Sponsor's update from Dhodial, Pakistan

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Dhodial, Pakistan from April 2008.

Dear Sponsor,

This comes with greetings from all of us associated with the SOS Children’s Village, Dhodial Pakistan. We have just completed the twenty fifth year of our existence, which makes it the Silver Jubilee of the Village. Commencing in October 1982 with 35 children living in four family houses, we today have 215 children in our care.

The village has a population of 161 children, 62 are boys and 99 are girls. The children live in 16 family houses. During the period, 6 children have departed whereas we have had a fresh intake of 34 children, 50 girls regularly attend the Vocational Training Centre of the village.

The SOS Public School & College Dhodial is located in the Village premises and now serves the need of 452 children including 238 students from the outside community. The school standard of education has impressed the public and attracted admissions. The result of the annual examination in June 2007 was very good. In overall terms we have Mehnaz doing MBBS from International Medical College, Abbottabad; three boys Mohammad, Saddam and Mohammad are attending the Scouts Cadet College, Batrasi; Bushra has completed MBA from Hazara University and stood first in her class with 80 % marks. One girl Abida is studying Architecture at National College of Arts, Lahore, whereas, Zahir is on scholarship in Gujranwala University working towards Bachelors in Computer Sciences.

SOS Youth Home Abbottabad facility houses 54 boys. All of them attend local schools and colleges. The annual exams saw them all promoted to higher classes with some of them scoring more than 70 % marks. During 2007, seven boys departed from the Youth Home, whereas 21 boys were inducted from the SOS Village, Dhodial. 12 Boys attend the Vocational Training Centre in the Youth Home to under-go trade training as electricians and welders.

Events at Dhodial, Pakistan

The year has been eventful and we have progressed at a wonderful pace. In the objectives worked out for the current year we will concentrate on the in-house training of mothers to enable them to participate usefully in training at the National Training Center established by the National Office in Lahore. Adult Literacy programme for mothers will continue to be a regular feature. One of the senior girls will conduct the programme. The results so far are encouraging. Teacher training for the school is to become an integral part of the plan for the next year. Since we have just completed our first ever self-assessment survey it will help in evolving a comprehensive child development plan for 2008

Reunion of Ex-SOS Children was celebrated in March 2007 and was a great success. 59 youths and their families attended and shared happy memories of their time spent in the village and Youth Home.

SOS Mother Day was celebrated in June 2007. Our senior most mother Amraizan Bibi, now aged 69, with 20 years of service as a mother was the guest of honor at the function. The celebration ended with a grand dinner.

On 14th August, Independence Day and Parents Day was celebrated with fervor in a befitting manner.

Eid (religious festival) was celebrated traditionally with enthusiasm. All the children dressed in their new clothes and shoes. They had fun spending their “eidee” gift money, and a grand get-together was arranged for lunch.

International Children’s Day was celebrated with local indoor and outdoor games in the Village where boys from the Youth Home and children of EQ Shelter Home also participated.

The rural environment of Dhodial village is an interesting blend of a serene atmosphere congenial to the background of the children and the absence of more sophisticated urban life. In general terms such environment is conducive to the development of the child.

2007 was an eventful year with the children happily adjusted to life in the village. On behalf of all the children of SOS Dhodial, we would like to thank you once again for your generous sponsorship. With generous sponsors like you, we are sure our world-wide SOS fraternity will continue to flourish. Have a great summer!