Siliana

SOS Children’s Villages supports individual children, young people and families so that they can thrive (photo: SOS Children’s Villages Tunisia).

Siliana is located in northern Tunisia, just 130 km south of the capital Tunis. The region is home to over 200,000 people. The economy is based mostly on agriculture. However, unemployment is extremely high and poverty is widespread. On the whole, poverty levels are higher in the interior of the country, as compared to the more wealthy coastal regions, but in Siliana residents have historically felt marginalized.

Since 1983, SOS Children’s Villages has been supporting children, young people and families and advocating for their rights in Siliana.

15%
Of people in Tunisia live below the poverty line

Rural communities live in poverty

Poverty especially affects the more rural areas of Tunisia. Living in poverty means that many people live on less than $1,90 a day and struggle to fulfil the most basic needs like health, education, and access to water and sanitation. Multidimensional poverty measures poverty not just based on income, but also as to what other goods and services people are deprived from, such as housing, education, or clean water. The inland region is five times poorer than the capital and its surrounding areas.

35%
Of households in Siliana have access to clean water

Limited access to safe drinking water

Even though more and more houses are connected to a network that provides them with safe drinking water, there is still room for improvement. Furthermore, the difficult access to safe water in rural areas is also closely linked to gender inequality. If a household does not have access to a water system, the water must be fetched from somewhere else. This task is mostly carried out by women. It is hard and time-consuming work which hinders their ability to engage in other productive activities. During these trips to water sources, many women are also subjected to harassment and sexual assaults.

Your support makes a difference for children in Siliana

SOS Children’s Villages works with local partners and communities to offer a wide range of support that is adapted to the local context. We always work in the best interest of the children, young people and families.
100
Families
Can stay together
20
Children and young people
Grow up in our care
30
Young people
Are supported on their way to independence
Children in our care are having fun and learning how to look after plants in the garden (photo: SOS Children’s Villages Tunisia).

How your support helps in Siliana

Strengthening families and communities
When parents face hardships, they can sometimes struggle to give children the care they need. SOS Children’s Villages works with local partners and communities. Each family needs different support so that they can stay together. This support can include workshops on parenting and children’s rights. We also run training so that parents can get the skills they need to get a job or start their own businesses. Likewise, we ensure that children can get medical help and go to school.
Caring for children who cannot live with their families
Some children cannot stay with their families, even with additional support. When this happens, they can find a new home in SOS Children’s Villages. Here the children can build lasting relationships. Wherever possible, we work closely with the children’s family of origin. If children can return to live with their families, we help them adapt to this change.
Supporting young people to become independent
To help young people become confident and independent, our local team works closely with each young person to develop a plan for their future. We support young people and also help them prepare for the labour market and increase their employment prospects. For example, young people can attend workshops and trainings run by SOS Children’s Villages. They also improve their skills through taking part in different projects with local mentors and businesses.