The racks are neatly filled with ready made pieces, each stitched with care and proudly displayed for passing customers to see. The once modest tailoring business she ran from home has transformed into a formal enterprise thanks in large part to the Imbeju Program, an initiative supported by the CRDB Bank Foundation.

Jesca, a soft spoken yet determined entrepreneur, is a member of the Bunju Women Group, a local collective that shares opportunities and support among women in the area. It was through this group that she first heard about the Imbeju Program, which offers business training and seed capital to women and youth entrepreneurs with the aim of boosting inclusive economic growth. For Jesca, it marked a turning point.

Before joining the program, Jesca operated her tailoring business without a proper workspace. She relied on customer orders before beginning to make garments and found it difficult to build trust with clients who were hesitant to visit her home. “It was hard to get customers,” Jesca explains. “People didn’t feel comfortable coming to my house. Some doubted the quality because I didn’t have a shop.”

That all changed after she was accepted into the Imbeju Program. Jesca received TZS 5,000,000 in seed funding, which she used strategically. She immediately rented a small office space that allowed her to move the business out of her house. She also invested in modern tailoring machines to improve her output and the quality of her products.

“The Imbeju Program gave me an address,” she says with pride. “Now customers can find me easily. They see the clothes, touch the fabric, and know they are buying something of quality. That has built trust.”

With her new location, Jesca no longer waits for orders to come in before she starts sewing. Her shop now features a range of ready made garments on display, attracting walk-in customers who might be commuting through Bunju or simply curious about the brightly colored designs in her window. Her customer base has grown significantly, and the reputation of her brand is spreading through word of mouth and community networks.

But Jesca’s growth hasn’t just benefited her. She has also strengthened the local value chain by choosing to purchase her tailoring materials from women within the Bunju Women Group who sell Kanga, Batiki, and Vitenge fabrics. In doing so, she’s helping other women entrepreneurs grow alongside her.

“I want my success to lift others,” she says. “I buy from the women in my group because we are all trying to move forward together.”

Launched to support grassroots entrepreneurs, the Imbeju Program combines practical business training with financial support. It focuses on empowering women and youth especially those in underserved areas by giving them the tools to not only start but sustain and grow their businesses. The program's approach encourages community engagement, collaboration, and long-term resilience.

Jesca is one of many women now thriving because of the program. She dreams of expanding her business even further, employing others, and eventually opening a second branch. Her journey is a true example of what’s possible when potential is supported with resources and opportunity.

“Before, I had the skill but not the platform,” Jesca says. “Now I have both. And I I am not stopping here.”