Sponsor's update from Bangui, Central African Republic

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Bangui, Central African Republic from Winter 207/2008.

The SOS Children’s Village of Bangui is built on the lower side of Oubangui hill which is located in the 7th district of the city of Bangui. It takes in children in distress, mostly orphans who do not have any adult persons likely to care for them and to offer them, family substitutions where they can find again security, affection and mostly hope for a better future.

Today, the village comprises one hundred and seven children among whom there are sixty girls and forty seven boys. The children’s schooling level varies from the nursery school to the tenth grade in high school. One child is registered in the nursery school, sixty seven in the primary school and thirty nine in different secondary schools. One child has not yet reached the schooling age. There are 19 teaching staff.

Events through the year included hiring a new village director; hiring of a new responsible for the administration of the personnel; hiring of two new aunts; the organisation of the 15th SOSCV anniversary; the visit of the regional director; the visit of the Swedish team and the start of the Bouar SOS Village construction works.

Perspectives included: the emergency programme in Kaga Bandoro; opening of a library in SOS CV and increasing the SOSCV accommodation capacity.

SOS Youth Home
It was created on January 27th, 2003 and it is under the central African national directorship for SOS projects. Recently, it has been set up as a coordination for the youth training program and it is put under the responsibility of SOS Village.

In the domain of education and vocational training, the school results are very satisfactory this year; the success rate is about 80 % in all the subjects put all together.
The number of youngsters sent to school is 46 and it is subdivided as follows: High school 16; Technical school 19; Higher education 11; Employee 1 and Teaching staff 08.

Events here include the affiliation of the handball team to the federation; visit of the continental team on the youth development issue and a thought workshop on the youth development issue.

Perspectives include develop the national policy for youth development and start the supervised living.

Children's education and health at Bangui, Central African Republic

SOS Nursery School
The accommodating capacity of the SOS Nursery School is 125 children divided into 5 classes of 25 children each.
Events at the nursery school included; participation to the open day on the supervision of preschool; recruiting of two preschool instructresses and participation of the staff to the retraining course seminar. Perspectives included: reinforce the development of the staff; create a school dining hall and construct a new school building

SOS Primary School
It accommodates 480 children divided up into 12 teaching classes comprising each 40 pupils with 13 teachers. 460 children are registered for the school year 2007-2008. Events at the primary school included recruiting the school new headmaster; the visit of a Swedish journalist team and the retirement of the former school headmaster.

Perspectives include the opening of a school dining hall; expand and kit out the library; opening of a computer room and introduce the teaching of a computer science.

SOS Medical Centre
It ensures the medical coverage for the children and Youngsters, for SOS staff and the surrounding population. The of program of psycho medico social care taking of the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) is always in its implementation phase. The service of HIV/AIDS prevention of the transmission from parents to the child (PPTC) is always operational.

Supporting children and communities at Bangui, Central African Republic

SOS Family Strengthening
It is effective in the city of Bangui. It provides assistance to nearly 321 families in their natural milieu of life. The family receives assistance in the domain of health, nutrition and education. The programme saw the departure of the coordinator Marta Valbuena replaced by Mrs Tatiana Mossoua. Also there was a visit of a Swedish mission in the families of some beneficiaries and the making of documentary films on the families and the children provided with education by this programme.

Perspectives included establish plan for the development of the families; increase the number of families beneficiaries of the programme and spread the FRP to Bouar where the second village is, and which is located at 460 kms from Bangui.

In a general view, we can say with delight that several activities have been realised although the task is still tough. Apart from the daily life of the village, our attention will be focus on our youngsters and on needs related to their autonomous life.

Dear sponsors, in renewing our sincere thanks to you once again for your support to the Central African SOS children village, please do receive our best regards and cheerful greetings as well as our best wishes of health and joy on behalf of all the children and the staff of SOS in Central African Republic.

Docteur Armand E. ISSA GADENGA
National Director