SOS CHILDREN´S VILLAGE ENNERDALE

All over the world, the SOS Children's Villages organisation gives disadvantaged children a loving home in which they experience security, individual support and school education. In this way, they regain their trust and grow into self-confident people. Bohle takes its corporate responsibility very seriously. Since 2019 we have been committed to the SOS Children's Village Project in Ennerdale (South Africa) in order to offer children and young people there a promising future.

SOS Children's village Ennerdale

Johannesburg is South Africa´s largest city. Some of the country´s biggest Townships are located here where thousands of children grow up in poverty and suffer from social exclusion right from the cradle. These children are in need of support to grow into self-confident and successful adults

The consequences of Apartheid are still visible today

Ennerdale is a suburb of Johannesburg, constructed in the 1970s by the local authorities with the intention of creating a new kind of Township. The aim was to achieve economic independence while at the same time maintaining racial segregation. Urban planning strategies of the Apartheid regime now belong to the past however there are still signs of inequality. These areas are often culturally disadvantaged; there is a lack of parks or cultural centres and of fresh or frozen food (e.g. flour or bakery products).

The supply shortages can be mainly attributed to bad access roads. Many Townships lack sewage systems, running water and electricity. The infrastructure is badly in need of renovation. Many inhabitants do not own the land, have built their houses without authorisation, and are therefore not entitled to public services.

Many children disadvantaged from birth

The population of Johannesburg amounts to more than 3.7 million people. Johannesburg remains a deeply divided city. Many of the children born here are disadvantaged from the very beginning. They grow up in poverty and live in precarious living conditions with high unemployment and high crime rates. They do not have access to education which could improve their quality of life.

Children also have a short life expectancy and are susceptible to disease. They grow up in poverty, suffer from social marginalisation and discrimination and find it hard to develop self-confidence. If they do not receive any support, their problems grow worse once they become adolescents often leading to deviant behaviour.

The 3 pillars of the SOS Children's Village

Care within families:

Children from the region who are not able to stay with their parents any longer will find a loving home with one of 11 SOS families in Ennerdale. Here, they and their siblings are looked after by SOS mothers in a caring environment. Some of the SOS families live in houses within the community. The children go to school or kindergarten together with the children from the community, they make friends and are therefore well integrated into their environment already at a young age.

Family Strengthening:

Our SOS Social Centre launches support measures for the distressed population. We especially focus on families suffering from HIV/AIDS, and conduct HIV/AIDS education and prevention campaigns. In addition, we help families in need, for example by paying their school fees or providing them with school uniforms. We offer psychological support and offer income promotion counselling for parents to become economically independent. We also try to prevent family disruption for children to grow up in a loving home.

Support for young adults:

Young people who outgrow their SOS families and would like to do an apprenticeship, go to university or look for work can move into the SOS Youth Facilities where they are accompanied by qualified youth workers during their transition into adult life. Of course, they remain in close contact with their SOS mothers and their siblings.