Child Sponsorship background from Aleppo, Syria

SOS Children's Village Aleppo

SOS Children's Village Aleppo opened its gates in the spring of 1998, though the official inauguration took place two years later. The SOS Children's Village consists of a number of family houses, the village director's house, an administration and service area, a house for the so-called SOS aunts (SOS mother trainees or family helpers who support the SOS mothers in their daily work and fill in for them when they are ill or on leave), a guest house for co-workers, a sports field, a multi-purpose hall, and an SOS Nursery, which is also open to children from the neighbourhood.

The nursery has four classrooms, enough capacity for around 100 children. There are an additional three rooms for the head and the educators. At the SOS Children's Village, children and youngsters can take part in a variety of free-time activities, such as painting and drawing, book clubs, arts and crafts, needlework, and different kinds of sports. Trips to the cinema and to the theatre are organised. Most of the children regularly go to the beach, where they have fun swimming and playing in the sea. For a special treat, children can visit a zoo called "The Magic World", which is near the SOS Children's Village. There is a primary school and a market in the nearby village of Khan El Assal. The city centre of Aleppo can easily be reached by public transport.

Other SOS Projects in Aleppo

At the beginning of the new millennium, an SOS Youth House was built in Aleppo. With only one educator to take care of them, the youngsters are quite independent and have to take responsibility for their lives. For youngsters from the SOS Children's Villages, moving to an SOS Youth Home is usually the first step towards an independent life. SOS mothers, educators and village directors prepare the youngsters very carefully for this important step in their lives. Young people usually stay at the SOS Youth Home until they have finished their education or training and found a job. This takes four years on average.