Unlike many other countries in Africa, there are few child sponsor programs in Cape Verde. However SOS Children's Villages not only run an orphanage but also youth development projects, holding workshops in trades such as carpentry to help equip young people with vocational skills for their future careers as well as providing support for street children.

There are 221,000 children under the age of 18 in Cape Verde and whilst primary school enrolment is pretty much universal only 27% of all children attend secondary school.

Just 7% of the population live under the poverty line of 60p a day, however many children in Cape Verde have poor access to clean water and sanitation and they also suffer from regular outbreaks of cholera and there are few doctors on the islands to assist when these outbreaks occur.

www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk