Jammu

Country information

For many years, there have been violent clashes in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, which are due to the religious conflicts between the Moslem majority and the Hindu minority as well as to the endeavours of some political groups to achieve independence from India. Numerous terrorist acts against the civil population have left scores of families homeless and many children without parents. Before 1994, SOS Kinderdorf International had already run several emergency relief projects in Jammu, concentrating mainly on the destitute women and children in the refugee camps. In 1994, numerous orphans were given a new home in rented buildings. In 1998, the SOS Children's Village Jammu finally opened its doors. It is situated on the outskirts of the old temple city of Jammu and consists of 12 family homes, the Village Director's house, a multi-purpose hall and various administrative buildings. The smaller children are looked after at the SOS Kindergarten. The SOS clinic is open to the people from the neighbourhood. There is an SOS School, which is attended by children from the SOS Children's Village as well as children whose families live in the vicinity.