Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 27th November, 2012: Global children’s charity Plan International (Plan) has
pumped more than US$100 million in development projects in Tanzania over the past two
decades, a top of official of the organisation has said.
CEO Nigel Chapman said
in Dar es Salaam today that his
organisation plans to spend additional US$65 million over the next five years up-scaling
its development projects in some of the poorest and remote regions in Tanzania. He was briefing
media ahead of Plan Board’s week-long tour of the organization’s projects in Tanzania.
“Plan has been
working in Tanzania for the past 20
years supporting under-privileged children and poor communities gain access to
health, education, clean water and sanitation. To date, nearly 1.6 million have
benefited from our programmes,” he said.
Chapman said Plan
had joined hands with other organisations to introduce Village Savings and
Loans Associations (VLSAs) to support a plethora of rural communities access
loans to shore-up agricultural productivity and help them venture into small
business enterprises.
“Currently there are more than 4,000 VSLA groups that have
been established across the country with more than 80,000 members. The majority
of them are women. VSLAs are proving to be hugely popular in the country as
they offer cheap loans to rural communities,” Chapman said.
Chapman said Plan was also involving children in VSLAs to inculcate a
culture of saving among children and youth. The number of savings clubs run by
children has swollen to 300 as 9,000 children in Tanzania are currently involved in these schemes.
“The involvement of children in VSLA is helping instil a savings culture
among children and youth as they learn about money management at an early stage
in life,” he said.
Among others, Mr.
Chapman said Plan supports community-led total sanitation (CLTS) projects,
which inspire communities to shun open defecation because of its negative
impact on health. CLTS has been introduced in more than 100 villages and many
of them now regarded as ‘open defecation free’
Plan has also been
supporting the Tanzanian Government to develop policies that stem the high
incidence of violence against children, especially teenage pregnancies and
child labour. This has led to a decline in cases of child abuse in the country,
Chapman said.
In addition, he
said Plan is promoting the concept of pre-school learning known as Early
Childhood Care and Development to prepare a strong foundation for children’s
mental development ahead of being enrolled in school.
(ËNDS)
Editor's notes:
·
Founded over 75 years ago, Plan is one of
the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world.
·
Plan works in 50 developing countries across
Africa, Asia and the
Americas to
promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty.
·
Plan
started operating in Tanzania in 1991.
It operates in seven districts within five regions across the country – Dar es
Salaam (Illala district), Coast region (Kisarawe
and Kibaha districts), Mwanza region (Illemela and Nyamagana districts) and
Geita region (Geita and Nyang’hwale districts), reaching nearly 1.6 million
children.
For more information and Interviews please contact:
1.
Regis Nyamakanga, Head of Communication in Eastern and Southern Africa
Mobile :
+254 712 205 860
2.
Lillian Omariba, Regional Media Specialist, Plan International, Region
of Eastern and Southern Africa.
Mobile: +254 715 552 476
3.
Tenga Tenga, Communications Manager, Plan International, Tanzania.
Mobile: +255767114909
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