The work of SOS Children's Villages in Tanzania started in 1984. The then President Ali Hassan Mwinyi, approached Hermann Gmeiner with the request that an SOS Children's Village should be built there. A government agreement was signed on 25 February 1987. The SOS Children's Village was constructed between 1988 and 1990 and the first families were able to move into the family houses in 1991. It is situated seven kilometres from the harbour town of Zanzibar. According to the law of nations, the island of Zanzibar is part of the Republic of Tanzania. However, the regional constitution of 1985 provides for a directly-elected president for Zanzibar and therefore, allows for a great amount of independent rule.
