Child Sponsorship background from Comitán, Mexico

SOS Children's Village Comitán

SOS Children's Village Comitán resulted from an SOS Emergency Relief Programme in 1994.  Because of the violent struggle between indigenous insurgents and the Mexican army this programme was started and ended in 1997.  By that point, the situation was under control and there were no more refugees, though the conflict had not yet been resolved. 

A little later, construction of the SOS Children's Village and the SOS Social Centre started.  In March 1999, the first children and SOS mothers moved into their new homes. 

SOS Children's Village Comitán consists of many family houses, the village director's house, the aunts' (family helpers') house, a multi-purpose hall and an administration building.

Other SOS Projects in Comitán

The children from the SOS Children's Village attend public schools in the neighbouring community, which include a primary and secondary school as well as a technical university.  Since April 2005, there has been an SOS Youth Home, where young people gradually prepare for living independently.

SOS Social Centre Comitán runs a day-care centre, which consists of six group rooms, a dormitory and a multi-purpose hall.  It accepts well over 100 babies and children, both from the SOS Children's Village and the local community. Furthermore, the SOS Social Centre supports the local community through different measures of family strengthening, for example by organising childminding programmes or special workshops for parents.

Background to Comitán

With a population of approximately 80,000, Comitán is the fourth-largest city in the Mexican state of Chiapas.  It is not far from the border with Guatemala.  Chiapas is one of the poorest states in Mexico