Nongkhai

Country information

The third SOS Children's Village of Thailand was erected near the border with Laos, in the city of Nongkhai, which is situated on the river Mekong. The SOS Children's Village was completed in 1993. The northern province of Thailand is mainly an agricultural region, but there is also a very old tradition of handicrafts. The people of Nongkhai live mainly on trade with Laos, the capital of which, Vientiane, is situated just across the river. The SOS Children's Village Nongkhai was built near the modern government district of this provincial capital and consists of eleven family houses, the Village Director's house, a guest house, a workshop, a library and a community building. The houses were built in the traditional local style. There is an SOS Kindergarten, which is also open to children from the neighbourhood. Hospitals, schools and markets are close by. An SOS Youth House was established in Udon Thani, about 55 km from Nongkhai. It accommodates twelve young men and one educator. For the youths, this is the first step towards their independent lives.