The Central African Republic (CAR) is an extremely challenging place for people with special needs of any kind, particularly the Deaf. At one point, CAR was a pioneer among African countries in deaf education; Andrew Foster, a Deaf American missionary, opened the country’s first and only school for the deaf in CAR’s capital, Bangui, in 1977. Foster also trained the teachers and paid them a competitive salary, ensuring quality education for the deaf children who could attend the school. Continue Reading »
In the western part of the Central African Republic (CAR) lies the Nana-Mambéré prefecture, divided in two by CAR’s primary trade route with Cameroon. The road is the country’s most important lifeline (for supplies coming from Douala’s port), and also its only real possibility for trading timber or agricultural exports internationally.
To support farming communities in Nana- Mambéré, Mercy Corps, in conjunction with the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation, recently completed one of the largest seed distribution ever performed in CAR. Reaching over 12,500 farmers, the programme was designed to address three of the major issues facing people in Nana-Mambéré: food insecurity, chronic poverty and hunger. Continue Reading »
In the Central African Republic, UNICEF, with funding from the European Commission, is supporting bush schools to provide education and a sense of normalcy to displaced children.
General Abdoulaye Miskine, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces of Central Africa (UFDC) says he is ready to sign the Global Peace Agreement
China donates agricultural equipment and office supplies worth $450,000
Background and security
Miskine ready to sign the peace agreement
General Abdoulaye Miskine, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces of Central Africa (FDPC), one of the three rebel groups based in the centre north of the country, has said he is ready to sign the Global Peace Agreement. His commitment is a prelude to the much anticipated political dialogue expected this month in Bangui. “I am ready to sign the Global Peace Agreement in order to give the political inclusive dialogue a chance — considered by all the only way out of crisis,” said General Miskine in a press release issued Saturday in Bangui. Continue Reading »
It takes no less than six days of arduous travel to cover the 1,000km of dusty roads between the city of Bangui and the village of Obo in the far east of the Central African Republic. In a country where the state has little control beyond the capital city, the population of Obo cannot rely on the central government for the provision of basic healthcare, education or transportation infrastructure.
However, with the help of United Youth for Environmental Protection and Community Development (JUPEDEC), a local NGO, villagers have managed to build health centres, classrooms and bridges, and have established income-generating activities. Relying largely on natural resources and local work forces, JUPEDEC is contributing to the improvement of the living conditions of thousands of people. Continue Reading »
Paoua, Central African Republic. Agnès Sadoua is just seven years old. Perched on the edge of a wooden bench, she swings her legs back and forth freely. Like many other children her age, she is missing her front teeth. She grins as she talks about her love for school, her friends and her family. It has not always been like this however. Three months ago, Agnès along with many other children and their families, were forced to flee their homes in search of safety in the bush. Continue Reading »
Gender inequalities in the Central African Republic persist. They are so deeply ingrained that significant positive change will probably take decades. Some facts from a government briefing paper on gender issues in CAR below. (It is well worth looking at other sources as well.):
The share of illiterate women (68 percent) is substantially higher than that of men (46 percent)
Net school enrolment is about 37 percent for girls against 44 percent for boys, these are some of the lowest rates in Africa
More than 14 percent of women in urban areas have been subjected to sexual violence
Women in urban areas are more than twice as likely to suffer from HIV/AIDS than men (infection rate 11 percent against 5 percent)
CAR’s maternal mortality rate is among the world’s highest (1,355 per 100,000)
Only 11 out of 105 members of parliament are women
Only 10 percent of all judges are women
Women remain argely uninvolved in the management and control of financial resources
Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team member UNFPA was recently reinforced by a Gender Advisor, supported by the GenCap initiative, to ensure a gender sensitive and equal approach in all humanitarian operations in the Central African Republic.
For photos of vulnerable women in CAR and to read the brief on gender, go to the next page. Continue Reading »
The educational system of the Central African Republic has been disintegrating for decades. It is now in a state of complete crisis.
Humanitarian and development agencies in CAR are working hard to bring teachers and teaching material in towns and villages the state system has not reached for more than a decade.
The Central African Republic’s literacy and school enrolment rates are among the world’s lowest. Only every third woman and every second man know how to read and write. Every second child does not receive a regular education. Since the recent internal conflict started, most schools in CAR’s north have either been destroyed or looted. School attendance rates collapsed. Humanitarian organisations strive now to provide basic emergency education in the areas affected by violence.
Click on the image below to see more photos of schools and emergency education projects.
The Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team (HDPT) unites all organizations working to alleviate the humanitarian and development crisis in the Central African Republic: United Nations agencies, the Red Cross Movement, NGOs and other organizations. For more information, visit About HDPT CAR or email us at info[at]hdptcar.net
Interviews with Dr Ione
Dr Ione describes her incredible experiences in the Central African Republic. A thrilling eye-witness account of the country’s history.
It takes no less than six days of arduous travel to cover the 1,000km of dusty roads between the city of Bangui and the village of Obo in the far east of the Central African Republic. In a country where the state has little control beyond the capital city, the population of Obo cannot rely on the central government for the provision of basic healthcare, education or transportation infrastructure. 
Paoua, Central African Republic. Agnès Sadoua is just seven years old. Perched on the edge of a wooden bench, she swings her legs back and forth freely. Like many other children her age, she is missing her front teeth. She grins as she talks about her love for school, her friends and her family. It has not always been like this however. Three months ago, Agnès along with many other children and their families, were forced to flee their homes in search of safety in the bush. 
Gender inequalities in the Central African Republic persist. They are so deeply ingrained that significant positive change will probably take decades. Some facts from a government briefing paper on gender issues in CAR below. (It is well worth looking at other sources as well.):
