"As my family continues to grow, our home is becoming small, and cannot accommodate us comfortably. For a long time, I have dreamed of expanding our house to provide more space and a better living environment. However, life has had other priorities, and I had to put this plan on hold to address more pressing needs. One of those needs was supporting my husband in acquiring a motorcycle to start a taxi business giving him a way to earn a stable income and help support our family. Now that this goal has been achieved, I am excited to refocus on my dream of expanding our home. My plan is to add one more room, creating the space we so desperately need. To make this happen, I have been diligently saving a portion of my transfers from GiveDirectly. Recently, I set saved $72 of my transfers, bringing me closer to the day when I can finally begin construction on this much-needed project. I used the remaining $30 of my transfers to buy food for my family. With the ongoing drought and hunger affecting our community, ensuring that my family has enough to eat is a top priority, and this support has made it possible. I am deeply grateful for the assistance from GiveDirectly. It has allowed me to address both immediate and long-term needs, giving me hope for a brighter future where my family can live comfortably and thrive." (Occupation: Small business)

"Joining a driving school has always been a dream of mine, as I know the skills that I am going to gain will be invaluable for my future because I believe that they will open opportunities for me. To bring this dream to life, I have been diligently saving a portion of my transfers, with the hope of enrolling early next year. My initial plan was to join this year, but life had other plans. I fell ill and had to prioritize my health, using the money I had saved to cover my hospital bills. Although it was a setback, I am deeply thankful to have regained my health, and I am now more determined than ever to pursue this goal. Looking ahead, I am filled with hope and excitement at the thought of finally enrolling in driving school next year. Once I complete the course, I plan to continue saving a portion of my transfers to start a small kiosk selling fast-moving consumer goods. This business will provide a means to support my family while I seek opportunities to put my new skills to use. I am profoundly grateful for the support I have received, as it has not only helped me through challenging times but also reignited my hope for a brighter future. This assistance is truly a stepping stone toward a better life, and I am committed to making the most of it."

"I constructed a kiosk and bought a few items to start with using my second transfer. However, I didn’t finish installing the shelves, which makes it difficult to display and store the items properly. Additionally, the limited stock, due to financial constraints, means we often run out of products that customers request. As a result, they come and leave without purchasing everything they need. I plan to use my final transfer to complete the shelves and add more stock, allowing me to better serve my customers and grow my business"

"Getting constant profits from my small business of vending food in the village has brought happiness to our lives. In the last six months, God has been on our side owing to the fact that my business has been doing good. We can afford to have a balanced diet food unlike before when the business had not flourished when we used to have anything that can fill our stomachs."

"Food inavailability is our biggest challenge. We mainly depend on livestock farming, more specifically goats. They breed well but cannot sustain our family continuously for long. Hence we may sometimes lack food due to inadequate funds to purchase. Farming is a no go zone here due to the long droughts and rocky landscape. My husband does a motorcycle taxi business, sometimes he may not get enough money for food. It leads to food shortage or us skipping means. It has made our lives difficult as a family."

"My primary goal for the coming year and beyond is to significantly improve my health. To achieve this, I plan to use a portion of my transfers to seek better medical care from qualified health practitioners. Accessing quality healthcare will ensure that my health continues to improve and I can recover fully. In addition, I intend to use my transfers to maintain a steady supply of food. Consistent and nutritious meals are essential for my recovery, as they will help me maintain my strength and overall wellbeing. I am deeply appreciative of the financial support, which is enabling me to prioritize my health and access the resources I need for a better recovery. This support has given me hope and the means to work towards a healthier and more stable future." (Occupation: Small business)

"Receiving these cash transfers will be a transformative milestone for my family’s economic stability, as we have long struggled to provide even the most basic necessities due to the absence of a steady income. My foremost priority upon receiving the funds will be to purchase food and essential household items such as mattresses, chairs, and utensils. Additionally, I plan to invest in livestock and poultry farming as a business venture to secure a sustainable future for my family." (Occupation: Small business)

"Having worked in the ice vending service for the past 3 months , I have realized that being my own boss is the biggest reward I can give myself.I have learned to plan the day's work ,do the business as it pleases me and earn the profits for myself.The lack of deep freezers for the ice has been my greatest worry.Nevetheless, I am glad that these transfers will enable me buy one freezer worth KES 45000,rent a place in the town worth KES 3000 monthly.With the remaining amount I will be able to purchase cooler boxes that will enable me transport ice for sale in social gatherings."

"I currently live in a single room, the transfer will help me build a better house. A two bedroom house will make me happy. Plan to use about $700 to build it. It's easier for me since I'm a mason, it will definitely cost less. Motorcycles are the main means of transportation around this locality. We have a shortage of spares. There's only one shop around this area. It's something I plan to exploit. I will spend about $300 of the transfers to start the business. This business will help improve my income and livelihood."

"In the coming year, I plan to start a video business where people can gather to watch football. I learned the necessary skills from a friend and now have experience. I’ve already secured a business premise for this venture, but I still need to buy the equipment, finish some renovations, and add benches for seating. I’ve been doing casual jobs, which are ending soon, and I was able to use part of that income to renovate some areas, though some work remains to be completed over the next two months. I haven’t yet done a full cost estimate for the project setup though I am planning to do so very soon. Additionally, I’d like to expand goats rearing project as I already have some through the transfers, and to start purchasing chickens as part of my second business plan. I currently have 19 goats but haven’t yet started buying chickens. Once I successfully implement these two ideas, I’m confident that I’ll achieve financial stability to support my family even after the transfers end." (Occupation: Small business)