SPOTLIGHT ON CHILDREN'S NEEDS

Global children’s charity Plan International has pumped USD100 million into development projects in Tanzania over the past two decades, as part of the organization's efforts to foster children’s rights and development in the country.

CEO Nigel Chapman said in Dar es Salaam today that his organisation plans to spend an additional USD40 million over the next three years up-scaling its development projects, in some of the poorest and most remote regions of Tanzania.

 He was briefing media ahead of his board’s week-long tour of Plan’s projects in Tanzania, which he said is one of the oldest and biggest global development organizations focusing on children ‘s rights .

“Plan has been working in Tanzania for the past 20 years, supporting under-privileged children and poor communities' 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 organizations to introduce Village Savings and Loans Associations to support a plethora of rural communities accessing 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 this 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 had swollen to 300 as 9,000 children in Tanzania were 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 are now regarded as ‘open defecation free’.

Plan has also been supporting the Tanzanian Government to develop policies that curb the high incidence of violence against children, as well as teenage pregnancies and child labour. This had 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.

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. Plan 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.