In the bustling outskirts of Nairobi’s Eastlands, 23-year-old Mercy had a dream stitched in her heart. Raised by a single mother and having dropped out of college due to financial struggles, Mercy had one thing that kept her going her passion for fashion design.
She learned the basics of sewing from her aunt and spent hours sketching dress designs in her notebook. But without capital, all she had was an idea and a deep desire to change her life.
That’s when she came across our Youth Business Empowerment Program in 2024.
After attending a financial literacy training workshop, Mercy applied for our starter business loan a modest amount of KES 30,000. With the money, she bought a second-hand sewing machine, some fabrics, and rented a small kiosk in her neighborhood.
At first, business was slow. But with the help of her mentor, who guided her on branding, customer service, and marketing, Mercy started to post her work on social media. Word spread quickly. Her unique designs and attention to detail caught people’s attention, and orders began to pour in from graduation gowns to bridal dresses.
Within a year, Mercy had repaid her loan in full and saved enough to expand her space. She bought two more machines and hired two other young women who, like her, had once been unemployed. She called her brand “Zuri Designs Beautiful Inside Out”.
Today, Mercy’s business has grown into a small fashion house that supplies custom outfits to clients in Nairobi and beyond. She now mentors other aspiring youth through our program and speaks during our entrepreneurship forums.
Her journey is proof that with the right support financing, training, and belief youth can turn small beginnings into powerful legacies.