Kotajk

Country information

The SOS Children's Village which was built earthquake-proof using pre-fabricated elements and was already completed in 1990. In 1992, a SOS-kindergarten was added, which takes in children from the neighbourhood as well. On 18 April 1998 the SOS Children's Village Kotajk was officially opened in the presence of Mr Helmut Kutin, president of SOS-Kinderdorf International, and other guests of honour. In February 2001 a SOS Youth Facility was opened, 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. The SOS Children's Village Kotajk is situated in the city of Kotajk, about 15 km north of the capital of Yerevan. The plot of land measures about 6 ha and was donated by the local authorities. It is perfectly integrated into the public supply system. The SOS Children's Village Kotajk consists of 12 family houses, a SOS kindergarten, a Village Director's house, accommodation for the aunts, a Community House, offices and staff quarters. In spring 1998, the children together with an artist painted some of the family houses. The children were working enthusiastically and since then, colourful paintings decorate the walls of the rather austere pre-fabricated houses. The themes of these paintings were "1700 years of Christianity in Armenia" and "50 years SOS Children's Villages".