THE Global Charity Plan International (Plan) has introduced Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) to Rural Communities for supporting them in accessing loans to foster agricultural productivity and small business enterprises.

The Global Chief Executive Officer, Mr Nigel Chapman, made the remarks at a press conference in Dar es Salaam to inform the public on different activities undertaken by Plan.

Mr Chapman said that Plan had joined hands with other organizations to introduce VSLA groups across the country and up to the moment different members have joined those groups saying that majority of them are women.

"There are more than 4,000 VSLA groups with more than 80,000 members across the country; Good numbers of them are women. I think we will reduce poverty as we offer cheap loans to rural communities," he said. Mr Chapman further noted that his organization has been supporting government to develop policies which are helpful in reducing child oppression and violence.

"Plan has also been supporting the government of Tanzania to develop policies that stem the high incidence of violence against children especially teenage pregnancies and child labour. This has led to decline of Child abuse in the country," The Director of Plan in Tanzania, Mr David Muthungu, said that VSLA programme also involves children just to inculcate a culture of saving money among the youth.

"The involvement of children in VSLA is helping instill a savings culture among children and as they learn about money management at an early stage in life," he said.

Plan is the Non Government Organisation which has been working in Tanzania for the past 20 years supporting under privileged children and help poor communities gain access to health, education and sanitation and currently 1.6 million have benefited from its programme.