Village Savings & Loan Associations

About Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs)

CARE Kenya has pioneered and scaled Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) as a cornerstone of community empowerment.

Through these groups, women and marginalized households gain access to savings, credit, and financial literacy — enabling them to invest in small businesses, improve household resilience, and strengthen community solidarity.

Financial Inclusion

VSLAs provide affordable, community based financial services where formal banking is limited.

Women’s Empowerment

Women take leadership roles in managing savings groups, building confidence, and expanding entrepreneurship opportunities resources to invest in farming inputs, value addition, and market access, driving local agribusiness development.

Resilience Building

Savings and loans help families cope with shocks such as droughts, floods, or health emergencies.

Social Capital

VSLAs foster trust, collaboration, and collective action, strengthening community bonds and local governance.

Youth Savings and Loan Associations (YSLAs)

Youth Savings and Loan Associations (YSLAs) are self-managed, community-based financial groups—modeled after Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs)—designed for youth, typically aged 15-30. They enable young people to save money regularly, access small loans for education or business, and gain financial literacy and independence. YSLAs are a key part of the project to improve young people’s access to health services and information.