainable future for myself and my family. While I acknowledge that goats can be expensive, I am dedicated to finding a way to make this plan a reality."