Child Sponsorship background in Cebu, Philippines

SOS Children's Village Cebu

In 1982, the Philippines' fourth SOS Children's Village was officially opened in Cebu. The city of Cebu is the second largest city in the Philippines.  The SOS Children's Village is located in the district of Talamban, approximately 10 minutes by car from the city centre.

An elementary school can be reached on foot in five minutes from the SOS Children's Village, hospitals and secondary schools are not far away, either. SOS Children's Village Cebu consists of several family houses, the village director's house, a community centre and a library.

Other SOS Projects in Cebu

The smaller children are looked after at the SOS Nursery School, which has six group rooms and is also open to children from the neighbourhood.

An SOS Youth Home is affiliated to the project. It was opened in 1990 and renovated in 2000 and a new building was added then. Older boys from the SOS Children's Village normally move to the SOS Youth Home when they start a vocational training course or go on to higher education. With the support of qualified youth workers, they develop realistic perspectives for their future, learn to shoulder responsibility and increasingly make their own decisions. They are encouraged to develop team spirit and build up contacts with relatives and friends, as well as with the relevant authorities and potential employers.

In 2007, SOS Children's Villages set up an SOS Social Centre in Cebu and launched its family strengthening programmes. These programmes are intended to support families at risk of abandoning their children and to encourage families to stay together.

SOS Children's Villages therefore works with local authorities and other service providers to support families and enable them to take good care of their children. Family strengthening programmes provide nutritional, educational and health support as well as vocational training, career counselling sessions and job placement support. Families are linked with existing self-help groups; if there is no group, a new one is formed. The programmes also aim at raising awareness of hygiene and child rights and improving people's parenting skills.

SOS Children's Villages does not just take good care of children and youths but also of its employees: a home for retired SOS mothers has been established in Cebu.

Background to Cebu

Cebu is one of the provinces of the Philippines and is located to the east of Negros island; to the west of Leyte, and Bohol islands. Cebu is located on both sides by the straits of Bohol (between Cebu, and Bohol), and Tañon (between Cebu, and Negros).