SOS Schools in Ivory Coast

Over a third of young people (aged 15-24) are illiterate in Ivory Coast.

In Ivory Coast, there are currently two SOS Schools and two SOS Nurseries.  These facilities provide education to children from SOS Villages and from the wider community. Staff members are well trained and the resources available to students are of a high standard.  Below you can find an overview on the SOS Children education projects.

Sidibe's Story

Sidibe was one of the first children to live in the SOS Children’s Village at Abobo-Gare, arriving there in 1975 at only a few months old. Now 35, Sidibe speaks of how the education he received has allowed him to lead a respectable and independent life. He works as a car mechanic and supports his partner and three children. In the future, Sidibe plans to start his own business.

Abobo : SOS Schools

The SOS Nursery at Abobo has children ranging in age from 2.5 to 5 years. There are around 100 children at the school, including about 10 who come from the SOS village.

• The nursery operates in three groups – for the smallest children, the middle and upper age-range. Through a wide range of play, learning and sports activities, we encourage the all-round development of each child.
• Each year the nursery celebrates Christmas and recently the children also celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of SOS.  

The SOS Primary School at Abobo has around 200 students, with approximately a quarter coming from the SOS village.

• Pass marks are high at the school, with almost all children graduating to the next level each year.
• As well as the standard curriculum, students at the school can take extra lessons in English, music and dance. Activities in gardening and farming are also provided, including a course in how to breed of rabbits.

Aboisso : SOS Schools

The SOS Nursery at Aboisso has around 100 children, most coming from the local community and around 10 from our SOS village.

• The children take part in a wide variety of activities designed to promote their early development. Learning is especially encouraged through competitions and games.
• Each year the nursery takes part in the “mini-Olympic games” organised by one school in the region. Recent trips for the children have included a visit to a local rubber-making factory and an excursion to the local radio and TV station.

The SOS Primary School at Aboisso has nearly 200 students, around a quarter of whom are from the SOS village.

• The school achieves good academic results, with the success rate of the 6th year primary classes normally 100% and over 90% of pupils gaining entry into secondary schools.
• Extracurricular activities include sports such as football, an introduction to English and courses in the Visual arts, where pupils exhibited and sold paintings during the 60th anniversary of SOS Children’s Villages. For the future, the school hopes to extend its library and provide more lessons in computing.