Child Sponsorship background from Lekenik, Croatia

Lekenik is a village and a municipality in central Croatia, located between Zagreb and Sisak and Velika Gorica in the lowland region of Turopolje. The population of Lekenik is around 2,000 people with 6,170 people in the municipality, notably in larger villages like Pešćenica (915), Letovanić (539), Donji Vukojevac (468), Dužica (395). The majority of the population is made up of Croats at 97%. The movie Fiddler on the Roof (1971) ends with the credit: "Our thanks to the people of the villages of Lekenik and Mala Gorica and the city of Zagreb, Croatia."

SOS Children's Village Lekenik is located on the outskirts of the town, next to a primary and a secondary school. The official opening ceremony took place in October 1993.

SOS Children's Village Lekenik altogether comprises fifteen family houses, an administrative area, a workshop, a community building and houses for the village director and the SOS aunts (who support the SOS mothers and take care of the children when the mothers are on leave). Up to 98 children can find a new home there. A playground has also been created. The daily care of the children rests in the capable hands of fifteen SOS mothers, who can count on the help of SOS aunts, the village director, educational assistants, a psychologist and a village caretaker. A leisure centre offers different activities for the children from the SOS Children's Village Lekenik as well as for children from the neighbourhood.

The children from the vicinity have also the possibility to attend the SOS Nursery School, which consists of two group rooms, a kitchen and a playground; it has a capacity to take in up to sixty children. The SOS Youth Facilities in Zagreb and Velika Gorica can take in up to 38 youngsters. The large and close-knit SOS family at the SOS Children's Village Lekenik shares the same responsibilities and joys as any other family.