Child Sponsorship Background from Lusaka, Zambia

SOS Children's Village Lusaka

The SOS Children's Village Lusaka is located about six kilometres outside the city centre along the Great North Road on a sixteen hectares plot of land donated by the Zambian government.  The surrounding community is densely populated and very poor.  The SOS Children's Village is surrounded by eucalyptus trees, giving it a serene and peaceful atmosphere.  The architectural design is simple but appealing to the eye.  All buildings were built out of red burnt clay bricks with green roof tiles.  The official opening ceremony took place in 3 November 2000 under the presence of Dr. F.J.T. Chiluba, at that time president of Zambia.

There are various 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), an administrative building and a multi-purpose hall.

Other SOS Projects in Lusaka

The SOS Nursery School there consists of several rooms and a playground and children from the SOS Children's Village and the neighbourhood can be looked after by the staff of the SOS Nursery School. Youths who have already outgrown the SOS Children's Village usually move on to the nearby SOS Youth Facility, which consists of two houses for fifteen youngsters each.  The youngsters live there during the time of their vocational training or further education and prepare themselves for an independent life outside the SOS Children's Village.

The SOS Social Centre offers help to thousands of HIV/AIDS affected families, giving them material support including seeds and school feeds, basic medical treatment and psycho social support. Thousands of families receive treatment at the SOS Medical Centre every year, which consists of a chemist's shop, a room for medical treatment, laboratories and counselling, examination and observation rooms.

Background to Lusaka

Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau of the country.  With a population of more than one million it is considered one of the fastest growing cities in Africa.  It is a commercial centre as well as centre of government. It is home to the government and parliament as well as High Court.