"Our home is incomplete, we've not done roofing and final finishing. As our family grows the house becomes smaller. We have already expanded it and need an additional $400 to complete it. Once complete, we can peacefully live as a family. It will reduce stress on where our children can sleep. Goats do well here due to the favourable hot climate. There are enough feeds in the village. Keeping them is an easy task and they multiply fast. They can be sold for additional income. We plan to spend $300 to buy about six goats. Since I've been doing fish vending, I plan to establish a permanent place to sell. The transfer will enable me to pay for licenses and buy enough stock. I'll also need materials such as a frying pan and oil to deep fry the fish. When the fish is prepared, they fetch better prices. This business means sustainability for my family, the income will enable us to buy food daily and also save some for school fees."

"My current dream is to expand the number of animals I own. These animals have proven to be a reliable way to cope with extreme weather, allowing us to sell them for school fees and food. We currently have 8 chickens and 8 goats, and I plan to grow this by purchasing more animals through my monthly transfers. I also intend to breed my goats to increase their numbers, which will provide financial support in case I face any challenges. This is a dependable way for me to improve my living standards, especially as the transfers come to an end. I also run a motorbike taxi business to help support my family, along with the assistance from GiveDirectly."

"In the coming year and beyond, my main goal is to complete the construction of the house. I plan to save my future transfers to fully pay the mason’s labor fees, ensuring the work can continue smoothly until the house is finished. Moving into our new home will be a moment of great pride and joy for me. After the house is completed, my next goal is to invest in livestock. Currently, I have two cows and five goats, and I hope to grow my herd. As the livestock multiply, they will provide a good return on my initial investment, and I’ll be able to sell some for income in the future. I’m incredibly grateful for the financial support from GiveDirectly, which has been instrumental in helping me move closer to my goals and secure a better life for my family."

"As the sole provider for my two children, I run a small vegetable business to support our family. While the profit from this business is just enough to buy food, it leaves little to cover other essential needs. Recently, I used $60 to pay for my children's school fees, ensuring they can continue their studies without interruptions. Seeing them progress in their education brings me so much joy, especially knowing how hard it is to make ends meet.To keep my business running, I spent $15 to restock vegetables, which helped me meet customer demand and increase my profits. I also bought food for my family for $19, ensuring we had enough to eat and never went to bed hungry. Additionally, I purchased a hen for $4, with the hope that it will multiply, allowing me to sell some or exchange them for a goat, which holds more value. I'm incredibly grateful for the financial support that is not only helping to educate my children but also allowing us to live more comfortably."

"Working from home for the past 1year has enabled me see an opportunity of opening up the tailoring business here.With time I foresee the number of customers rising , therefore I would like to put up a kiosk worth approximately KES 18000 and get my husband a startup business of trading goats through acquiring 6 goats each at a cost of KES 5000.I am extremely excited that these transfers will enable my family have a better life in the future."

"Recieving the cash transfers means so much to me. Being an internally displaced person (IDP) I believe the cash transfers will assist me greatly. For the first KES 20000 I intend to purchase a bed and beddings since I currently sleep on the floor. Additionally I intend to purchase food and a goat using the remaining amount. For the second cash transfer of KES 45000 I plan to build a house on a piece of land offered to me by my relatives. This is a great aspect for me to accomplish sonce it means I don't have to continue living in a borrowed house. For the third cash transfer I intend to pay school fees for my grand children and purchase 5 goats at KES 5000 each. This will be my investment into the future."

"In the coming year and beyond, I am determined to focus on investing in goat farming to secure my future. I plan to continue saving $10 monthly at the merry-go-round group that we formed. As I accumulate the money, I will buy goats once my turn of getting the money reaches. The choice of goats over cows is a strategic one; goats are more affordable to acquire and maintain, making them an ideal investment for my current financial situation. My passion for goat farming fuels my drive, and with careful planning and consistent effort, I am confident that I will achieve my goals and create a thriving agricultural venture."

"Receiving this cash transfer from GiveDirectly feels like an answered prayer because I have been praying for a financial breakthrough to start a poultry business and invest in livestock, but financial constraints have always held me back. Now, with this opportunity, I plan to invest KES 25,000 in a poultry business. Additionally, I want to begin livestock keeping by purchasing 15 goats for my family, so that in case of an emergency, we’ll have something to rely on. I will use the remaining funds to buy food and other household essentials for my family."

"When I received the cash, the first thing I did was spend $56 on a bag of maize and other household food items. We needed to be food secure because my salary often comes late, and I didn’t want us to struggle with hunger again. After that, I used $65 to buy a bigger chicken coop since the old one had become too cramped for the 30 chickens we have. This new coop can fit up to 50 chickens, so it gives them more space and room to grow. I also bought a small mattress for $30 so my wife and the baby could sleep comfortably. With a new baby in the house, it’s better if they have their own bed, while I sleep on the other bed with the older children. I wanted to make everyone happy, so I used another $30 to buy clothes for my wife and the kids. Their clothes were worn out, and seeing them smile in new outfits gave me joy. I didn’t forget my brother in college—he had told me he needed money for food, so I sent him $10 for upkeep. Additionally, I spent $7 on medicine for my goats and chickens to ensure they stay healthy since they’re important to our livelihood. The remaining amount, I’ve set aside for food or any emergencies that might come up later. This way, I feel more prepared to face whatever comes next."

"Recently, I received $450 from GiveDirectly, and as a single mother of two children, I was thrilled and grateful. I knew I had to make smart decisions to secure my children's future. With this money, I spent $370 to buy a plot of land in a safe area, far from the risk of floods. In the past, we lived at my family's home, but I didn’t want to burden anyone with my children. This is why I decided to buy the plot, so my children can have a place of their own. With the remaining $80, I bought two goats, which will help generate income. I plan to raise these goats and sell them for my children's school fees. This will make things more sustainable, providing us with a steady source of income. I'm thankful for the support, as it has allowed me to take steps toward building a secure and independent future for my family."