"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." (Occupation: Small business)

"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."

"I have five children, all of whom are in school. My spouse partially engages in farm work while also running a small livestock business. I am also a farmer, but since we practice small-scale farming, our income is limited. These transfers have significantly eased our financial burden, allowing our children to remain in school without interruptions. The consistency of these transfers has also built trust with the teachers, as we can now pay our children’s fees every month without fail. I have carefully planned how to manage the payments since all five of them are school-going. With my most recent transfer, I spent $102 on school fees to ensure they were not sent home for fee balances. I am truly grateful for this financial support."

"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." (Occupation: Small business)

"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." (Occupation: Small business)

"The issue of housing has been a constant source of stress for me. My children are forced to seek shelter at my relatives' houses every evening, a situation that has weighed heavily on my mind. I have always dreamed of living under one roof with all my children. Currently, my house has only one room, which we also use as a kitchen. You can imagine the smoke and discomfort we endure daily. To address this challenge, I joined a savings group in my community. Over the past three months, I have managed to save a total of $80 to use this money to build a new, spacious house for my children. This new home will not only restore my pride and dignity as a parent but also provide my children with the protection, privacy, and guidance they need to grow with good morals. Being close to them is crucial for their upbringing. In addition to saving for the house, I used $4 to boost my small mandazi business. I am glad that my earnings have slightly increased compared to what I used to make before. With $18, I also stocked up on food for my household. Food insecurity has been a persistent issue for us, especially since we have not been able to rely on our farm due to the prolonged droughts." (Occupation: Small business)

"Comfort and hygienic environment is paramount to customers in an eatery.To attract more customers and stand out among my competitors requires me to fulfill these customer needs .Therefore , I would like to spend the transfers I get on cementing the floor of the hotel, buy new and decent utensils, acquire new furniture and also furnish the walls.This will cost me an approximate amount of KES 45000 , with the remaining amount I will use it to acquire daily food stock and pay my 2 staffs before the business fully stabilise." (Occupation: Small business)

"In the coming year and beyond, my greatest goal is to build my own house. Currently, I live in my son's house, and while I am grateful for his support, I long for independence and pride in owning my own home. Through diligent saving, I have already managed to buy 21 pieces of iron sheets, which brings me closer to this dream. To achieve this, I will continue setting aside $20 monthly, ensuring steady progress toward my goal. Having my own house will give me a sense of stability and fulfillment, motivating me to keep pushing forward." (Occupation: Small business)

"I am planning to use the first transfer to construct a kitchen for my family. This will allow us to cook comfortably during the rainy season, as we have been unable to build one due to financial constraints. Additionally, I intend to stock enough food for my family to curb hunger and ensure my children have enough to eat. I also plan to buy clothes for my children so they can look presentable.With the second transfer, I wish to invest in livestock to diversify our income and expand my business. I plan to add more shelves in my shop so I can stock a variety of food items instead of selling maize flour only. This expansion will increase our income and improve our family's financial stability.Finally, I will use the last transfer to pay school fees for my children and expand our house to create more space for my family. This will greatly improve our living conditions and provide a more comfortable and stable environment for everyone."

"In the coming year and beyond, my biggest goal is to renovate the roofing of my house. The current roof leaks badly, causing the mud walls to weaken and collapse over time. This situation not only affects our safety but also the comfort of my family, and I am determined to change it. To make this a reality, I have committed to saving $10 every month from my transfers. With consistent effort and planning, I know I will accomplish this goal, ensuring my family lives in a stronger, safer, and more secure home." (Occupation: Small business)