Child Sponsorship Background from Mamelodi, South Africa

SOS Children's Village Mamelodi

The SOS Children's Village has been operational since 1987 and meanwhile has been extended several times.

SOS Children's Village Mamelodi comprises fifteen family houses, 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), and an administration and service area. Up to 150 children can find a new home in the fifteen family houses and are lovingly cared for by their SOS mothers.

Other SOS Projects in Mamelodi

The SOS Nursery on the same premises has a capacity to take in up to 100 children and consists of four group rooms and a playground. Children from both the SOS Children's Village and the local community are admitted to the SOS Nursery. In order to meet the needs of the growing number of youths who had outgrown the SOS Children's Village, an SOS Youth Facility was established in 1991, where up to 60 youths can stay during higher education or further training and prepare themselves for an independent life.

The SOS Social Centre co-ordinates a training centre and an HIV/AIDS community-based child care and support programme. The training centre has been operational since 1993 and offers courses in information technology and dressmaking to up to 2,000 people a year. Since 2002, HIV/AIDS affected families have been receiving material and medical support, education and counselling and are supported with income generating activities. Besides, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaigns are organised.

Background to Mamelodi

Mamelodi, part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, is a black township set up by the then apartheid government northeast of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. In the 1960s black citizens were forcefully removed from the suburb of Lady Selbourne in Pretoria to Mamelodi, Ga-Rankuwa and Atteridgeville.

Since 2001 Mamelodi has had a large Aids outreach program helping several thousand orphans in the community. Mamelodi is home to the largest Aids Hospice Center in South Africa with 140 beds available free of charge.