Varanasi

Country information

Construction of the SOS Children's Village Varanasi started in 1982. Varanasi is situated in the Indian state with the largest population, Uttar Pradesh. The SOS Children's Village is located in a rural area about 25 km from the city of Varanasi, which is a holy place for Hindus. There is a Hindu temple underneath ancient banyan trees on the premises of the SOS Children's Village. The SOS Children's Village Varanasi consists of 17 family homes, the Village Director's house, staff quarters, a multi-purpose hall and various administrative buildings. The smaller children attend the SOS Kindergarten, which is also open to children from local families. The older boys usually move to the SOS Youth House where they can prepare for their independent lives while they are still at school or during their vocational training. The SOS clinic provides basic medical care for the inhabitants of the SOS Children's Village and the people who live near by. On the site of the SOS Children's Village, there is also an SOS School. It is a secondary school, which is attended not only by children from the SOS Children's Village but also by children from the neighbourhood.