Sponsor's update from Urumqi, China

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Urumqi, China from Winter 2008.

There are 133 children in total being taken care of in SOS Children’s Village Urumqi China. 119 of them have started schooling. This year we accept 15 more orphans from Xinjiang Region. They were sent to the village because their relatives could not support them to go to school. As soon as they came to the village, they went through a thorough physical check. In the constant care of their respective SOS mothers, they soon recovered from previous malnutrition and other underdevelopment problems. Several months later, as they became used to the life in the village, they soon gradually love the village and their respective SOS families as well.

This year, we also organised some cultural activities for children in the village. In the winter vacation, shortly after the Spring Festival, we took our kids to pay a visit to some elderly people without families in our neighboring communities. The purpose of this activity is to make the SOS kids understand they can also offer some help to other people. We also took our children to see a picture exhibit of poor children in northwest China. In addition, we encouraged our children to experience selling newspapers in the street. By letting our children do so, we hoped that our children could learn to cherish current life in the village. In the summer, we also organised for our kids many other activities, including interesting sport games, a public behavior training programme, a youth leadership training program etc. These activities broadened our kid’s view, developed their personality, improved their social skills, and taught them to take some responsibilities as well.

Children learning at Urumqi, China

This summer, 30 children of ours have finished their elementary schooling. Now all of them are studying and making progresses in their junior high school. 2 youth, who graduated from junior high school and did not pass the entrance exam of senior high school, choose to study at secondary technical school. One majored in welding technology, and the other Electrical Appliances & Control.

This year, our children have made great progress in their school study and special skill development as well. With the help from their teachers and mothers, 49 children from our village have won various awards at school, such as Outstanding Leader of Students Organisations, Civilized Student, Good Student and so on. Our children also have won 2 golden medals in a national musical instrument playing competition, 2 silver medals in local Guzheng (a traditional musical instrument) playing competition, 2 silver medals in a singing contest, and 1 silver medal in a local painting contest. In addition, many children have gained their certificates of musical skills at deferent levels. Sometimes they are encouraged to participate in some community culture activities, which help them with practices and to build their confidence as well.

Nursery School

Affiliated to the SOS Children’s Village, the SOS Nursery School plays an active role in providing day care and pre-school education for the families in our neighborhood. This year, the nursery school pays much attention to not only the quality of day care but also pre-school education. It provides special classes to children who are talented or have special interests. One child won an award for his talented performance in a local fashion show for children. At present, 120 children (including 16 from the SOS village) are receiving day care and pre-school education in the SOS Nursery School.

Youth Facility

It is three years since the Youth House opened. Up to now, the number of the youth has amounted from 16 to 25. This year we mainly focus on social behavior training, adolescent health education, prevention of juvenile delinquencies, development of social responsibilities etc. Meanwhile, we get our SOS families to be involved in youths’ education. The youths have got used to being considered as a member of the youth community and have improved their ability of self-management and self reliance.