Child Sponsorship Background from Astana, Kazakhstan

SOS Children's Village Astana

The SOS Children's Village Astana is situated in a residential area with schools, hospitals, shops and markets nearby. The children attend the local schools, thus ensuring an effective integration of the children into the local community. The official opening ceremony was held in June 2001.

SOS Children's Village Astana initially consisted of twelve family houses, houses for the village director and the SOS aunts (who support the SOS mothers and take care of the children when the mothers are on leave), a multipurpose hall, a basketball field and an administration and service area.

In order to give even more children a lasting home in our SOS Children's Village Astana, two additional family houses were established in 2005. Up to 126children can find a new home in the fourteen family houses, where they are cared for by SOS mothers.

Other SOS Projects in Astana

Further, an SOS Nursery School has been operational since July 2000. It has a capacity to take in 80 children and comprises four group rooms. The SOS Youth Facility became operational in 2007 and accommodates up to 16 youths who have already outgrown the SOS Children's Village during their vocational training or higher education, giving them the chance to prepare for an independent life.

Background to Astana

Astana is the capital and second largest city (after Almaty) of Kazakhstan, with an officially estimated population of more than 600,000 with more than one third being of Russian descent.  It is located in the north-central portion of Kazakhstan, within Akmola Province, though politically separate from the rest of the province.  The word Astana in Kazakh literally means Capital.