At So They Can, our core goal is to reduce poverty and improve access to quality education in Kenya and Tanzania. We recognise, however, that poverty is multidimensional, and achieving this ambitious goal requires a holistic approach to development that engages the whole community. In Tanzania, So They Can’s Our School Community project focuses on economically empowering parents within the communities we serve. When families are economically empowered, parents have greater incentive and capacity to support their children’s education.

One method we do this is via the Tanzanian government’s interest-free loan program. In partnership with local government leaders in Tanzania, we have been working hard to ensure that Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in our partner communities are fully informed and prepared to benefit from the government’s interest-free loan program.

A VSLA is a community-based savings group where members come together to save money, take out loans, share out profits and support one another financially. Through VSLAs, communities are empowered economically, they can start and grow income generating activities, and operate outside the formal banking system.

In early 2025, So They Can facilitated training to 18 Community Based Trainers on the VSLA methodology, leading to an establishment of 33 VSLAs, with a total of 798 members (77% women). Since April, members have been able to save a total of AUD $4,900 and have loaned just under half to 16 group members.

From October 2025, So They Can’s Community Development Officer together with the District & Qash Ward Community Development Officer (CDO) have had ongoing sensitisation meetings with 24 groups about District loans designated for VSLAs. We inform VSLAs on loan opportunities, the requirements, and provide guidance on how to prepare an application. And it has worked.

Jitambue, VSLA Group in Qash Village secured a loan!

The group, made up of 10 members, successfully applied and received a TZS 6 million loan (AUD $3,535) in November. The loan is interest free, over a 15-month period.

With their loan they want to expand their current poultry and vegetables business, to significantly boost their revenue. Their plan is to increase their number of chickens from 150 to 500, and diversify and scale their 1.5 acre vegetable farm (pictured below).

In the video below, Salama shares how her VSLA is benefitting from support.

Several other VSLAs are already on their way to joining Jitambue. Two groups from Endakiso and a group from Ayamango have completed their registration process and are preparing their applications to take the next step toward securing loan funding for their businesses.

The Government of Tanzania requires each District to allocate 10% of its local revenue to support community micro-finance groups through these interest-free loans.

We hope these VSLAs will ensure that the parents in the school communities that we work with are economically empowered. Especially women, who are the backbone to thriving communities and stewards of the next generation. Without ensuring their economic empowerment, our goal of ensuring access to quality education for all will not be achieved.