SOS Children's Village

Project Summary

In a country where 95% of the population lives on less than 1 USD per day and hundreds of thousands of children have lost one or both parents due to AIDS, this initiative will change the quality of life for many.

The TriOptima family house will reside within the SOS Children’s Village in Bossangoa and will be a home for 6-10 children and their SOS mother for many generations to come. The Village will consist of 12 family homes with a capacity to support 120 children. The community will also manage primary and kinder-garden schools as well as a medical clinic, social centre and family strengthening programs.

SOS Children’s Villages started in 1949, with an organization initiated by Hermann Gmeiner in Austria. In the aftermath of World War II, his vision was to help orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children. His concept was based on a ’family model’ where children would live together in family constellations, get an education and remain with their ‘family’ until they were young adults and ready to support themselves. Today the organization is established worldwide, with family homes in Children’s Villages in over 130 countries.

The construction of the TriOptima family house started in December last year and by late 2013, it and the entire Village will be ready to support the community.

Central African Republic is one of the poorest countries in the world:

• 95 % of the population lives on less than 1 USD per day
• 280 000 children have lost one or both parents
• 15 % carry HIV while 274 000 children are orphaned due to aids
• Malaria and HIV/aids are the most common cause of death
• Average age is just under 49 years
• 35% of women, 60% of men can read and write
• Approximately 10, 000 street children; child prostitution and trafficking common

*Photos credited to SOS Archive