Guinea
The Republic of Guinea is located in sub-Saharan Africa and shares its borders with six other west-African countries. It has a population of 13 million. Although it is high in natural resources like gold and diamonds, it has suffered from recurrent socio-political crises over the past years. This has negatively affected the living conditions of the population.
Guinea has also taken in many refugees who fled the neighbouring countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone, which has strained the local economy.
SOS Children’s Villages has been supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it, in Guinea since 1989.
Villages in Guinea
Children are at risk
In Guinea 75% of the country’s population are under the age of 35. Around 72% of Guinean children suffer from multidimensional poverty. Multidimensional poverty measures poverty beyond the lack of money and includes things such as life expectancy, access to education and basic infrastructure. Neonatal and infant mortality rates haven’t decreased in the past years. Many children lack the proper nutrition to grow at a healthy rate. The majority of children also don’t have access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.
30%
Of children under the age of 5 are too small for their age
Food insecurity
Many people in Guinea struggle with poverty and food insecurity.
21% of households are food insecure, which means that they lack regular access to nutritious food. As a result 30% of children under the age of 5 are too small for their age.
Children who don’t get the nourishment they need are at risk of getting sick and more likely to die from common childhood diseases.
95
Children (per 1000 live births) die before the age of 5
Under-five mortality
Guinea has one of the highest under-five mortality rates in the region. Many young children die from preventable diseases such as polio, measles, malaria or yellow fever.
95 children (per 1000 live births) die before they reach the age of 5. The figure reflects the social, economic and environmental conditions in which children live. For example, the access of children and communities to things like basic health care, vaccinations and adequate nutrition.
91%
Of women have undergone female genital mutilation
Women’s health
Guinea has the second highest incidence of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the world.
The World Health Organization defines FGM as “the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.” It is a harmful practice that violates the rights and negatively impacts the well-being of girls.
Even though the government has banned FGM, many people in Guinea still think FGM is an acceptable practice.
Together we can make a difference for children in Guinea
23,070
Adults and children
Are supported in the community
700
Children
Learn at our kindergartens and schools
180
Children and young people
Grow up in our care
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190
Young people
Are supported on their way to independence
