Sponsor's update from Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Child sponsor update from the SOS Children's Village Tashkent Uzbekistan from Winter 2007/2008

Dear Friend,

With the approval of New Year we have a good possibility to share with our true and invaluable friends about our Village life for this year and express our heartfelt congratulations on Christmas! It is so wonderful that we have a chance to write the precious words to you for the time of being with us. May there be peace and happiness in your family and prosperity in your business! May this New Year bring you and your nearest and dearest only pure and joyful senses!

So far, there are 99 children in our Village. A girl, who reached 17, left the Village in August. She is a second year student in Medical College. She wanted to return to her grandmother’s home in order to reunify her extended family. She often visits Village and we are in a constant contact with her.

This September another 6 youths entered to the Colleges according to their interests and future plans. As a help to youths in choosing a profession, pedagogical staff organises career guidance for them. So up today there are 12 college students and one girl works at the Uzbek theatre. From January Youth Facility Leader was employed. As first Youth Facility is planned to open in 2008, now she works on seeking of temporary decisions for the SOS Youth Home. All preparation works with youths are carried out according to the plans and manuals and we reached good results.

11 SOS children went to school to first class. Presently, only 3 SOS children attend nursery school. That is why, our SOS Nursery School increases the amount of children from nearby society and a total number of nursery age children are 18. To work with children in open aria, there was constructed a pavilion. Children, together with SOS Nursery teachers, painted it and enjoying of playing in it.

Working with children

Our hobby groups corporate with other different organisations in the similar sphere. Thus, our children visited Uzbek-Japan Cultural Center in order to get acquainted with the Japan culture. And 5 children participated in contest about Japan culture. Even there were no SOS children in the winner’s list, it had tremendous effect to pursue further increasing their horizon.

All children have appropriate medical services. In April our 15 year-old boy, who had congenital heart disease was successfully surgered in State hospital free of charge. It was a serious and hard surgery to the heart.

We flourish in close cooperation with other children’s centers in various fields. In March the specialists from Choreography College examined our girls in order to reveal capable ones for the admission to their College. Thus, 2 of our girls of 14 years were chosen to continue their education there in specialised way. In September one of our teenagers Adkhamov Javokhir participated in 6 day seminar of young journalists in the mountains, after which he was included to the City Children’s Parliament. Also in that month, 14 year-old boy entered special sport and military school. He lives and studies there. Up to now, we have two boys studying in this area.

Legal Clinic under the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) organised training on labour rights for children of SOS Children's Village in Tashkent on November. Legal Clinic students together with training specialists and legal expert conducted the training on children rights at SOS Children's Village in Tashkent. The training aimed at raising legal awareness and providing knowledge on labour law of the SOS Children’s Village inhabitants.

The training was organised based on interest of children from the SOS Children’s Village in improvement their knowledge in legal sphere, including labour legislation. The staff of the SOS Children’s Village said that it is important for children to know their rights in labour sphere as they want to work during holiday periods.

We are happy to write about our children’s life to you. We always appreciate how significant you are in life of our children.

For the year to come we wish you peace and love to all your family! May another day bring you only calmness and confidence in future! May love rule in your home, and luck, and happiness follow you forever!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

With warmest regards from Uzbekistan,
Mrs. Laziza Azimova, National Director