Child Sponsorship background from Poa, São Paulo, Brazil

SOS Children's Village Poa, near São Paulo

SOS Children's Village Poá was one of the first SOS Children's Villages in Brazil. It was opened as early as March 1968 and is about 35 kilometres from the centre of São Paulo. The SOS Children's Village was constructed on a five-acre site in the middle of a vast fertile stretch of land.

The SOS Children's Village consists of family houses, where over 100 children can find a new home. There is also the village director's house, a house for the so-called SOS aunts (SOS mother trainees or family helpers who support the SOS mothers during their daily work and fill in for them when they are ill or on leave), a multi-purpose hall for functions and festivities, and an administration and service area.

Other SOS Projects in Poa

An SOS Youth Home in the city centre accommodates up to 18 youths from the SOS Children's Village. Young people usually move from the SOS Children's Village to an SOS Youth Home when they start a vocational training course or go on to higher education. With the support of qualified youth workers, the young people develop realistic perspectives for their future, learn to shoulder responsibility and increasingly make their own decisions. They are encouraged to develop team spirit and build up contacts with relatives and friends, as well as with the relevant authorities and potential employers.

There is also an SOS Social Centre offering day care for pre-school children from the local community.

Background to Poa

Poá is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population of the city is over 100,000.