Democratic Republic of the Congo - Select a village

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Bukavu Uvira Capital: Kinshasa Area: 2,345,410 km² Population: 50.3 million(December 2000 est.) Ethnic groups: Bantu (80%), Sudanic (18%), Nilotic, pygmies, Hamitic Official language(s): French Religion(s): Christian (80%), Muslim, Jewish, animist beliefs, Kimbanguism Currency: 1 Congolese franc = 100 centimes Our Facilities The work of SOS-Kinderdorf International in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) started in 1987 when first contacts were made with the government of that country. These first contacts lead to an agreement between the government of Zaire and SOS-Kinderdorf International which was signed on 10 March 1987, and which was to be the basis of the work of SOS-Kinderdorf International in that country. Only a few months later, on January 1st, 1988, the construction of the SOS Children's Village Bukavu, an SOS Kindergarten and an SOS School was started. In September 1989, the first families moved into the new SOS Children's Village. Following the unrest in Zaire in October and November 1996, it was decided to set up a small SOS Medical Centre for poor people from the neighbourhood of the SOS Children's Village Bukavu. Because of the same events, the governor of the region South-Kivu asked SOS-Kinderdorf International to help the needy children of that region who had fallen victims to the unrest. The decision was taken to set up an emergency SOS Children's Village in Uvira, about 120 km south from Bukavu on the north banks of the Lake Tanganika. This SOS facility was later transformed into a permanent home for all those children who were not able to return to neither parents nor relatives. The construction of the SOS Children's Village Uvira was finally started in the year 2000. An SOS Kindergarten, an SOS Primary school and an SOS Medical Centre are annexed to it. Contact: Villages d'Enfants SOS de Rép. Dém. du Congo BP 1988 Quartier Karhale à Kadutu Bukavu Congo, Dem.Rep. tel. +243-88 67 716 fax +37 79 310 72 79