Population: 165,918
Targeted districts and wards: 1 district (Geita), 4 wards (Kasamwa, Ihanamilo, Katoro and Kalangala)
Sponsored children: Around 5,790

Geita is one of 8 districts in Mwanza region, with 18 registered villages and approximately 899,614 people. Around 98% of the population are peasants and subsistence livestock keepers. The estimated annual per capita income is US $100.

Plan Tanzania has been operating in Geita since 2000 and works in partnership with Geita District Council, central government, UNICEF, community-based organisations, and children, together with their families and communities.

Programme highlights

Community health 

Geita Programme Unit has been implementing various interventions to improve people’s health by reducing the incidence of preventable childhood illnesses, increasing the number of women at childbearing age who use reproductive health services and reducing the prevalence and adverse effects of HIV and AIDS.

As a result, almost 70% of communities now have access to primary health services provided by community health workers trained by Plan Tanzania. There has also been increased support to orphans and vulnerable children, more than 700 of them having received education and healthcare support.

Enabling children to learn

Geita Programme Unit has helped improve schools and boost access to education. More children now receive early childhood care and development education, pass their standard 4 and 7 national examinations, complete their primary education and enroll in post-primary education.

Learning and teaching environments have been improved by approximately 50% of all the primary schools in the programme area.

Water and environmental health

Plan Tanzania has increased the percentage of families with sufficient year-round drinking water and the percentage of families living in healthy environments

Sustainable family livelihoods

Plan-supported Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) are helping poor families to access credit at lower rates so they can invest in their businesses, increase food productivity and support the needs of their children.

Sauti ya Watoto (Children’s voices)

Plan Tanzania has promoted child rights across Geita. As a result, there is a growing awareness of the importance of recognising, respecting and realising child rights. More children now actively participate in discussions and decisions affecting their own development. Plan’s development education programme is also helping to increase communication between sponsors, children and their communities.

Through our Universal Birth Registration campaign, Plan has increased registration rates by 70% since 2006 – providing thousands of children with an official identity so that they have easier access to social services such as health and education.

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