SOS Children’s Village Cochin, established in 1989, is situated on panoramic hill-top overlooking paddy fields. It is located 20 km towards north of Cochin city and 10 km south of the International Airport.
The Village which takes care of 179 children is spread over an eight and half acre area of beautifully landscaped land and uses materials well suited to the local climate and environment. Facilities include a Village Community Centre, 15 Family Houses, Hermann Gmeiner Social Centre, Kindergarten, Clinic, playground, provision shop, staff residences and a Village facility.
The Hermann Gmeiner Kindergarten in the village campus takes care of the needs of children from the local community as well as children from the Children’s Village. A colourful Balamela fair was celebrated with the participation of 22 nearby schools and over a thousand children taking part in fun games and competitions.
119 children from the Village attend regular schools while 6 children are in boarding schools. 20 children are pursuing higher education in universities and 8 are doing vocational training programs like carpentry, food craft and computer aided design. 21 of its youth are now employed, working in different companies in India and abroad. Forty youth of the Village are now married and they are now well settled in their married lives and careers.
All festivals are celebrated at the village with great enthusiasm. Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala, Easter, Christmas, Eid, Vaisakhi etc are celebrated with traditional festivity and gaiety.
