"I want to thank GiveDirectly for the financial support, it has truly helped me support my family without the financial strain I experienced before. I really do not want to return to the level of poverty I was in before GiveDirectly came to our rescue. That's why I want to invest in a business, so that when my transfer comes to an end, I can be financially stable and have a continuous income to support my family. I have started a grocery business and I want to expand it by adding more small fish for my customers who love them. In the coming year and beyond, I plan to invest part of my transfer into boosting this business to achieve good returns. I know that if it picks up well and I maintain my customers, I will be in a better position to meet my family's needs with greater ease." (Occupation: Small business)

"We have experienced significant change in our community since GiveDirectly arrived in our village. Personally, I plan to invest a portion of my transfer into a profit-generating activity that will continue to provide benefits even after the transfers end. Therefore, I have decided to purchase goats and raise them as a future investment. As a parent of school-going children, I need to plan carefully. In addition to using the income from this investment to pay for school fees, it’s important to be prepared for any financial emergencies that may arise. Rather than relying on friends for help, I will have my own investment to depend on. I’m pleased to share that I have already bought eighteen goats, and I intend to acquire more until I have a substantial number. I believe that, over time, they will also reproduce and increase in number. Furthermore, I want to initiate a poultry project as well. Having both of these ventures will help support me during financially difficult times, as there is a ready market for both poultry and goats in our area. These are my plans for the coming year and beyond." (Occupation: Small business)

"My eyesight had completely failed, and I was scheduled for surgery to try to restore it. Thanks to my previous transfers and the support from my sons, I was able to undergo the surgery. Now, I am able to see a little bit, and I am hopeful that, with time, I will fully recover and regain my sight. However, the road to full recovery does not stop here. I need regular medical check-ups to monitor my progress, and those visits come with their own costs. So, my plan is to continue using part of my transfers to take care of my health and make sure I stay on track with my recovery until I can fully regain my eyesight. I am determined to get better, and I know this is crucial for my future. Once my eyesight is fully restored, I plan to use some of my transfers to buy goats, adding to the few I already have. My dream is to see them multiply both in numbers and value so that I can build something sustainable for myself and my family. This will help provide for us in the future, as they will be a sustainable source of income and with them I can have something to rely on especially when the program eventually comes to an end. I am deeply grateful for the support I’ve received so far, and I am working hard to ensure that I am not only healing but also setting myself up for a better, more independent future." (Occupation: Small business)

"I am optimistic that all my children will successfully finish their education. The assistance we've received from GiveDirectly has been essential in supporting our children's educational needs. A portion of the funds has also been used to buy food for our family due to our decreased food supplies. Unfortunately, our maize farm has suffered because of insufficient rainfall. Nonetheless, if we manage to harvest a substantial amount of maize in the coming season, I intend to use part of my transfer for our children's school fees. Additionally, I hope to acquire some livestock, specifically goats, as they can reproduce and provide extra income for our family's needs. Eventually, once the goats increase in number, I plan to trade them for cows, which can be more profitable. This is my focus, particularly as my older children are about to start secondary school. We do not have steady jobs, my spouse runs a small house construction business, and I assist him with farming, although this can be inconsistent due to unreliable rainfall. Because of this, we need to prepare by establishing an alternative source of income hence the reason why I want to invest part of my transfer in goat rearing. All in all I am grateful to GiveDirectly because since I began receiving these transfers, my financial stress has decreased, my children are receiving meals without going hungry, and I can pay their school fees on time."

"I am planning to reopen my small hotel, which focuses on selling food items, and this is my main goal for the coming year and beyond. The hotel previously failed due to a lack of water, as we are currently experiencing significant drought, making water very scarce. Those who have it are selling a 20-liter jerrican for Kes 50, which is quite expensive. This was one of the major challenges that led to the closure of my hotel. I am solely responsible for taking care of our children since my spouse and I separated. Life is very challenging, but I am grateful for the support from GiveDirectly, which allows me to earn something and plan for my family's needs. Additionally, I have moved in with my children to my parents’ place, where I receive some support from them; otherwise, life would be unbearable. To achieve my dream of reopening the business, I save a portion of my transfer so that I will be prepared without facing challenges when the time comes. I am thankful to be part of this program." (Occupation: Small business)

"I have eight children in my home, six of whom attend school while the other two are still too young to enroll. My spouse is involved in the fish business, while I produce and sell charcoal to help support our family. We are grateful for the financial assistance we received from GiveDirectly, which has significantly helped us with our children's school fees. Previously, our kids were often sent home due to unpaid balances, but now we are able to pay their fees on time, so they are no longer sent home as frequently as before. Recently, I received a transfer and used $102 to reduce the fee balances for all six of my children, ensuring they could sit for their end-of-term exams."

"Earlier, I had planned to replace my old, dilapidated door. It does not give my home a welcoming look, nor does it provide the level of security that I need. I managed to buy all the necessary materials for a new door and was only left with hiring labor to install it. But just as I was preparing to move forward, my family was struck by tragedy. My dear daughter-in-law fell seriously ill and, heartbreakingly, lost her battle with the illness which shook us deeply. I had to put everything else on hold to focus on saying goodbye to her with the dignity and love she deserved. Now, as I look ahead to this coming year and beyond, I want to pick up where I left off. I plan to use a portion of my transfers to finally cover the labor costs and get the new door installed, bringing a fresh, secure look to my home. After that, I hope to gradually invest in purchasing more goats adding to what I already have using another portion of my transfers hoping they will multiply, growing in both number and value, so that in the future I will have something to rely on when this program comes to an end. Additionally, I rely on my son for support, but his income is unstable and I do not want to place too much of a burden on him. To ease this, I plan to use some of my transfers to help provide food for myself, supplementing the little he manages to bring in so he does not have to shoulder this responsibility alone. I am incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly for this support" (Occupation: Small business)

"I've always had a desire to pursue poultry farming, particularly raising chickens. Unfortunately, earlier this year, there was an outbreak of chicken disease in my area that wiped out all the poultry. As a result, I've decided to abandon the poultry project and focus on goats instead. I believe that goat farming presents a great business opportunity, as one mature goat can generate significant income. This investment will help me cover my children's school fees and other essential expenses while also providing support for my husband. Furthermore, I'm interested in starting a small fish business to complement the goat rearing project. To achieve these two goals, I plan to use my transfer to invest in them, and these are my objectives for the coming year and beyond." (Occupation: Small business)

"I am a crop farmer, and when I received my second cash transfer from GiveDirectly, I immediately set out to invest it wisely to secure my family's future. I spent $120 to prepare my acre of land, plowing, buying maize seeds, planting, and hiring labor to fence the land. This was essential to ensure our food security, especially after losing our previous crop to floods. At the time, we were running low on food, so I bought a bag of maize for $40 to keep us going. Additionally, I purchased a plot of land because where we live is prone to flooding. I found half an acre for $600 and paid a deposit of $250 from the transfer, planning to clear the balance with my final transfer and proceeds from my maize harvest. . On top of that, I spent $20 on clothes because ours were worn out, and it felt good to look presentable again. The remaining amount went into my small eatery, where I bought wheat flour, sugar, and cooking oil to keep the business running and diversify my income to meet my children's needs." (Occupation: Small business)

"I got a C+ after completing my fourth form and I remain hopeful about starting college in the coming years. My plan is to enroll in nursing school since I meet the entry requirements. However, I have been facing financial challenges. To address this, I decided to invest my transfer funds in buying goats. I’m pleased to say that I now own twenty goats, with a goal of reaching fifty. This will allow me to sell some goats to raise money for my college fees. I don't have anyone to rely on, as my parents are unemployed and have my younger siblings to support. I have confidence in myself and believe that one day I will attend college and pursue my chosen course. I am optimistic that going to college will open up new job opportunities for me. This has been my dream for the future." (Occupation: Small business)