Khulna

Country information

The third SOS Children's Village of Bangladesh was built in the city of Khulna in 1982. Khulna is located in the Southeast of the country, in the Ganges Delta. It is the third largest city of Bangladesh, with approximately 600,000 inhabitants (1991). The SOS Children's Village Khulna is situated 2 km from the city centre, in the Gollamari area, on the main road to the harbour. It consists of 16 family houses. In 1990, a primary school was opened. This school is also attended by children from the neighbourhood. The grown-up boys of the SOS Children's Village stay at the SOS Youth House where they are prepared for their independent lives. In December 1995, the first boys were able to move into the new SOS Youth Village Bagerhat, where they can learn various trades and skills at the adjoining SOS Vocational Training Centre. The SOS Social Centre for Mother and Child with a medical clinic and a day-care centre for children is very important for the neighbourhood. Children from poor families are looked after during the day, which enables their mothers to go to work and to contribute to their families' income. At weekends, the centre arranges courses for mothers which provide advice on child care, hygiene, nutrition and domestic skills, such as sewing, knitting and other crafts. There is also a Mothers' Club with recreational programmes.