SOS Children’s Village Jaffna a dream come true
The long waited dream of many has finally come true… The SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka has fulfilled a timely need of the children in the Northern Province and provided the love, respect & security for many needy children &youth, who were suffered mainly by the civil war in the North and East forover three decades.
The new SOS Children’s Village, Jaffna is situated at Nayanmarkkttu, Nallur just 4.5 Km from the Jaffna city. The new SOS Children’s Village is consisted of 12 families, a Loving Home for 72 children at present.
Thirty years ago, the present President of SOS- Kinderdorf International ( SOS- KDI), Mr. Siddhartha Kaul who was representing SOS-KDRI in Sri Lanka at that time( he was the Project Director, SOS Children’s Village, Piliyandala) made several efforts with the Government of Sri Lanka to establish a SOS Children’s Village in Jaffna. However, his efforts were not fruitful due to the civil war prevailed in the Northern Province. Today everyone’s dream has finally come true and all of you are here to witness the inauguration ceremony of SOS Children’s Village Jaffna..!!!
The construction of SOS Children’s Village, Jaffna started in February 2012. The need for a SOS Children’s Village in Jaffna arose due to many reasons. There were many children who kept on seeking for their mother’s warmth whereas the mother’s care was no longer warm but an ice cold feeling… As long as the reasons were revolved around the Children, SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka came forward to establish a Children’s Village with the concurrence of SOS-KDI, a Loving Home for Every Child who deserves a second chance to bloom.
Thousands of Inter nally Displaced People (IDPs) were housed in the Menik Farm Relief Village. Amongst them there were lots of unaccompanied childrenwho needed immediate care and support. SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka was able to open an Emergency Relief Programme in Zone 4 of the Menik Farm Relief Village, Cheddikulem with the concurrence of the Government after the cessation of the heavy fighting in the Northern part of Sri Lanka. Since then, SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka cared for 234 unaccompanied children & youth out of which 154 children were reunified with their families of origin with the help of the Department of Probation & Child Care Services and UNICEF during 2009 & 2010.
In 2011 the said Emergency Relief Programme was shifted to Jaffna with 80 children who have no one to take care of them and accommodat- ed in four rented houses under the care of SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka. The intention of transferring the Children to Jaffna was to provide them an opportunity to study in leading schools in Jaffna, so that they could receive the best education possible.
After a few years of long waited anticipation, the SOS Children’s Village Jaffna was ready to welcome many more children who need a second chance to be a part of a family with love, warmth, care and protection since August 2013.
SOS Children’s Village, Jaffna has a Kindergarten which is now open for the children of the SOS Children’s Village, Jaffna as well as the children from the neighbouring communities. Also it has a Girls’ Facility, a Boys’ Facility for grown up girls and boys and a Computer Centre. Moreover, SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka has started a Family Support Programme (FSP) at Kurunakar & Thirunakar, Jaffna to initially help 122 children who are at risk of losing the care of their biological family.
It is indeed a pleasure to welcome all of you who are present here today on this very special day to witness the dedication ceremony of SOS Children’s Village, Jaffna to the children of the Northern part of the country. It is because of your support and generosity SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka has been able to open this beautiful SOS Children’s Village.
We hope you will continue your support and generosity towards the children in North who need your kindness and support to own a bright future for themselves………