Port Elizabeth

Country information

The SOS Children's Village is located in Schauderville, a suburb of Port Elizabeth, and was built on the site of an orphanage for boys; these boys were the first to move into the new Village in 1990. Roughly two years later, in 1992, the SOS Children's Village Port Elizabeth was officially opened by Helmut Kutin, president of SOS-Kinderdorf International. From the rocky mountain ridge, where the SOS Children's Village Port Elizabeth was erected, you have a beautiful view over Algoa Bay. The local people's standard of living is well below average. However, there is a choice of five different primary schools for the children from the SOS Children's Village and of two secondary schools. There is also a big hospital nearby. The SOS Children's Village consists of 15 family houses for the children and mothers, some offices, a SOS kindergarten, which is attended by nearly 100 children, and sports facilities. An SOS Youth Facility is also included to the SOS Children's Village Port Elizabeth, where 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. In January 2002 a SOS Social Centre, giving support to HIV/AIDS affected families, was opened.