Ennerdale

Country information

Ennerdale, located approx. 30 km south of Johannesburg, is an area with an extreme growth rate. Therefore it was decided in 1999 to erect a SOS Social Centre consisting of a medical centre, a day care centre and a life skills training centre for mothers and parents, which opened its doors in March 2000. About 2000 people from the neighbourhood benefit from this facility. Additionally, HIV/AIDS affected families are provided with help and support. The SOS Children's Village of Ennerdale consists of 16 family houses, a Village Director's house, an aunts' house, a Community House with a hall, a library and administrative facilities. Furthermore, there are staff quarters and a laundry which also houses a sewing room. The grounds of the SOS Children's Village, which were very dry in the beginning, are verdant now like an oasis with many flowers and trees. There is a beautiful playground and an SOS Kindergarten, which can admit about 100 children and is also attended by children from the neighbourhood. After fifteen years of operation, it became necessary to build SOS Youth Houses, where the youths live during the time of their vocational training or education and prepare themselves for an independent life under the guidance of their youth leaders. Moreover, it was required to take the first SOS mothers nearing retirement in consideration and it was decided to build an accommodation for them. Thus, they can stay in the SOS Children's Village after their retirement and take over the part of grandmothers.