"With a family of eight members, our current one-room dwelling feels cramped, lacking sufficient space for all of us. Looking ahead, my focus in the upcoming months is to allocate a significant portion of my transfer towards purchasing additional iron sheets, supplementing the 18 pieces already acquired by my husband. Subsequently, I plan to procure building poles and hire a mason to initiate construction on a new house. Upon its completion, my husband and I intend to relocate to the new residence, while our current abode will be left for our six children. I am deeply grateful for the financial assistance provided through transfers, as it empowers me to embark on this transformative journey towards improving our living conditions."

"In addition to supporting my family's basic needs and supplementing my spouse's income as the sole earner, I am keen to explore investment opportunities in livestock, particularly goats. Recognized for their affordability and ease of rearing, goats present a promising avenue for investment. During school holidays, when the children are home and no fees payments are due, I plan to allocate resources towards acquiring goats. This strategic approach allows for focused attention on building a viable livestock venture alongside family commitments. Looking ahead, my objective is to leverage the assets accumulated through goat farming to finance a more substantial business endeavor. By strategically selling a portion of the goats, I aim to generate the necessary capital to establish a stable source of income before the conclusion of this project. This long-term vision underscores my commitment to securing financial stability and independence for my family, ensuring a brighter future beyond the duration of the current project."

"In the upcoming month, my primary goal is to acquire a new wooden bed and mattress, marking a significant achievement for me. Over the past month, I have endured discomfort by sleeping directly on the cold floor, using only sacks as a barrier. The collapse of my traditional sisal twine bed deprived me of a comfortable sleeping arrangement. I am immensely grateful for the financial support received through transfers, as it has not only improved my quality of life but also allowed me to envision a brighter future."

"Next month, my goal is to launch a food-selling kiosk. This venture presents an opportunity for me to generate income, enabling me to support various needs within my family. These needs encompass covering school fees, purchasing food, and acquiring essential household items. Currently, my husband, Rama, struggles to generate sufficient income through the sale of locally sourced toothbrushes crafted from medicinal tree twigs. I am optimistic about the prospects of this business endeavor and its potential to positively impact my family's financial situation. The assistance provided through transfers thus far has been invaluable, and I am sincerely grateful for it."

"Now that I have my own home and am fully settled, my attention turns to my small business of blending juice and cooking chips. Despite its current performance, I am determined to do everything in my power to make it successful. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for providing me with the means to start this business with the second transfer. Though it's facing the challenges of not getting enough customers to buy, it has not failed me, and I remain hopeful for its improvement in the future."

"The recent payout from the merry-go-round has addressed one of my foremost concerns regarding our sleeping arrangements. With this financial boost, I have been able to procure a bed and proper mattresses for both my children and myself, significantly improving our comfort and quality of rest. Inspired by the success of this saving strategy, where I allocate $20 of my transfers monthly, I am now looking to expand and enhance our living space. Our current residence, with only two rooms, is inadequate for my large family of seven. Consequently, my children are forced to seek sleeping accommodations elsewhere, which is far from ideal. With the next payout from the merry-go-round, scheduled in six months, I intend to initiate improvements to our home by purchasing necessary materials. Subsequent payouts, including the year-end one, will allow for the completion of these renovations. My ultimate goal is to provide a more spacious and comfortable living environment where all my children can reside under the same roof. This will not only foster a greater sense of family unity but also enable me to closely monitor and support my teenagers as they navigate their formative years."

"I aim to keep up with vegetable farming and use the profits to start growing tomatoes. On an acre, you can earn up to $100 per harvest. Harvesting is done twice a week for two months. However, the production costs are high; seeds alone cost $400 for an acre and other management practices. For instance, wooden stakes to keep the tomatoes off the ground cost $45 per acre. This investment requires careful capital planning. It might be costly, but the returns are promising and will help support my children's education."

"I'm planning to plant fruit trees, specifically mangoes and bananas, as they do well in our area. My husband and I, now growing older, will take care of them together since we won't continue our farming activities. This project is important to us because, when the trees mature in the coming years, they will provide a source of income. We intend to sell the fruits to support ourselves in the future."

"I am considering investing in chickens. Currently, I have six chickens and forty chicks. My strategy is to nurture them until they mature, then sell them to purchase goats. Raising chickens is relatively simple, and providing them with feed is easy. I aim to save a significant portion of the proceeds from selling the chickens to improve my family's quality of life."

"I currently reside in a one-room house made of mud. However, I have a dream of constructing a stone house. My aspiration is to provide my family with a larger home, comprising at least two rooms. As my children are growing, I desire for them to have ample space and privacy. Presently, I work as a conductor, shuttling between Mtwapa and Mombasa Town. My plan is to diligently save from my work earnings and also allocate funds from my transfers towards realizing this dream."