Groups formed to help stamp out child labour

Dar es Salaam. About 10 Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLA) groups and 191 Women, Agri-business Group (WAG) members have been trained on VSLA concept, business management skills, entrepreneurship and agribusiness skills, thanks to the Achieving Reduction of Child Labor in Support of Education(ARISE PROGRAM)

ARISE PROGRAM introduced the VSLA in tobacco farming communities to enable them keeptheir children out of labor and pay for the school needs instead

The program is supported by Japan Tobacco International (JTI) in collaboration with ILO and Winrock International to the fight against child labor in Tabora region.

Speaking in Tabora region, Winrock International ARISE PROGRAM director Magawa Abdallah said that the VSLA has currently been introduced in the communities of Chali in Uyui district, Itebulanda in Urambo and Ikonongo in Kaliua district.

Winrock International ARISE program director also said that, they will soon introduce VSLA in other communities of Usindi in Kaliua and Motomoto in Urambo district.

“We have empowered 12 village Agents who are Community Based Trainers who were trained on VSLA methodology and are now providing assistance to VSLA members,” he said.

He added: “10 VSLA groups have been trained on agribusiness, financial management and entrepreneurship skills with 191 women on board out of 214 identified from WAG women.”

One of the beneficiaries of ARISE program on VSLA, Asha Mrisho from Tupendane Group in Uyui district said: “Through VSLA, I can now lend money from the group and help my family to buy school uniforms for my children, even without letting them into child laboring in tobacco farms.”

“The lending ability in our Tupendane group is from Tsh 25,000 to Tsh240,000 and a member can lend money according to their savings,” she said.

She noted: “Our group has also introduce income generating activities such as soap selling so as to improve our income collections.”

Sara Kalunga, one of the leaders for Upendo group said that their group which formed in May last year has 22 members with the collections of 1.29m/- until last week.

“Group member can have an access of buying one share worth 1000/- and he or she can buy not more than 5 shares per week. We always meet once a week.”

Kalunga went further saying that their VSLA group helped them to get unconditional loans which help them to improve or sometimes starting new businesses that assist them to cater the needs of their children, hencereduce child labor activities.

Simon Nyanda, a leader for VSLA’s Mkombozi group in Uyui said that their collections have currently reaching at 2.3m/- and so far, about 19 members out of 23 have secured loans for their needs.

On his part, Ndono ward councilor in Uyui-Tabora Haruna Luwambo said: “I commended the ARISE program since it has assisted the government in fighting against child labour in tobacco farms.”

Luwambo stresses that a number of projects introduced by ARISE PROGRAM such as VSLA’S has helped community members improving their economies hence take good care of their children’s needs particularly their education and health,”

"The people in the communities are now able to pay for children’s education, without letting them get involved into child labour activities, we thank very much the ARISE PROGRAM for introducing this good intervention."