Child sponsorship update from Santa Tecla, El Salvador

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Santa Tecla, El Salvador from Winter 2007/2008.

Dear Friends,

Receive a warm greeting from El Salvador and from the children of the SOS Children Village Santa Tecla. It is a pleasure to salute you and let you know more about the life in the village. We hope you enjoy reading and knowing more about the activities and events of this year 2007.

This year we had 67 boys and 68 girls in our village, between the ages of 6 moths and 17 years. The young ones participate in an independency programme that prepares them for their independent life. They begin when they are still living at the village, before they leave to the SO youth facility and have to deal with all the responsibilities by themselves. We have a volunteer that helps our young ones over 16 to find a part-time job. Right now a young man is working in one of the best restaurants of the area. Here in the Village we respect the children’s rights and the OIT law, specialty when it comes to underage work.

This year we welcomed 4 children between the ages of 2 and 6 years old. All of them have had a very successful adaptation process and the change of home has really changed their lives. Currently we have 2 psychologists attending 24 children in psychological treatment regarding some specific themes; and 2 youth psychologists attending 17 boys, 3 girls, 9 young man and 7 young ladies.

One of our biggest challenges is to keep all of our children in school. Some of them didn’t go to school when they were in their biological families, so they drop out of school saying simply that they don’t like to study, but we are doing our best effort to motivate them so they can learn more.

We had a Christmas card drawing contest. The children have also participated in our Independence Day parties, holly week and traditional celebrations of El Salvador. The children have also taken part in sport matches with other schools and in the community. Four girls and four boys are currently participating in a national forum of children’s rights; they have assisted to conferences and debates about the reality of the boys and girls in El Salvador.

Events at Santa Tecla, El Salvador

We have received several donations during the year such as fruits, grains and clothes, bringing a lot of benefits to our children in the village.

Right now we are working on a programme with the mothers, the young man and women and the youth leader to make the transition from the village to the SOS youth facility a little easier. In January 16 young man and women will move to the SOS youth facility; they began the programme in august. The experience is very emotional, because although the young people go to the SOS youth facility, they are still bond to their SOS home.

Most of our children come from very poor families and others because their rights have been broken by their own families. Most of our children, around 72%, were in risk to be live on their fate and the rest are orphans. Most children are abandoned because of the extreme poorness of their families.

Almost all our young ones have finished high school, some of them are in college and others have part-time jobs, some of them in very important bakeries. For this year we have had painting, drawing, music and dance shops. All the children have enjoyed all these activities.

We want to tell you that we are very happy and thankful to you because of your help and support to your sponsored children. Thank you for making all this possible, God blesses you always. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Yours sincerely,

Sonia del Carmen Orellana Figueroa, Village Director & Vanessa María Carballo Bolaños, International Sponsorships Coordinator, SOS Children El Salvador