Maputo

Country information

The SOS Children's Village Maputo is located in a hilly region, dominated by sand dunes with poor vegetation, about 7 km from the city centre, in Laulane, one of the suburbs of Maputo, in the middle of a squatter area, where thousands of people have to fetch water at one of the few water points and carry it home over long distances. The SOS Children's Village Maputo comprises 11 Family Houses, a SOS Kindergarten as well as a SOS Primary and Secondary School with a canteen. In the mid 90s, the erection of SOS Youth Facilities and houses for retired SOS Mothers was decided, which opened their doors in 1999. The youths stay in the SOS Youth Facilities during the time of their vocational training or education and prepare themselves for an independent life under the guidance of their youth leaders. By means of creating accommodation for retired SOS Mothers, the women can stay in the SOS Children's Village after their retirement and take over the part of grandmothers. The school is open to all children from the neighbourhood, and as there are hardly any other schools in this region, the local population highly appreciates the activities of SOS. In late 2002 a SOS Social Centre was put into operation which organises HIV/AIDS awareness programmes and workshops.