Faridabad, Haryana
SOS Children's Village Faridabad
In 1984, the third SOS Children's Village in the Delhi area was opened at Faridabad.
SOS Children's Village Faridabad only has five family homes but there are numerous ancillary projects.
Other SOS Projects in Faridabad
The SOS Children's Village has its own SOS Nursery, which is open to children from the neighbourhood. There is also an SOS School with classes up to A level. This school with its 43 classrooms, workshops, laboratories, canteen and sports field is attended by children from SOS Children's Villages Faridabad and Greenfields as well as by children from the local community. At the SOS Vocational Training Centre, young people receive commercial and technical training. They can learn office skills, working with a computer, sewing or crafts.
In 2002, an SOS Youth Home was opened at Faridabad. Young people usually move from the SOS Children's Village to an SOS Youth Home when they start a vocational training course or go on to higher education. With the support of qualified youth workers, the young people develop realistic perspectives for their future, learn to shoulder responsibility and increasingly make their own decisions. They are encouraged to develop team spirit and build up contacts with relatives and friends, as well as with the relevant authorities and potential employers.
At Faridabad, there is also a training centre for SOS mothers and co-workers as well as a home for retired SOS mothers.
In 2002, SOS Children's Villages India launched its Family Strengthening Programmes in Faridabad. These programmes are intended to support families at risk of abandoning their children and to encourage families to stay together. SOS Children's Villages therefore works with local authorities and other service providers to support families and enable them to take good care of their children. The Faridabad Family Strengthening Programme provides nutritional, educational and health support as well as vocational training, career counselling sessions and job placement support. Families are linked with existing self-help groups; if there is no group, a new one is formed. The programme also aims at raising awareness of hygiene and child rights and improving people's parenting skills.