"I am a mother of seven, and my husband and I work tirelessly at casual jobs to provide for our family. With the recent three transfers, I spent $29 on school fees for my children. Education is a key to their future, and I wanted to ensure their learning was not interrupted. Seeing them continue with their studies gives me hope for a better tomorrow. After that, I used another $29 to buy food for my family. This allowed us to enjoy a break from the constant struggle of finding daily meals through casual jobs, giving us some much-needed relief and comfort. After covering these essential needs, I saved $10 to prepare for any emergencies that might arise. Having a small cushion for unexpected situations gives me peace of mind. Lastly, I invested $34 in purchasing a goat, bringing the total number of goats we now own to two. The goat was priced at $60, but I added savings from earlier transfers to make up the difference. This investment in livestock is part of our plan to build a sustainable source of income and security for our family. These transfers have been a blessing, allowing us to meet our needs while planting seeds for a better life."

"Receiving the cash transfers means so much to me and my family. Since it will enable me to do things that I could not without the cash because I only depend on casual work. For the first cash transfer, I intend to use about KES 18000 to build a kitchen. This is important for me because currently I'm cooking outside which is challenging whenever it rains. For the second and third cash transfer I intend to complete building my unfinished house which I was in the.process of building but stalled because of lack of funds. I plan to use about KES 50000 on this. For the remaining cash, I plan to purchase 4 goats which will cost me about KES 4500 each. This I consider to be my investment."

"I have a family of seven children and my wife, but life has been very difficult for me. As the breadwinner, I rely on house construction work, which has not been stable. This uncertainty has made things even harder, especially considering that I never received a proper education. I dropped out of school due to the struggles my parents faced. Despite these challenges, my goal is to ensure my children receive quality education and have the good life they deserve. I believe this is the only way to rescue them from the grip of poverty. I am determined to achieve this dream by investing in goats, which I have been purchasing with the transfers. I am hopeful that these goats, which have started reproducing, will help turn my dream into reality."

"I recently joined a savings group with six trusted village mates. Over the past three months, I’ve managed to save a total of $60. This money is helping me work toward one of my goals: buying livestock, such as goats, and starting a new vegetable-selling business in the village. At the moment, I am jobless, but I believe that once I have this capital from my savings, it will help me generate some income. Having these goats will also give me a tangible asset, something I can rely on if anything unexpected happens, especially for the well-being of my children. Additionally, I used $10 to pay the school fees for my three primary school children, ensuring they could continue their education without any interruptions. I also set aside $26 to buy Christmas clothes for my children, as the holiday is just a month away. I wanted to prepare in good time so they wouldn’t miss out on looking as good as their friends. This will help boost their confidence and ensure they feel included in the celebrations. Lastly, I used $6 to buy food for my family, which has lasted us for about a week now. I am incredibly grateful for this, as it means we rarely go to bed without food these days."

"I have always dreamed of fully practicing my profession as a tailor, but I have never had the chance to do so because I simply cannot afford to buy a sewing machine. In times of need, I borrow my friend’s sewing machine to sew a few clothes and earn a little income, but it is never enough to truly make a living from it. Now, I see that my dream might actually come true. When I receive my transfers , I plan to spend KES 15000 on purchasing my own sewing machine. This will allow me to earn a steady income and better provide for my family of six. I also plan to spend KES 30000 in purchasing goats therefore help secure a better future for us. I am hopeful that with these two steps, I can create a more stable income and work towards a brighter future."

"My primary goal now is to buy more goats and keep them on my homestead. Since goats are expensive and I cannot afford them on my own, I have decided to join a merry-go-round where I save about $10 a month. My aim is to increase my savings until I can purchase goats. Over time, these goats will multiply, and I plan to exchange some of them for cows. In addition to saving through the merry-go-round, I currently sell mandazis, and I plan to use some of my earnings to ensure I achieve this goal. I am confident that once I succeed, I will no longer feel stressed. Owning livestock will provide me with a sustainable source of income, especially for paying my children's school fees, which has been a constant challenge. This accomplishment will bring me much-needed relief and peace of mind."

"In the coming year and beyond I want to invest in chickens for my poultry business. I love raising chickens because they multiply quickly and have a ready market, making them a reliable source of urgent funds in the future. I am also committed to ensuring my children stay in school and that we always have enough food. So far, I have managed to purchase ten goats and five chickens, and I am dedicated to taking good care of them. I plan to continue using part of my transfers to invest in these projects, as I see them as my future financial security. My primary focus remains on goat rearing, which I began expanding using previous cash transfers. This has already proven invaluable, as I was able to sell some goats to cover my son’s medical expenses when he was injured. This experience has reinforced my dedication to livestock farming as a dependable source of funds in times of need."

"With a son in school, my greatest priority for the coming year and beyond is to ensure that he completes his education and I am very much committed to supporting his studies. To achieve this, I plan to continue dedicating a portion of my transfers from GiveDirectly to paying his school fees. Unfortunately, my husband and I have been unwell for some time, and managing our health has become a significant challenge due to financial constraints. To address this, I will use a portion of my transfers to purchase the monthly medicines we need to improve our well-being and lead a normal life just like our fellows in our community. Additionally, the drought in our region has been so bad, bringing hunger and uncertainty into our lives. To ensure my family has enough to eat, I intend to continue using part of the transfers to buy food until the rains come and we are able to harvest enough to sustain ourselves. Also, looking ahead, I am determined to build a more sustainable future. Once we receive rain and are able to secure enough food to last us for a longer period, I plan to save a larger portion of the transfers and invest in purchasing more goats, with the hope that they will multiply and grow in value. This approach is my way of securing a reliable and lasting source of income for the future, especially when this program eventually comes to an end. I am deeply grateful for the cash support from GiveDirectly."

"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."

"This year, my goal is to expand my goat herd, as goats have proven to be a valuable asset in my village. Additionally, I plan to invest in poultry farming since chickens have a ready market and can provide a financial safety net in the future. To achieve this, I intend to save diligently from my upcoming transfers to increase my goat numbers, which I can later sell for profit. I am deeply grateful for the financial assistance I have received, which has helped me support my family. With continued support from these transfers and by joining a savings group to facilitate the purchase of goats and investment in poultry farming, I am optimistic about achieving my goals and securing a stable financial future. Furthermore, while focusing on these projects, I am committed to ensuring my children receive a proper education by consistently paying their school fees on time."