Child Sponsorship Background from Cape Town, South Africa

SOS Children's Village Cape Town

SOS Children's Village Cape Town was established in Thornton, about ten kilometres away from the city centre, in a beautiful spot with a magnificent view of the Table Mountain and has been operational since March 1994. The official opening took place on 25 May 1996 in the presence of Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, and Helmut Kutin, president of SOS Children's Villages International.

SOS Children's Village Cape Town consists of fifteen family houses, an administration and service area, a multi-purpose hall, a library, a computer lab, a sports field 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 150 children can find a new home in the fifteen family houses.

Other SOS Projects in Cape Town

The adjoining SOS Nursery has a capacity to take in up to 75 children and comprises three group rooms and a playground. In order to meet the needs of the growing number of youths who had outgrown the SOS Children's Village, an SOS Youth Home was established in 2000, where up to 14 youths can stay during higher education or further training and prepare themselves for an independent life.

An SOS Social Centre, co-ordinating an HIV/AIDS community-based child care and support programme, was set up in January 2002. HIV/AIDS affected families receive material and medical support, education and counselling and they are supported with income generating activities. Moreover, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaigns are organised.

Background to Cape Town

Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa (with a population estimated at 3.5 million), and the largest in land area, forming part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality. It is the provincial capital and primary city of the Western Cape, as well as the legislative capital of South Africa, where the National Parliament and many government offices are situated.