SOS Children in Cape Verde
A former Portuguese colony, Cape Verde comprises ten islands and five islets in the Atlantic Ocean, about 600 kms off the coast of West Africa. Poor in natural resources and prone to drought, Cape Verde is heavily dependent on food imports, mostly in the form of aid. A significant portion of the population live below the poverty line, and a high percentage of children suffer from chronic malnutrition.
The charity has two communities in Cape Verde. The first, SOS Children Assomada, opened in 1984 on the island of Santiago, the largest of the nine inhabited islands. The community, on the outskirts of the town of Assomada, is about 40 km from Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, and enjoys a superb view over the mountains. The ten family houses, and the youth house for older children about to embark on independent lives, are home to over 110 children.
The SOS kindergarten has four classes and capacity for 100 children most of whom come from the surrounding area, where there are no kindergarten or nursery facilities. The village also has a small clinic providing basic medical care for local people. Children from the village attend local schools.
SOS Children Sao Domingos was built in 2003. Also on Santiago, it is a few kilometres from Praia, on the side of a hill in the small village of Sao Domingos. Here there are eight family houses, painted in traditional colours, which are home to 80 children. The SOS kindergarten has two classes and is used by 50 children from both the village and the local community.
Local Contacts
SOS Children in Cape Verde
Achada Sao Filipe/ Praia/ Isla de Santiago
C.P No 179/C
Praia Isla de Santiago/ Cabo Verde
Tel: +238/264 73 79 or 264 74 15
Mobile: +238/991 72 42
Fax: +238/264 73 82
e-mail: sos-no@soscapvert.org
www.soscapevert.org
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