SOS Children's Village Isolo

Being admitted to an SOS Youth Facility is tantamount to taking responsibility for one self. Being fully aware of this, SOS mothers, the Village Director and a psychologist prepare them carefully for that change.

Usually, youths stay up to four years in an SOS Youth Facility. They may stay longer, however, if they are looking for work, completing professional training or studying at a university.

The SOS Hermann Gmeiner Primary School, located next to the SOS Children's Village, offers education to roughly 210 pupils from the SOS Children's Village and its neighbourhood.

It comprises six classrooms, one class for special education, five practical classrooms for home economics, arts and crafts, music, computer lessons and library, administration and ancillary rooms, and a school canteen.

Over 190 trainees benefit from the wide range of programmes offered by the SOS Vocational Centre at the moment. The centre includes seven classrooms and workshops for various handicrafts, design and dressmaking, commercial training with typing, computer and secretarial courses and industrial cooking courses with home economics.

Both SOS Social Centres were opened in August 2004 and both offer various social programmes for people in need.

The first one focuses primarily on family strengthening programmes, assistance to children from families affected by HIV/Aids (by covering their school fees, unpaid rent, donating cloth and food), counselling and medical care.

The second SOS Social Centre includes a family health centre (consultation room, treatment room, pharmacy); a self-help training centre with kitchenstore, sewing/embroidery room, weaving room, open-air batik and basket making place, store room; a child day-care centre with playroom and roofed outdoor playground, rest room, sanitary facilities, small kitchen; a family assistance centre with two counselling rooms and various programmes for people affected by HIV/Aids.