Capital: Djibouti
Area: 23,200 km²
Population: 757,074 (July 2011 est.)
Ethnic groups: Somali, Afar, other (including French, Arab, Ethiopian, Italian)
Official language(s): French, Arabic
Religion(s): Islam, Christian
Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc = 100 centimes
SOS Children's Villages' activities in the country
In 1977 the French territory of the Afars and the Issas was declared Presidential Republic of Djibouti. During the 1990s the country suffered civil war due to unrests of the Afar minority which could be ended in 2001 by signing a peace accord between the Afar leader and the Issa government.
Almost two thirds of the country's population live in the capital city of Djibouti. Due to its strategic situation at the Red Sea, Djibouti has become an important transit port for goods of the region. Djibouti’s economy is dominated by its service sector. Low amounts of rainfall require the import of most of its foodstuff.
Djibouti’s children suffer from deficient medical treatment and legal care as well as child prostitution, child trafficking and HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, lack of water and immunization as well as very bad hygienic conditions are the most frequent causes for illnesses and death.
In April 2010 the construction of a new SOS Children’s Village was agreed. It will be financed by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Currently there are no SOS facilities in Djibouti. The facilities described underneath will be set up.
SOS Children’s Village Tadjourah
Children who have lost parental care and for whom long-term family care alternatives cannot be found will be admitted in the new SOS Children’s Village. In Tadjourah 11 % of the 5,216 children under the age of 14 are growing up without parental care.
In total 100 children will be admitted into their new SOS families during the first two years of the programme. In addiion to the SOS Children's Village, a large playground for smaller children and a multi-purpose sportsfield for children and youth will be built for the entire community. This shall give playing and sporting opportunities for all children and youth, in order to enhance their social skills and give opportunities to gather in an inviting community area.
The playground will be located close to the SOS Children's Village. So children and youth of the SOS Children's Village can use the playground and interaction with children of the community is given. The playground will be planned and constructed according to the needs of children at the age of three to twelve years. Detailed planning will take place once the project starts in order to be able to include children and youth of Tadjourah in the planning process.
Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) Tadjourah
The programme aims to identify the most vulnerable children and protect them from child labour and losing the care of their families. The specific objective of the programme is aimed at empowerment of families of origin and local communities with the capacity to respond to development needs of children living in most vulnerable life circumstances putting them at risk of losing parental care.
SOS Kindergarten Tadjourah
The objective of this programme is aimed at improved access to quality early childhood education for children from the target groups (SOS families, the FSP and the community of Tadjourah) between three and six years. The SOS Kindergarten will provide nutritious meals, basic medical treatment and referrals, early childhood education services, psychosocial support as well as playing facilities.
Furtheron the proposed kindergarten is envisaged to serve as a centre for in-servicing of kindergarten teachers in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.