Child Sponsorship Background from Mombasa, Kenya

SOS Children's Village Mombasa

Construction works for the SOS Children's Village Mombasa were completed in 1979. In the same year, the first children and SOS mothers moved in.The SOS Children's Village Mombasa developed in the Northern shore of the Bay of Mombasa, 500 metres from the coast.

It consists of twelve family houses, a village director's house, staff flats, a house for the SOS Aunts (SOS Aunts take care of the children in case of an SOS Mother's absence), and an administrative and service unit. Each family house comprises a small garden in which fruits and vegetables are cultivated. The keeping of goats, cows and geese makes a valuable contribution towards the Village's self-sufficiency. 120 children are currently housed in the SOS Children's Village Mombasa.

Other SOS Projects in Mombasa

The attached SOS Nursery School was opened in 1979, and consists of four group rooms, a playground, and several secondary rooms. It is currently attended by 100 children both from the SOS Children's Village, and the local neighbourhood.

A Youth House for the older youths who were soon to outgrow the SOS Children's Village was rented in 1995, in the town of Maweni, some four kilometres from the SOS Children's Village. Meanwhile, a total of six SOS Youth Houses were developed. The children move into the SOS Youth House at around 15 years of age, giving them more responsibility as they are only supervised by one youth educator. SOS mothers, village directors and psychologists carefully prepare the youngsters for this significant step towards independence, to which roughly four years are assigned; extendable for prolonged education.

Since its establishment in 2001, the SOS Primary School has developed into an indispensable educational facility. It is currently attended by about 480 children from both the SOS Children's Village, and the local Neighbourhood. It consists of 16 classrooms, a library, a multi-purpose hall, and an administrative unit.

Background to Mombasa

Mombasa is the second largest city and former capital of Kenya. It lies on the Indian Ocean, and has a population of over 700,000.  It is a centre for tourism and a major port.  The city is surrounded by vast slums, with poor infrastructures, overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions.