Child sponsorship background from Montego Bay, Jamaica

Montego Bay is the second largest city in Jamaica with a population of around 230,000.  Jamaica's largest airport, the Sir Donald Sangster International Airport is based here and serves international flights, including Miami which is just 70 minutes away.  It is a cruise line terminal at Free Port with a man-made peninsula jutting into the bay, which is surrounded by mountains.  Doctor's Cave Beach has clear turquoise waters and is one of the most famous beaches on the island.

"Montego Bay" originates from the Spanish colonial days when items such as lard, leather, and beef were exported.  During the period of slavery it was largely a sugar port, and the 19th centruy slave revolt saw Samuel Sharpe proclaimed a national hero and the main square renamed in his honour.

Modern day Montego Bay, which became a city in 1980, has a regional hospital, port facilities, second homes for numerous wealthy Jamaicans from Kingston as well as Americans and Europeans, together with fine restaurants, and shopping opportunities.  The coastal landscape is dotted with tourist resorts from three star Sandals and 5 star Ritz Carlton, some of which occupy the grounds of old sugar cane plantations.  Montego Bay has been the set of various films and music festivals from reggae to blues.  It has been through a number of modernisation developments which aim to make it a top Caribbean destination.

Jamaica's first SOS Children's Village was erected in Barrett Town, which is situated about 15 km from Montego Bay town centre, in the direction of Ocho Rios. Montego Bay is a coastal town in the north of Jamaica and a well-known site for tourists.  The SOS Children's Village was set up on a beautiful plot of land of about 11 hectares with family houses situated on a plateau from which the ground slopes towards another level piece of land that provides the SOS Children's Village with fresh vegetables and fruits.  The slope is now covered with different sorts of trees.  In addition to that, a little river separated the piece of land until a bridge was erected in 1982.

SOS Children's Village Barrett Town was inaugurated in February 1972 by American country-singer Johnny Cash, a big supporter of SOS Children's Villages Jamaica.  It consists of eleven family houses, the house of the village director, the aunts' (family helpers') house as well as an administration and service area.

The SOS Youth Facilities for teenage boys and girls are located in the city of Montego Bay, outside the village.  At an SOS Youth Facility, young people gradually prepare themselves for independent living, both emotionally and professionally.

SOS Children's Village Barrett Town also includes a community centre where SOS mothers and co-workers regularly attend training and workshops.  Since 1995, SOS Children's Village Barrett Town has had an SOS Nursery School (called SOS Jane Veira Nursery School) where up to 60 children are taught in four classes.  It also includes a prep school and is open to children from the local community.  It offers extra-curricular activities such as speech and drama and sports.