About SOS Tanzania

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.

Because of this political independence, SOS Children's Villages also decided to work with two local legal bodies in Tanzania. Both the associations, "SOS Children's Villages Association Zanzibar" and the "SOS Children's Villages Tanzania" were officially registered in April 1997. The first SOS Children's Village and kindergarten in mainland Tanzania were built in Arusha, in the north of the country.

In assessment of the well-known poverty which seriously affects children and young people in Tanzania , SOS-Kinderdorf International decided to build the second  SOS Children's Village on mainland during  2005, there after they  started recruit staffs on 2006 and official  inauguration was done by then President  Kutin  on 1st of November 2007. SOS Children's Village Dar es Salaam is located some 10 km away from the city Centre, oposite to the University of Dar es salaam , in the north western part of the city. It is between Ubungo and Mwenge along Sam Nujoma Road next to Mawasiliano Tower and it will clearly be identified by the blue roofs of the house with coffee brown walls.