Family Strengthening Programme in the Central African Republic 

Several years of socio-economic, political and military crises have contributed to reducing the Central African Republic's economic potential and worsening poverty. The irregular payment of salaries, slow growth of household revenue, food production that is insufficient to meet the demands of demographic growth, and a lack of food are the realities of people's everyday lives.

Beneficial work that is welcomed

The SOS family strengthening programme in the Central African Republic began in 2005, when the country was beginning to regain social and political stability. Several of the most vulnerable families benefit from the following services: Children earn an education or receive vocational training; families have access to basic health care; families receive a balanced diet; and small income-generating projects help vulnerable families to take care of their children. The family strengthening programmes are aimed at preventing children from being abandoned in the first place. They entail giving poor and vulnerable families a renewed sense of dignity, supporting them through income-generating activities and helping them to develop so that parents do not have to part with their children. These vulnerable families are most likely to abandon their children on the streets if they find themselves in a desperate situation.

For hundreds of beneficiary families, SOS Children's Villages' aid comes at the right moment, as the majority of them can no longer manage because they have too many children and are completely helpless. In fact, the more the social climate stabilises, the larger the families become. Many families have to take care of orphaned children of a relative or friend in addition to their own children, which makes everyday survival even more challenging. It is not uncommon to find families of over 30 people. In addition to these difficulties, rising inflation (2.9% in 2005) makes it impossible to access basic necessities such as rice, milk, sugar, oil or soap.

Different ways to help

One of the first steps of the SOS family strengthening programme in the Central African Republic was the rehabilitation of little André*. He was around ten years old, his mother had died and his father was in prison. André was living alone in a house with no roof, interior walls or doors. He was sleeping on the floor. SOS Children's Villages rebuilt his house and gave him a bed and a mosquito net. He was re-enrolled in school and his results so far show that he has been studying hard and doing well. His father was released from prison and saw that the house had been rebuilt. He now lives there with André. Many other houses in the areas outside the village of Bangui have been renovated, providing a decent and comfortable place to live for many families.

The programme has also enabled hundreds of people to gain free access to basic healthcare. Eighty- two children have been vaccinated against polio, measles and yellow fever; 102 children are undergoing nutritional rehabilitation with Spiruline. Since malnutrition is a real problem in the Central African Republic and children are affected most - one in five children under the age of five is underweight because of a low carbohydrate and protein intake (WFP 2004) - this step has been actively welcomed by the surrounding population.

The next phase in SOS family strengthening programmes involves numerous HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in order to provide for the medical and social needs and legal protection of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). These awareness campaigns have considerably extended SOS Children's Villages' support for the people from surrounding communities. With regard to education, 156 children have been sent to school. Twenty-four attend literacy classes at SOS Children's Villages Bangui; 20 attend the arts and crafts school in the capital and more than 60 receive training in joinery and wickerwork. Forty-four women have also received training in dressmaking.

Reliable partners

The services provided within the context of the family strengthening programme in the Central African Republic have meant that SOS Children's Villages has gained the trust of United Nations agencies and local/international NGOs. SOS Children's Villages works closely with these organisations and is extending its activities to reach out to a larger number of beneficiaries, giving hope to many orphans and vulnerable children. These partner organisations and associations contribute by distributing supplies to vulnerable families and people with HIV/AIDS.

Twice a month the families receive a food ration of rice, beans, oil, sugar and milk proportionate to the number of children in each family. They also receive education support, stationery and school kits. SOS family strengthening programme has been able to help more than 1,000 children over the course of 2006, due in large part to the co-operation of all the involved partners.