I grew up in Eastleigh, an urban Nairobi slum settlement, raised mostly by my aunt and single mother.

Growing up in a family of eight was not easy. Furthermore, school fees was never certain.

Right from the age of 6, I rarely ever played on Saturday afternoons with my friends as this time was used to work for auntie's business.

This business supplied churches in the area with snacks and ice every Sunday, with my siblings, cousins and I being deployed from 6am to 9am selling the products.

All profits from this business went towards school fees, rent and food all through to high school. I thank God for that.

After high school, Levina I was blessed to receive a scholarship and went off to catering college in another town, Limuru, living with another of my aunt's as I could not afford accommodation.

While there, I proposed a business venture to my aunt and we started making and selling samosas (delicious snacks similar to meat pies) to staff at a nearby high-school.

We eventually started selling to other schools as well as the students.

After college I Came back to Nairobi (Eastleigh) and demand eventually led me to the formation of Afrovazi

I run a business named Afrovazi Fashions.

I obtain traditional African garments and materials (Kikoys, Kitenges, Diras and Lesos) from Tanzania, selling them and supplying them to consumers and retailers respectively in the Kenyan market.

Afrovazi Fashions started in January 2014, when a friend noticed I had a nice and fashionable traditional dress on.

She offered to buy it and I sold it to her, buying two more in turn. This interest spread and eventually I had become the person who wore the best dresses. Everyone started asking for some.

My biggest challenge is transport costs as I get the best quality from a neighbouring country (Tanzania).

My customers range from normal kenyans, to fashion enthusiasts, to expatriate workers who enjoy African designs.

The appetite for these garments is overwhelming and I'm unable to match the demand.

I believe that the zidisha loans can help take this business to the next level, resulting in expansion and employment creation.

We would like to be the main supplier of all the latest fashion trends and be the pacesetters for our type of fashion.

We are most proud of the quality we supply and this keeps our customers very happy.

This loan will go towards transport and supply costs.

Supply: We can buy for example 5 additional kitenges with Kshs 5,000 to be sold at a profit.

Transport: We can transport more goods at one go thus more stock to meet demand.

Through this, my family can benefit through asthma medicine for my oldest child, school fees, better nutrition and new school uniforms.