Child Sponsorship background from Assomada, Cape Verde

SOS Children's Village Assomada

The official opening ceremony of the SOS Children’s Village Assomada took place in October 1984. The SOS Children's Village Assomada is located on the island of Santiago, the largest of nine inhabited Cape Verde Islands.

The SOS Children's Village Assomada consists of ten family houses, a village director’s house, a house for the SOS Aunts (which care for the children in case of the SOS Mother’s absence), an administrative and service building with a small clinic, a library, a multi-purpose hall, a play and sports ground, an amphitheatre, a village kitchen for the staff, and a joinery workshop which is run by former SOS youth.

Other SOS Projects in Assomada

The adjoined SOS Nursery is run in four classrooms, and is also open to local children not from the SOS Children’s Village. Some of the children are also taught through the Montessori-method. Furthermore, the nursery features its own kitchen and sports ground. As the nursery is the only one in Assomada, the demand for places is high.

From around 15 years of age, young people are housed in the SOS Youth Home. As the young people are only supervised by one educator, the life in the SOS youth village endows them with a very high degree of self-responsibility. It is therefore an important step towards an independent life, which is thoroughly monitored by SOS mothers, village directors, and psychologists, and to which approximately four years are assigned - extendable for prolonged periods of education or job search. The SOS Youth Home consists of five rooms, a common room, a kitchen, two living rooms, and two dining rooms.

Background to Assomada

From the little town of Assomada, which lies on a plateau, it is only about 40 km to Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. To the west, there is a superb view of the mountains. A market place, a hospital and a church are quite close to the SOS Children's Village.

Assomada plays an important commercial role and is has a pleasant combination of urban areas and fields. The city centre features many Portuguese-style colonial buildings. In the center of town lie churches, banks, and several town squares (praças).

The market of Assomada is one of the largest on the island of Santiago, with a large variety of agricultural products and crafts. It is the central collection and distribution point for products produced throughout the surrounding countryside, and while the consumer-focused market is very large and vibrant, the majority of the trade is between middlemen (rabidantis) who bring the produce to larger national and international markets.