Child Sponsorship Background from Morelia, Mexico

Children from Morelia, MexicoSOS Children's Village Morelia

Michoacán is one of the poorest Mexican federal states, where many children suffer from poverty, abuse and abandonment. There are no public institutions which have a long-term family-based system of caring for orphaned or abandoned children. Therefore the local government asked SOS Children's Villages to establish an SOS Children's Village in Morelia and donated a piece of land for its construction. The construction of this SOS Children's Village was financed by the fundraising campaign "6 villages for 2006", which was set up in co-operation with FIFA for the 2006 Football World Cup.

SOS Children's Village Morelia is situated in the northeast of Morelia, in Colonia Primo Tapa, a poor part of town. Despite the socio-economic problems of the local community, there is a good infrastructure: supermarkets, public transport, a nursery school, primary and secondary schools are within easy reach. The SOS Children's Village consists of a number of family houses, the village director's house, a multi-purpose hall, an administration and service area and a workshop.

A soccer field was laid out for the children and youths. Over 100 orphaned or abandoned children can find a new home at SOS Children's Village Morelia.

Background to Morelia

Morelia, Mexico, has a population of about 600,000 and is the capital and biggest city of the Mexican state of Michoacán. It is located in the Guayangareo Valley, surrounded by the Punhuato and Quinceo Hills, about 300 km west of Mexico City. It was founded in 1541, and the city centre is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as some of its buildings date from then.