Capital: Algiers
Area: 2,381,741 km²
Population: 32.5 million (July 2005 est.)
Ethnic groups: Berbers, Arabs
Official language(s): Arabic
Religion(s): Islam
Currency: 1 Algerian dinar = 100 centimes

SOS Children's Villages' activities in the country

Following a massive earthquake in the country in October 1980, SOS-Kinderdorf International decided to become active in Algeria and to offer immediate aid in the form of an SOS Children's Village. The Health Ministry placed a plot of land at SOS-Kinderdorf International's disposal in order for the SOS Children's Village to be built. It is situated in the centre of Algiers. Construction was completed in autumn 1981 and the SOS Children's Village was immediately put to use.

However, it was not long before the SOS Children's Village work in Algeria had to be put on hold due to difficulties with the government. During this period, the children were cared for in Ténès, which lies on the Mediterranean coast. The talks with the government to be allowed to continue the SOS Children's Village work restarted in 1984 and in 1985 an agreement was signed for the construction of a new SOS Children's Village. In 1992, the first children were able to move into their new homes in SOS Children's Village Draria, which lies south of the capital, Algiers. In order to help the youths towards being able to live on their own, an SOS Youth Facility was opened in Draria in 1998 where the youths are cared for and helped to find jobs.

In May 2003 a severe earthquake occurred in Algeria's northern coastal strip where most of the country's population live. Following this, SOS Children's Villages Algeria launched an emergency relief programme and provided food items, hygiene products, sleeping bags, radiators, clothes etc. to those people who had to live temporarily in tents. As this earthquake caused big poverty in this region SOS Children’s Villages Algeria initiated in 2005 a family strengthening programme. This programme enables children who are at risk of losing the care of their family to grow within a caring family environment. To achieve this, SOS Children’s Villages Algeria works directly with families and communities to empower them to effectively protect and care for their children, in cooperation with local authorities and other service providers. In the following years the family strengthening programme was extended to the regions Tipaza, Tizi Ouzou, Corso and Naciria.

At present there are in Algeria one SOS Children’s Village, one SOS Youth Facility, one SOS Kindergarten and five SOS Social Centres.

Contact:
Association Algérienne des Villages d'Enfants SOS
Villa N° 136
Les Amandiers
16303 Baba Hassen Alger
Algerie
tel + 213-20 31 05 76, +213-661 59 24 36
fax +213-21 350134, +213-21 307642