Child Sponsorship Background from Bandung, Indonesia

SOS Children's Village Lembang, near Bandung

The country's first SOS Children's Village was built in Lembang, which is situated about 15 km from the city of Bandung at an altitude of 1,300 m. The official opening took place on 2 March 1974.  SOS Children's Village Lembang consists of a number of family houses, the Village Director's house, a house for the aunts (family helpers who support the SOS mothers), a community house with a library, computer lab and sewing room, a playground and a sports field.

Other SOS Projects in Lembang

The SOS Children's village has its own SOS Nursery School, which is also attended by children from the neighbourhood.

At SOS Children's Village Lembang, people of different religious backgrounds, Muslim and Christian SOS families, are living together peacefully. SOS Children's Village Lembang also runs the well-known „Sekolah Dasar Pancasila“ (= Primary School Pancasila), which is attended by SOS children and children from the neighbouring residential area. Adolescents usually move from the village to one of the youth facilities (two youth houses in Bandung and one in Yogyakarta) when they start a vocational training course or go on to higher education. With the support of qualified youth workers, the young people 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.

The SOS Vocational Training Centre offers training for carpentry, metal work and computer training for the young people. In 1993/94, a home for retired SOS mothers was built. It also houses an SOS Social Centre with a dentist's surgery and a room for medical treatment, where the SOS children and people from the neighbourhood can be treated. The SOS Social Centre offers family strengthening, health counselling, community support, counselling and psychological support in the Bandung and Yogyakarta areas. The programmes are designed to ensure that children have access to essential services, such as education, health services and psycho-social support. Families are assisted with income generation. They also receive help when dealing with the authorities. People's parental skills and awareness of children's rights are improved.

In Lembang, there is also an SOS Training Centre for SOS mothers and co-workers. It includes a meeting room, a community room, a dining room, an administration and service area, as well as accommodation.

Background to Bandung

Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area, with 7.4 million in 2007. The city lies on a river basin and surrounded by volcanic mountains.