"In the coming year and beyond, I plan to focus on building a better house for my family. I also want to boost my wife’s business, as it plays a crucial role in providing food for our family while I focus on other responsibilities. My current house is made of mud, and the walls have become weak over time. It is risky to stay there, as we fear it could collapse during a heavy downpour or strong winds. Unfortunately, we do not have an alternative at the moment, so we continue to live there. To achieve this goal, I plan to use part of my daily income from my motorbike taxi business, combined with my GiveDirectly income, to buy building materials. This time, I want to build a solid house with stone walls, as stones are easily accessible in our area. Once the house is complete, I will focus on expanding my wife’s business by adding more items and increasing the quantity of existing goods, ensuring she has enough stock to attract more customers."

"Lack of money is the biggest challenge I am currently facing.For the past 4 years I have been working as a fisherman in lake Baringo,with my family of 3 the income I earn from this work is insufficient to pay for my daughter school fees as well as buy adequate household requirements.Although I have several business ideas it has been difficult for me to put them into practice because of limited finances . Operating on a hand to mouth basis is so discouraging and unpromising,most especially now when my family is growing and I have to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of my 4 siblings, my single mother and my disabled grandmother.I barely have savings from my monthly income of KES 15000, this stresses me a lot because time is moving ,I am getting old and I foresee a dull future for my family."

"My son is growing up, and soon he will need his own space to live in, as it is no longer appropriate for him to sleep in the same house with me. I therefore have been buying building materials, but I still have more to purchase. I plan to continue using a portion of my transfers, along with the savings from the groups I am in, and take small loans to keep buying the materials I need. My goal is to eventually build him a house, and once this is achieved, I will feel an immense sense of happiness and relief. In addition to this, I am committed to continuing to support my children's education. I plan to use part of my transfers to pay for their school fees, ensuring that they can continue learning and working towards their future. Education is a priority for me, and I want to give my children the best opportunities I can. Once I finish building the house and hand it over to my son, I intend to focus on expanding my livestock. I plan to use some of my transfers to buy more goats, adding to the ones I already have. I am hopeful that they will multiply, increasing in number and value, so that I will have a reliable source of income in the future, especially once this program comes to an end. I am deeply grateful for the support I have received. It has been a lifeline for me, enabling me to work toward these important goals for my family’s future. With this assistance, I feel empowered to make lasting improvements in our lives, and I am filled with hope for what is to come." (Occupation: Small business)

"I run a business where I have a video show studio in which people come and watch games and other shows. The transfers from GiveDirectly have been very essential in this business as I have been using them to pay for TV Subscriptions. My plan is to continue using the transfers to support my business ensuring it thrives. I have been saving the profits from this business with the goal of starting my own Mobile Money Agent shop, where I will provide Mpesa services to the community. Currently, there are only two Mpesa shops in the area, and many people who receive transfers from GiveDirectly have to travel long distances to withdraw their funds. By opening an Mpesa shop, I aim to make it easier for people to access their transfers, significantly reducing the burden of travel. I want to have this business up and running by January of next year, and I am determined to make this dream a reality. I am hopeful that with hard work and perseverance, I will achieve this goal. I am incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly for providing me with the support and hope for a better future. This new business will not only help serve the community but also open doors for other ventures in the future, enabling me to lift up my family and create more opportunities for us. I am filled with hope and excitement, knowing that this is just the beginning of a brighter future."

"My goal for this year and beyond is to first renovate the roof of my house and create a better living space for myself and my family. The roof is very old and worn out, and it desperately needs repairs. To make this happen, I have been saving a portion of my transfers from GiveDirectly, and I plan to continue saving more through our local savings group until I have enough to finally repair the roof. Once the house is repaired, I will shift my focus to expanding my livestock base. Increasing my livestock is a valuable investment that will provide not only a steady income but also something I can rely on, even after the project is complete. To achieve this, I plan to use a portion of my transfers to buy goats, with the hope that they will multiply, increasing both their numbers and their value. I am excited about this plan because it will give me a solid foundation for the future. I am proud of the progress I have made so far, as it ensures that my family will be well taken care of, especially in case of any urgent needs. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for their support, which has made a world of difference in improving our situation." (Occupation: Small business)

"My family of five depends on the goat business to earn a living. However, the KES 500 profit I make in a month is not enough to fully cover our household needs, such as food and school fees. Because of this, I have always wished to expand the business, but finances have been a major challenge. Now, with the anticipated transfers, I feel a sense of relief. I plan to spend KES 50000 towards expanding the business, which will help increase the profits and ensure a more stable income. The remaining money will go towards settling the family bills, including food and school fees. With this expansion, I am hopeful that my family will achieve greater financial stability." (Occupation: Small business)

"I run a small grocery business that provides me with a modest income to support my family. However, a lack of school fees has delayed my dream of joining college, so I am saving the little income I earn to make this possible. The profits from my business help meet our needs, support my husband, and contribute to my savings for enrolling in an Early Childhood Education course, which I have always wanted to pursue. Additionally, I save through our merry-go-round group, where I contribute $20 monthly to accumulate funds for my school fees. My ultimate goal is to secure a stable teaching job to provide for my growing family. I am grateful for the financial support I have received, which has made it easier to work toward my dreams. If everything goes as planned, I am optimistic about joining college next year."

"Receiving this money feels like a long-awaited miracle after enduring years of hardship and insecurity. One of my biggest dreams has been to construct a permanent structure for my business, as the current iron sheet structure is vulnerable to thieves. I have already taken the first step by purchasing bricks, and these cash transfers will enable me to buy the remaining construction materials needed to build a secure space to protect my stock.With the remaining funds, I plan to buy food for my family and pay school fees for my children, ensuring their education continues uninterrupted. This support is a transformative blessing, bringing hope and stability to my family." (Occupation: Small business)

"I received my transfer shortly after losing my grandparent and needed to contribute to his funeral expenses, so I gave $14 from my transfer. Additionally, I gave my brother $4 after he asked for help to address some personal financial issues. I allocated $60 to my monthly merry go round contribution where we contribute money monthly to support each other. Since I don’t have a house, I am saving my income to buy building materials and construct one. I also boosted my business with $14, as it is my primary source of income, and I regularly invest in it to keep it running. Lastly, I spent $10 on food for my family’s consumption."

"When I received my most recent transfer, I focused on creating an additional source of income to prepare for the end of these transfers. I decided to invest in goat rearing because goats multiply quickly and have a ready market. With this transfer, I spent $55 to buy three goats and $4 to buy one chicken. I aim to grow my poultry business alongside goat rearing to achieve financial stability when both projects succeed. Additionally, I purchased food worth $32.50 for my family, as there was none in the house. This investment strategy ensures I can support my family independently in the future. My goal is to establish sustainable income-generating activities to secure a stable livelihood." (Occupation: Small business)