Capital: Malabo (formerly Santa Isabel)
Area: 28,051 km²
Population: 535,900 (July 2005)
Ethnic groups: the Fang and the Bubi
Official language(s): Spanish and French
Religion(s): Roman Catholic and traditional African beliefs
Currency: 1 CFA franc = 100 centimes
SOS Children's Villages' activities in the country
Equatorial Guinea lies on the Atlantic coast, to the south of Cameroon. It has a population of just 400,000 and is therefore, one of the smallest countries in Africa. Despite a certain amount of wealth, which comes from the recently discovered oil deposits, the population lives in great poverty. This results in a considerably high infant mortality rate, a low life expectancy and high rates of both illiteracy and unemployment. SOS-Kinderdorf International first contacted the government of Equatorial Guinea in the early 1990's. Once a co-operation agreement had been signed in 1992, it was possible to start taking steps towards setting up SOS Children's Village Facilities.
In 1996 SOS Children's Villages set up a provisional kindergarten and two years later opened an SOS Hermann Gmeiner School in an effort to improve child welfare and education. Just in time for the turn of the century, following years of construction, it was possible to open SOS Children's Village Bata on the mainland. The same year, an SOS Medical Centre was opened to ensure medical care for the neighbouring population.
In 2004, SOS Children’s Villages started to operate a Family Strengthening Programme, which enables children who are at risk of losing the care of their family to grow within a caring family environment. To achieve this, SOS Children’s Villages works directly with families and communities to empower them to effectively protect and care for their children, in cooperation with local authorities and other service providers.
At present there is one SOS Children’s Village in Equatorial Guinea, one SOS Youth Facility, one SOS Kindergarten, one SOS Hermann Gmeiner School, one SOS Medical Centre and one SOS Social Centre.
Contact:
Aldeas Infantiles SOS de Guinea Ecuatorial
Lia Frente al Palacio de Congresos
Apartado de Correos 200
Bata
Equator. Guinea
tel. +240-823 75
fax +240-823 75