Sponsor a child in the Czech Republic

Help available to vulnerable families living in the Czech Republic is notoriously lacking. Children are often being taken from the home and placed in old-fashioned state-run institutions ill-equipped to deal with the needs of the children in their care. SOS Children has been a continued charity presence in the Czech Republic since 1989.

You can help a Czech child who needs your help by taking out a sponsorship with SOS Children:

A country reeling from the economic crisis

The Czech economy has steadily grown since it joined the European Union in 1994. However, employment was badly hit by the economic crisis, with 9% of the workforce unemployed in 2011. The move away from manufacturing into the service industry means that older workers have been particularly badly affected. And while Prague enjoys relative prosperity, other parts of the country suffer much higher rates of joblessness.

Children languish in old-fashioned care homes

The Czech Republic has an unusually high number of children living in old and inadequate state-run care homes. Families receive little support to overcome difficult circumstances, and children are often removed from the family and sent to overburdened institutions which cannot provide the level of care children need. National figures suggest nearly half of these children are involved in crime at some point in their lives.

Our Work in the Czech Republic

These statistics are unacceptable to us. SOS Children began trying to redress the balance in 1969, when our founder Hermann Gmeiner was invited to visit. Sadly, political events forced us to leave the country in 1974, but we returned after the fall of communism in 1989, and have been a continued presence ever since.

Doubi

Although SOS Doubi opened in 1970, it fell into state hands following political upheaval in 1974. SOS Children regained control in 1989, and has been actively involved in improving the standard of care for lone children in the country. The area is well-equipped with local facilities, with Village children able to attend the local schools in the nearest town of Karlový Váry. Children can enjoy sport on a playing field and sports ground. Two SOS Youth Homes in Karlový Váry help older children on their way to adult life. Here, qualified social workers guide them towards independence while they finish their studies or vocational training.

Chvalčov

Medlánky

In 2002, we opened a third Village in Medlánky, near Brno in Southern Moravia. A social centre on the Village site provides somewhere for families to come together, often for festivities. An activity house runs workshops for children, while a playground provides outdoor space.

At present there are three SOS Children's Villages in the Czech Republic, two SOS Youth Facilities and one SOS Mother and Staff Training Centre.

Life in SOS Children's Villages Czech Republic

Jirka came to the SOS Children's Village Karlovy Vary when he was three. Little was known of his future sporting talent then. However, the obvious ambition to be a winner was hiding in the small child’s soul. As he grew up, Jirka tried football and basketball.  Eventually he firmly set himself on athletics, and he quickly progressed.

In athletics, Jirka particularly enjoys long-distance runs. His resilience and determination are key to his continuing progress.  He won the Running Youth Cup for a series of runs in 2009, some reward for the many hours put into the training track.

Jirka also won recognition also in a less well known discipline – dog training. In 2009, he became the Youth Champion of the Czech Republic in training. Why did he get into training? At the end of the summer of 2006, Jirka’s sister Klarka brought home an abandoned puppy. It showed an unfailing will to live. Jirka took charge of the puppy at home and he started training the dog to perform a few simple skills. Dog training calls for accuracy, speed and perfect harmony between the dog handler and the dog. Jirka spent many hours with his dog. Initial failures did not discourage him, and he is now a respected trainer.

Local Contact

Sdruzeni SOS Detských Vesnicek