Life in a state of emergency / Part 2 

What is the children's social background like? Are they war orphans, not being cared for because of poverty, disease etc.?
The majority of children at the SOS Children's Villages share the same fate - they have been orphaned through war. The majority of biological parents care for their children despite poverty and increasing misery, although the children can't go to school.


Idyllic places are deceptive. Life in Bukavu is also uncertain 
Photo: Chris Sattlberger

Are the children at the SOS Children's Villages in need of specific psychological care given the violent experience of war and permanent insecurity?
Yes, some children have been heavily traumatised. They show signs of nervousness and strong restlessness or other behavioural problems, and there are even suicide attempts.


SOS Children's Villages tries to support
children such as these with its family
strengthening programmes
Photo: Catherine Ngo Biyack

Are there any other organisations caring for orphaned children?
Yes, most of these facilities are run by nuns who care for orphaned and abandoned children drawing on financial support by UNICEF and private donors, mostly in camps. SOS Children's Villages is the only privately-run organisation offering family-like long-term care for children in need. 

Can SOS Children's Villages be considered a "safe haven"?
Yes, I think so. You can tell by the fact that people often seek refuge in SOS Children's Villages when fighting breaks out. We are usually respected by the different conflict parties, even if soldiers and militias repeatedly have taken temporary possession of SOS Children's Village facilities. SOS Children's Village Bukavu is located on a hill, which is why it is considered a favourable strategic location. These "military occupations" are usually unproblematic. There was one exception to that: a misdirected bullet killed a child in 1996. The situation of soldiers running around with their weapons truly weighs heavily on our children's minds.


It wasn't until two years ago that it was possible to complete the
SOS Children's Village in Uvira - Photo: Catherine Ngo Biyack

What future prospects do SOS youths have who are leaving the SOS Children's Village?
There are actually no real future prospects. The labour market is fairly restricted; there are barely any job openings. Besides, it is extremely difficult to find training courses and training facilities for SOS youths where they can acquire qualifications for their future jobs. Sometimes the national director or village director is successful in finding respective facilities; however, all in all, the outlook is relatively grim.

Do many people from the vicinity make use of the SOS Social Centres and SOS Medical Centres?
Many people from the neighbouring communities come to the medical centre [in Bukavu, editor's remark]. It enjoys a good reputation which makes many people attend who live even more than ten kilometres away. Each month, more than 700 patients attend the medical centre. The most common diseases treated include malaria, influenza, gastrointestinal illnesses, urogenital diseases and pneumonia. The centre also offers comprehensive counselling services; mothers and children receive psychological support, and there are awareness activities on hygiene measures and HIV/AIDS, alcohol and drugs.


Most children at SOS Children's Village Uvira are victims of the war.
SOS Children's Villages helps them to deal with what they have experienced,
to find a new lease of life and develop a sense of trust 
Photo: Catherine Ngo Biyack

Do you feel the international community should be more supportive of your country?
Yes, especially when it comes to conflict resolution with our neighbouring countries. The international community could also help the Democratic Republic of Congo with rebuilding the school system, the medical care infrastructure, transport infrastructure, and especially with the broad recognition of governmental control throughout the country. ´


Thousands of people had to flee yet again - Photo: SOS Archives

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In 1989, an SOS Children's Village in Bukavu, a school, and a kindergarten in the eastern troubled province of South-Kivu opened their gates. This was followed by the opening of a youth facility and a medical centre, which helps improve the population's catastrophic medical care situation in the area. In 1997, an emergency village was established in Uvira, 120 km south of Bukavu, to accommodate war orphans and abandoned children, to care for them and, if possible, help them find their families again. As a result of the instability, it was not possible to complete the SOS Children's Village Uvira until 2006. Construction work has been taking place on another SOS Children's Village in the capital Kinshasa since the middle of 2008.

Back to "Life in a state of emergency / Part 1"