Child Sponsorship Background from Jacarepaguá, Brazil

SOS Children's Village Jacarepaguá

The SOS Children's Village Jacarepaguá was built in Rio de Janeiro, the former capital of Brazil. It opened its gates in June 1980. The SOS Children's Village is situated in the suburb of Jacarepaguá, a little way south of the city centre. It consists of a number of family houses, where well over a hundred children can find a new home. There is also the village director's house, a house for the so-called SOS aunts (SOS mother trainees or family helpers who support the SOS mothers during their daily work and fill in for them when they are ill or on leave), and an administration and service area.  Children from the SOS Children's Village usually attend the state-run schools in the neighbourhood.

Other SOS Projects in Jacarepaguá

In 2001, an SOS Youth Home was set up in the city centre. It houses up to twelve youths from the SOS Children's Village. Young people usually move from the SOS Children's Village to an SOS Youth Home 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.

At Jacarepaguá, there is also an SOS Social Centre, which offers full day-care for up to hundreds of pre-school children.

Background to Jacarepaguá

Jacarepaguá is a large neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  It has a population of about 100,000. Jacarepaguá is located in the West Zone of Rio in the Baixada de Jacarepaguá, between Maciço da Tijuca and the Serra da Pedra Branca. The upper middle class suburb Barra da Tijuca separates the suburb from the sea. The neighbourhood is known as one of the greenest areas of Rio.