Child Sponsorship background from Luján, Argentina

SOS Children's Village Luján

SOS Children's Village Luján is located in the city of the same name in the Buenos Aires province. It is about 67 kilometres west of the capital city. Luján has approximately 100,000 inhabitants and is situated at 30 metres above sea level on the river Luján. The majority of people living in Luján work in agriculture (cattle breeding), industry and commerce. The latter, however, is an activity of minor importance in this region. Tourism is another sector of interest, primarily due to the large number of pilgrims coming to the basilica "Nuestra Señora de Luján" in order to see the statue of the Virgin of Luján.

A growing number of people living on the outskirts of the city decide to move to Luján, looking for work and better living conditions. However, many of them cannot turn their hopes and dreams into reality, and a considerable number of parents and single mothers find themselves unable to care for their children without additional support. As public authorities are not in a position to improve the lot of all families in need, the organisation decided to build an SOS Children's Village in Luján.

The SOS Children's Village was built in the "Americano" district of Luján, which is one of the rather modest parts of the city. The village consists of fourteen family houses, the house of the village director and a house for the SOS aunts (SOS Children's Village mothers in training, who assist current SOS mothers in their everyday work and fill in for them when they are ill or take time off). Children and youths living at the village go to public nurseries and schools; shopping centres, convenience-stores, supermarkets and doctor's offices can all be found very close to the SOS Children's Village, which has good transport links to all areas of the town and direct access to the main road leading to the city centre.