Portrait of two girls at the SOS Children's Village Huehuetoca, Mexico…
SOS Children's Villages began its work in Mexico in the late 1960's, after a Mexican paediatrician visited one of Austria's SOS Children's Villages. Mr Manuel Mateos Fournier was deeply impressed by this model of family-based care and wanted to found a similar facility for Mexican children in need. In 1971, his strong commitment led to the opening of the first Mexican SOS Children's Village in Mexico City. During the decades that followed, several SOS Children's Villages and ancillary facilities have been set up all over the country. The SOS Social Centres with day-care centres and childminding programmes are a big help for the many young single mothers. Today, there are SOS Children's Villages in Comitán (Chiapas), Hampolol (Campeche, Yucatan Peninsula), Huehuetoca (north of Mexico City), Mexico City, Morelia (Michoacán), Tehuacán (Puebla) and Tijuana (Baja California). There is also one facility where children with special needs are taken care of: SOS Children's Village Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Chiapas).
- Lisa
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Portrait of two girls - CV Huehuetoca, Mexico
SOS Children's Villages began its work in Mexico in the late 1960's, after a Mexican paediatrician visited one of Austria's SOS Children's Villages. Mr Manuel Mateos Fournier was deeply impressed by this model of family-based care and wanted to found a similar facility for Mexican children in need. In 1971, his strong commitment led to the opening of the first Mexican SOS Children's Village in Mexico City. During the decades that followed, several SOS Children's Villages and ancillary facilities have been set up all over the country. The SOS Social Centres with day-care centres and childminding programmes are a big help for the many young single mothers. Today, there are SOS Children's Villages in Comitán (Chiapas), Hampolol (Campeche, Yucatan Peninsula), Huehuetoca (north of Mexico City), Mexico City, Morelia (Michoacán), Tehuacán (Puebla) and Tijuana (Baja California). There is also one facility where children with special needs are taken care of: SOS Children's Village Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Chiapas).
The beautiful town of Huehuetoca is an important historical site. It is located in a fertile region at a distance of approximately 50 km north from Mexico City, Federal State of México. SOS Children's Village Huehuetoca was set up after a terrible earthquake hit the whole region in 1985. This catastrophe caused many children to lose their parents, and many others have been abandoned as a result of the difficult social situation.
- Mary
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Portrait of girl in sports field - CV Huehuetoca, Mexico
The SOS Children's Village has been erected on an area of about 35,000 sq. m. which was donated by the municipality of Huehuetoca. It consists of twelve family houses, the house of the village director, an aunts' or family helpers' house, a room for support classes, an auditorium, a multi-purpose hall with a library and an administration and service area. There is also a counseling room for a psychologist. The SOS Children's Village has the capacity to become a new home for up to 108 children. It has been in operation since 1988; the official opening took place in July 1989 in the presence of Mr Helmut Kutin, the president of SOS-Kinderdorf International. SOS Children's Village Huehuetoca also has an SOS Youth Facility, where young people gradually prepare for independent life. Children from the SOS Children's Village attend the schools and kindergartens of the surrounding area.
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