SOS-Kinderdorf International's activities in the Central African Republic began in 1988, when the Central African authorities expressed their desire to create an SOS Children's Village in their country. On 12 October 1998 government representatives and SOS-Kinderdorf International representative Mr. Klaus Keller reached an agreement. The cornerstone was laid for the first SOS Children's Village in the Central African Republic on 5 March 1990 under the aegis of President André Kolingba. Construction work was finished in April 1992 and in the same year, the first seventeen children found a new home at SOS Children's Village Bangui. Aiming for the development of the organisation’s action around the village Bangui, an SOS Medical Centre, an SOS Youth Facility and an SOS Social Centre were consecutively opened between 1995 and 2004. On 2009, a new village opened its gates in Bouar, at the west side of the country.
At present, there are two SOS Children's Villages in Central African Republic, one SOS Youth Facility, two SOS Kindergartens, two SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools, two SOS Social Centres as well as two SOS Medical Centres.
The Central African Republic is one of the ten poorest countries in the world. With a weak economy, the country bears the stigma of many years of armed conflict, insecurity and political instability. Even if, after the spring election of 2005, the situation regarding security has been improving in Bangui and the immediate vicinity, the people living in rural areas are still trapped in armed conflict raging between government troops and rebel groups. The conflict brings with it violence and violation of fundamental human rights, the population is constantly on the run and more than ever in a helpless situation. The main victims are the families and the children.
Bouar is situated 450 km northwest of Bangui. It is a rural town adjacent to the provinces plagued by conflict. Its population is about 45,000. Bouar is a rich archaeological site with megaliths dating from the 6th century BC; it is also one of the poorest towns of the country; the proportion of poor people in the urban area of Bouar amounts to 70%.
SOS Children's Village Bouar was built on a site of slightly more than five hectares of land, which had been made available by the authorities. The village can accommodate up to 120 children. It has twelve family houses, a village director's house, administration buildings and a house for the SOS aunts (SOS mothers in training, who actively support the SOS mothers).
An SOS Kindergarten and an SOS Hermann Gmeiner Primary School have been built on the same site. The kindergarten consists of three large classrooms and an administrative area. It is attended by up to 125 children both from the SOS Children's Village and the neighbourhood. The SOS Hermann Gmeiner Primary School has six classes for up to 210 children. In addition to the classrooms, the school also has administration offices and a canteen.
An SOS Social Centre and an SOS Medical Centre have been opened with the aim of providing medical care to the people in the neighbourhood, informing them about local preventative measures, providing troubled families with social and material assistance and offering counselling regarding child education and career guidance for parents. Conceived with the aim of strengthening the families against poverty, this programme is run in cooperation with the local authorities. The Medical centre has a consultation room, a treatment room, a dispensing chemist and rooms for the director and the co-workers.