"My initial goal was to invest in building my house. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I have successfully constructed a comfortable home for my family through these transfers. Looking ahead, my primary objective is to invest in stocking my new shop. I am in the process of building a small kiosk to avoid the challenges of renting a business space. Before these transfers come to an end, I plan to establish a shop. Having this business will provide me with a daily income, allowing me to support my family with greater ease. Our home is conveniently located next to the market, which I believe makes this a smart decision. Moving forward, having a consistent income is essential. To make this happen, I intend to use my monthly transfers to stock the shop, ensuring financial security even after the transfers conclude. I am thankful to GiveDirectly for empowering us financially. Currently, I rely on less stable casual jobs, so making the most of these transfers will significantly transform our lives." (Country: Kenya)

"I remember that morning so clearly – it was around 6 a.m. when my brother called, asking me to go to the farm to help with the tomato harvest. Still half-asleep, I grabbed my phone and noticed a new message. I opened it and, to my disbelief, it was a notification showing that I had received money from GiveDirectly! I was so happy I could barely contain my excitement. Immediately, my thoughts raced to all the possibilities, and the first thing that came to mind was buying goats, which I'd been planning for a while." (Country: Kenya)

"I am thankful to GiveDirectly for the financial assistance that has significantly improved my financial situation. After completing my secondary education, I found myself at home, unsure of how to pursue college. Fortunately, GiveDirectly enrolled me in their program. With their support, I was able to start a small vegetable business, which has been quite successful. I couldn’t attend college right away because my parents, who are peasant farmers, couldn’t afford it. Through this business, I am able to save money, and I use part of my income from GiveDirectly to invest in goats. I am pleased to say that I now have ten goats. My ambition is to become a Mechanical Engineer, and I believe that the income from my business and goat investments will help me achieve my college dreams, as goats reproduce quickly. I plan to sell some of them to fund my education. After graduating, I aim to establish my own business to enhance my family's quality of life." (Country: Kenya)

"My primary objective is to strategically plan and invest in goat farming, a venture I've already begun with the assistance of these transfers. Growing up in a family where steady financial support is hard to come by, careful planning is essential to prevent falling into debt. My husband works as a tout, but his earnings vary based on the number of passengers, making his income unpredictable. This instability is particularly frustrating with school-going children, as we need to ensure their fees are paid on time and meet their basic needs. To reach my goal, I intend to save $20 from my monthly transfers each month. This savings will enable me to invest in goat rearing and establish a more secure financial future for my family. As the goats breed, I plan to sell some to fund my children's fees and manage any financial crises without having to rely on my neighbors for help. Thanks to these transfers, life has become more manageable, and I am committed to avoiding a return to poverty. I am dedicated to using this income to support my children's schooling and provide them with a brighter future." (Country: Kenya)

"I am extremely thankful to Givedirectly for their financial support in helping me raise my children, especially after the passing of my husband, which placed all the responsibilities on my shoulders. Currently, my primary concern is for my two oldest children, both of whom finished secondary school with excellent results. One is preparing to enroll at Kenya Medical Training College to study nursing, while the other will be attending a teachers training college. Unfortunately, we have had to postpone this due to financial constraints. I am contributing to a local savings group with the hope of being able to enroll them soon. Additionally, I recently started working as a househelp, which provides me with some income and helps me save for building a new house. The current house we live in is quite unsafe, as the walls have become fragile and may collapse during heavy winds. However, the roof remains intact, allowing me to reuse the iron sheets from this house in the new one, although I will need to purchase a few additional pieces. Therefore, once I can enroll my children in school, I will begin this construction project. These are my main goals for the near future and beyond." (Country: Kenya)

"I have about five acres of land, but due to financial challenges, I usually rent out about two acres to get some capital for planting the remaining acres. My plan is to stop leasing out this land so that I can fully use it for farming. I am currently waiting for the water to completely recede after the floods before I begin planting. Once the land is ready, I plan to plant maize and vegetables. I will use my final transfer to fund the planting, and from the income I make, I plan to start a business buying and selling vegetables. This way, I can continue crop farming and manage my business, no longer relying on charcoal production, which I want to stop because it is unsustainable and tedious." (Country: Kenya)

"I have rented 1.5 acres of land, adding it to the acre that I already own, for crop farming. Although my husband and I do our farming activities together, my plan is to add an additional 3 acres, which we will divide so that we can plant independently. By doing this, I will feel more empowered as a woman, knowing that my contribution is independent, even though we will still share the income. I want to experience the sense of ownership and pride that comes from seeing my own work reflected in our success. As we save surplus income from our farming, my long-term plan is for us to buy more land, adding it to the one acre we already have, so that we no longer need to lease land." (Country: Kenya)

"I have a daughter whom we have been struggling to raise her secondary school fees with huge arrears. We intend to clear the arrears and pay her school fees to avoid interrupting her education as she will be completing her secondary school next year. The first transfer from GiveDirectly will be spent on clearing her arrears of KES 10000, and the second transfer will be spent on next year's education expenses. I feel elated that my daughter will finish her secondary education without being sent home for school fees." (Country: Kenya)

"For the past 1 year I have faced financial constraints in my kiosk due to stiff competition.This has prompted me to diversify in businesses in order to earn more at different times.With these transfers I plan to establish a poultry business starting with 20 birds at a cost of KES 500 each.I will be able to earn income from egg sale as well as hen sale.With the remaining amount of KES 20000 I will restock my kiosk with industrial goods.People in the community prefer buying goods from a fully packed shop and that's why I want to take advantage of this." (Country: Kenya)

"My goal for the coming years is to finish building my house, creating a secure and independent place to live. I also plan to save from my salary to buy my own cows so that I can have my own livestock to care for, adding to my income. In addition, I want to continue farming and focus on planting Kenya seed, which I know yields good crops. This way, I can support myself without relying on others. Having my own cows and a productive farm will give me the stability I’ve always wanted. My hope is to become fully self-sufficient and improve my quality of life step by step." (Country: Kenya)