Child Sponsorship Background from Bissau, Guinea-Bissau

SOS Children's Village Bissau

The SOS Children's Village is situated halfway between the centre of Bissau and the airport (approximately 2 km in each direction) in the residential quarter of Missira. It consists of twelve family houses, a village director's house, a guest house, a multi-purpose hall, and administrative and service building with a small clinic, and sports grounds. Although they do not lie in the immediate surrounding of the SOS Children's Village, markets, a shopping centre and a hospital can be easily reached from there.

Other SOS Projects in Bissau

The attached SOS Nursery School consists of three group rooms, a Montessori classroom, a kitchen and a small office. The nursery school is currently attended by 100 children from the SOS Children's Village and the local neighbourhood. From about 15 years of age onwards, the SOS youths are housed in the SOS Youth Home, consisting of two youth houses, a youth leader's house, a communal kitchen, and a common room. As the youth is only supervised by one educator, the life in the SOS Youth Home endows the youths with a very high degree of responsibility. It is therefore an important step towards an independent life, which is thoroughly monitored by SOS mothers, village directors, and psychologists, and to which approximately four years are assigned - extendable for prolonged periods of education or job search.

The SOS primary and secondary school is currently attended by 420 Children's Village and local pupils. It consists of twelve classrooms, and administrative and service building, a library, and a school director's house.

The SOS Social Centre Bissau primarily offers services for the youth. It consists of two rooms for the social workers, a multi-purpose room, a library, a first aid station, three course rooms for further education, and administrative and service block, and a sports ground. Up to 700 people yearly make advantage of the SOS Social Centre.

Background to Bissau

Bissau is the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. Founded in 1687 and independent in 1974, it now has a population estimated to be over 400,000.  The city is located on the Geba River estuary, off the Atlantic Ocean. It is the administrative and military centre of the country. 

Bissau is home to the major port as well as being the administrative and military centre of Guinea-Bissau.  Peanuts, hardwoods, copra, palm oil, and rubber are the main products for the city. Founded in 1687 by the Portuguese it later became independent in 1974.