Child Sponsorship Background from Chengdu, China

SOS Children's Village Chengdu

The SOS Children's Village consists of 15 family houses, the house of the village director, a house for the SOS aunts (family helpers who support the SOS mothers) and an administration and service area. There is a room for medical treatment, where a doctor attends to the medical needs of the children and staff of the village.

Other SOS Projects in Chengdu

In addition to that, there is an SOS Nursery and an SOS Youth Home. The SOS Nursery consists of six group rooms and some additional rooms. It is attended by both children from the SOS Children's Village and from the neighbourhood. Having a place where someone looks after their children while they are at work makes life easier for working parents. The SOS Nursery has a very good reputation.

The SOS Youth Home comprises two youth houses and some flats. Young people often move out of the village and into a youth facility 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 children from the SOS Children's Village attend the schools in the neighbourhood. Most primary school children go to near-by Huazhao School, where the teachers have developed a very good understanding of the needs of the SOS children. As for secondary school pupils, the local authorities have agreed to a reduction in school fees for youngsters from the SOS Children's Village. During their free time, the children can participate in a number of activities at the SOS Children's village: sports, language lessons, dancing, music, traditional Chinese painting etc.

2001 saw the opening of an SOS Vocational Training Centre in Chengdu, where training courses for SOS mothers and staff take place. There is one building with six seminar rooms, a library, a kitchen and a dining room, as well as a second building with accommodation for 20 to 25 staff members. Training courses for SOS mothers and staff members take place on a regular basis.

Background to Chengdu

Chengdu, located in southwest China, is the capital of Sichuan province and a sub-provincial city. Chengdu is also one of the most important economic centres, transportation and communication hubs in Western China. According to the 2007 Public Appraisal for Best Chinese Cities for Investment, Chengdu was chosen as one of the top ten cities to invest in out of a total of 280 urban centers in China.