Capital: Khartoum
Area: 2,505,813 km²
Population: 40,2 million (July 2005)
Ethnic groups: African, Arabs, Beja
Official language(s): Arabic
Religion(s): Sunni Islam
Currency: 1 Sudanese dinar = 100 piastres

SOS Children's Villages' activities in the country

In August 1975 negotiations began with the Sudanese government regarding the establishment of a SOS Children's Village in Sudan. A field study revealed that the capital Khartoum would the most suitable location for the planned SOS Children's Village and construction began in the very same year. In 1978 the SOS Children's Village and adjoining SOS Kindergarten were ready to be put into action.

In 1982 the first SOS Hermann Gmeiner School was opened in Suba, about 20 minutes from the SOS Children's Village Khartoum. In 1984 the first SOS Youth Facility became operational in Arkaweet , again not far from the SOS Children's Village. In order to help SOS youths acquire a sound agricultural and commercial education, a farm was purchased on the Blue Nile in 1989 where they can cultivate the land and market the produce. In 1995, during the International Year of the Family, the foundation was laid for the construction of a well in the El Salama district (approximately 10 minutes' drive south of the SOS Children's Village Khartoum). The project comprises a deep well with a water pump and water tank and is designed to supply about 25,000 people with water.

The ongoing civil war, which started in 1955, has had a devastating effect on the living conditions of the children in Sudan. The population has been living in constant fear and deprivation, particularly in the south of the country. It was in view of this situation that a meeting with the Vice President of Sudan took place in late 1996 to discuss the establishment of a second SOS Children's Village in the south of Sudan. SOS Children's Villages was given a site in Malakal. The new SOS Children's Village became operational at the beginning of 2002.

Due to the devastating effects of the civil war, SOS Children's Villages decided in September 1998 to start an SOS Emergency Relief Programme in Sudan. In the area around the city of Wau action was taken, including six food programmes for over 2,300 and the setting up of the SOS Children's Village Camp Nazareth, which provided 330 people with shelter and medical care. The SOS Emergency Relief Programme was brought to an end in March 1999 once the main goal - the provision of the best possible support for children and families who had become victims of the war - had been achieved.

At present there are two SOS Children's Villages in Sudan, one SOS Youth Facility, one SOS Kindergarten, one SOS Hermann Gmeiner School and one SOS Vocational Training Centre.

Contact:
SOS Children's Villages Association of Sudan
P.O.Box 1988
Dairat El Madhi
Gomhoria St.
Khartoum, Soba
Sudan
Tel +249 183 78 2072
Fax +249 183 77 1621