"I recently completed a certificate course in electrical engineering, and I’m excited to say that I now have the skills to put my knowledge into practice. Currently I do casual jobs that are in line with my expertise, and I am happy to say that I am sharpening the skills I learned and even learning more. One of my long-standing dreams has been to own my own electrical shop, where I can sell electrical items and create an additional source of income. To help achieve this goal, I decided to venture into chicken rearing. I buy young chickens and nurture them until they mature. Currently, I have 50 chickens, and my plan is to allocate a portion of my transfers that I receive from GiveDirectly to purchase chicken feed and medicine so that they can grow healthy. This way, by the time they are ready for sale, I can sell them at a good price. I intend to use the proceeds from selling the chickens, along with some savings from my casual electrical jobs, to fund my electrical shop. If I find that the money isn’t enough, I will consider investing in two small cows. By nurturing the cows and adding value, I can sell them in the future and use the proceeds to open the business I envision. I plan to start this business in Mombasa, where there is great potential for customers, which I believe will help it thrive. I am excited for my future, and I thank GiveDirectly for giving me this opportunity."

"I was initially thinking about buying a cow to secure my financial future after the transfers end. However, with the current drought situation, I've changed my mind. During drought seasons, many cows perish, causing substantial losses for most people. Additionally, my children and I live in a small two-room house, which makes our living conditions challenging. Getting an additional house would provide my children with a better living environment and the privacy they need. To make this happen, I'm saving $20 every month in our savings group to buy building materials for my children's house. Once this project is completed, I can then consider investing my savings in cows or goat rearing. Therefore, this is the major project I want to focus on in the coming year and beyond. I'm grateful to GiveDirectly for their financial support as it has enabled me to take these important steps forward."

"I've been longing to build a new house for a while now because my current one is in terrible shape. The roof, made of palm tree leaves, is not durable, and I've had to replace it frequently, which has been both costly and inconvenient. My dream has always been to upgrade to a sturdier iron-roofed house, but financial constraints have made it impossible for me to afford the necessary materials. As a subsistence farmer in the village, I don't have any income-generating activities that would have enabled me to build a decent house. When GiveDirectly approached me, I saw it as a lifeline and eagerly joined their program. It was finally an opportunity for me to fulfill my dream of having an iron-roofed house. With the support I received, I was able to buy 20 iron sheets, nails, and building poles, and now I'm in the process of building my dream house. I can't wait to move into my new, decent, iron-roofed house after spending most of my life in a small, deplorable one. Moreover, it used to leak whenever it rained, but with my new iron roof, that won't be a concern anymore. I'm truly grateful for this significant achievement."

"My goal for this year is to expand into livestock brokerage, focusing particularly on goats. The plan is to eventually exchange the goats for cows as their numbers increase. These cows will help me settle a debt that has been stressful for me for years. After purchasing a piece of land on credit, I was left with a $1000 debt, which I intend to clear using the livestock I will acquire through the transfers. Currently, I have a small number of goats, and I am confident that in a few years, my herd will grow sufficiently to facilitate the exchange for cows and settle the debt. Once the debt is cleared, I will finally have peace of mind."

"My plan for the coming years is closely tied to the funds I receive and the savings I've diligently set aside. My primary goal is to further invest in livestock, particularly goats. They are highly valuable because they multiply relatively quickly, providing a sustainable source of income through their offspring and the sale of surplus animals. This strategy not only enhances my financial stability but also ensures a safety net for unexpected expenses or emergencies, especially now that I am a widow who can no longer work due to my advanced age. Currently, I have seven goats and one cow, and I am confident that their numbers will increase over time."

"Having successfully built my two-room house, bought a bed and mattress, and installed solar lights, my next goal is to invest in livestock. Right now, I have two goats that I bought with the transfers, and I’m aiming to expand my herd, particularly with more goats. Growing the herd will give me the opportunity to sell some of the livestock in the future and earn a good profit. As an active member of the savings group, I will continue contributing to it. When it’s my turn to receive the transfers, I plan to use that money to purchase additional goats. I’m very grateful for the financial support from the transfers, which has significantly improved my quality of life and is helping me work towards a more prosperous future."

"It was around 2 pm, right after I had finished my lunch, and I had my phone with me when I suddenly heard a message notification. I checked my phone, and to my surprise, I saw that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I can’t even describe how happy I was at that moment! I immediately called my husband, who was at work, and he was just as excited as I was. We both knew then that this was it—the money we needed to finally complete the rental units we had left unfinished for so long."

"In the coming years, I plan to use some of the transfers to purchase additional chickens and start practicing poultry farming. My hope is that these chickens will multiply and increase in number, allowing me to eventually sell them and use the profits to address pressing needs, such as buying food and paying my children's school fees. This has been a continuous challenge for me. The idea of poultry farming seems promising, especially given the harsh climatic conditions that make crop farming unproductive. I am therefore hopeful that my situation will improve soon because of this support."

"My goal in the coming months and years is to become a livestock farmer. I have started this journey with my Merry-Go-Round group by saving a portion of my GiveDirectly cash transfers to purchase more goats and guinea fowl. Currently, I have a small number of these animals and am excited to see them multiply and increase in value over time. I am eagerly awaiting my turn to receive the cash and buy more livestock. This effort will not stop here; I plan to continue saving in the merry-go-round group to further grow my herd, which I believe will be beneficial, especially in supporting my children. As I age, I will no longer be able to work, so this is a crucial step for my future."

"After finishing the construction of the stall, my goal for this year is to save more cash so that I can acquire capital and open a small eatery in my village specializing in tea, snacks, and foodstuffs. I have been considering this plan for some time, but the lack of startup capital has been a major obstacle. Establishing this eatery will significantly boost my family's income, allowing us to meet our daily needs more comfortably. I am hopeful that by December of this year, I will have saved enough to open it. I am confident that having this eatery will bring significant improvements to my life, and I look forward to sharing my success story with this organization in the near future."