ICYE-STEPS / ALDEA INFANTIL S.O.S 2018

The SOS Children”™s Village family-like structure is made up of four basic principles: mother, brothers and sisters, house and village. Each child is given a so-called SOS mother. She is the main person who cares for the child and is a substitute for the child”™s natural parents. She lives in a house together with the children that she is looking after. Together with them she organises the family”™s daily life. She creates strong and dependable relationships and gives the children a safe and loving home. The job of an SOS Children”™s Village Mother is usually carried out by single women who first have to complete an extensive training programme. They are supported in their important work by educational co-workers as well as by women who are still training to be SOS Children”™s Village mothers. Girls and boys of different ages grow up together in an SOS Children”™s Village family like brothers and sisters. Natural brothers and sisters are not separated. Children, from small babies to those aged 10 are taken in, unless there are brothers and sisters involved, in which case the children can be older. In Tuxtla Gutierrez, the main activities done include physical and psychological rehabilitation though different kinds of therapy. The aim of these activities is to improve the quality of life for the children and to stimulate their personal skills in order to improve their self-confidence. In addition to this, there are also other types of facilities and aid programmes whose main intention it is to improve living conditions for families in the neighbourhood on a long-term basis. The social centres, kindergartens, medical centres, training centres and schools are not only used by children and young people from the SOS Children”™s Village but are also there for the general public.