Phones in Tashkent:
SOS Children's Villages Uzbekistan is a member of the international non-governmental non-profit Federation of SOS Children's Villages (SOS Children`s Villages), operating in 136 countries on all continents. More than 550 SOS Children's Villages have already been built around the world, in which about 60,000 children left without parental care live. More than 1,000,000 more children and adults receive regular support from the organization as part of family strengthening programs, educational and humanitarian projects, and projects to protect child rights.
SOS Children's Villages Uzbekistan operates on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with the agreement "On the creation, construction, equipping and operation of SOS Children's Villages and related projects in the Republic of Uzbekistan" between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and SOS Kinderdorf International (Austria) and Decrees of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 585 dated December 31, 1997. "On the organization of the Association of SOS Children's Villages of Uzbekistan" and No. 738 dated November 21, 2020 "On measures to further improve the activities of the SOS Children's Villages Association of Uzbekistan." The SOS Children's Villages Uzbekistan was established in 1997, and the first SOS Children's Village was opened in Tashkent in 2000. Today, there are three branches of the SOS Children's Villages Uzbekistan in Tashkent, Samarkand and Khorezm.
SOS Children's Village Khorezm is a modern model in which family houses are located in different areas of Urgench city. Some of them are in one area, and others are in another part of the city. This means that SOS Children's Village Khorezm is not located on a site separated from the environment, but consists of houses that are a natural part of the city's communities. Thus, children live in a natural environment, which reduces the risk of children being stigmatized as orphans or deprived of parental care. SOS families in Khorezm are perceived as an ordinary family, most neighbors are not aware of the difficult life history of children.
The SOS Children's Village model significantly differs from the "Children’s home". Only a family environment can give to child a protection, spiritual healing and development in a community. In SOS Children's Villages there is no staff of shift educators, cooks and cleaners, children live like in an ordinary family.
First of all, we do everything to help children rehabilitate after severe childhood traumas, return a happy childhood and be ready for a full independent life. An individual development plan is developed for each child. Our children receive everything necessary for adequate socialization - from housekeeping to additional education necessary for the realization of their creative potential.
Second, we never separate siblings.
Third, in the SOS Children's Village, children are not isolated from the world: they go to ordinary schools, from childhood they establish ties with the environment, they have friends outside the village.
And, fourth, our graduates receive full-fledged social, psychological and legal support from our youth care service which is aimed at enabling young people to find their place in life and become self-reliant.
The model of organization developed by Hermann Gmeiner (founder of SOS Children's Villages) is the secret of longevity and popularity of this alternative care setting. Hermann Gmeiner believed that if a child was not lucky enough to get into a family and there was a question of sending him to an institutional care, it would be better for child to be placed in the Children's Village. Here he finds the love of a parent, who replaces his own mother/parents, and siblings and named brothers and sisters, as well as a home.
SOS Children's Villages Uzbekistan is a member of the international non-governmental non-profit Federation of SOS Children's Villages (SOS Children`s Villages), operating in 136 countries on all continents. More than 550 SOS Children's Villages have already been built around the world, in which about 60,000 children left without parental care live. More than 1,000,000 more children and adults receive regular support from the organization as part of family strengthening programs, educational and humanitarian projects, and projects to protect child rights.
SOS Children's Villages Uzbekistan operates on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with the agreement "On the creation, construction, equipping and operation of SOS Children's Villages and related projects in the Republic of Uzbekistan" between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and SOS Kinderdorf International (Austria) and Decrees of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 585 dated December 31, 1997. "On the organization of the Association of SOS Children's Villages of Uzbekistan" and No. 738 dated November 21, 2020 "On measures to further improve the activities of the SOS Children's Villages Association of Uzbekistan." The SOS Children's Villages Uzbekistan was established in 1997, and the first SOS Children's Village was opened in Tashkent in 2000. Today, there are three branches of the SOS Children's Villages Uzbekistan in Tashkent, Samarkand and Khorezm.
The children's village consists of several family houses. SOS Children's Villages do not cut children off from the outside world. The children go to regular schools, are treated in district clinics, meet with biological relatives (if this does not contradict to the best interests of the child).
They live in families of 4-7 children. Each family has its own house and its inner atmosphere, design, the family itself creates comfort. Flowers are planted near the houses, sometimes there are beds where vegetables and fruits are grown. Each family lives its own life: plans and spends the family budget, decides how to spend leisure time, where to go. Children attend regular schools and kindergartens, clinics, receive additional education. In the development of children, specialists from the village assist parents-educators. Planning of the individual development of each child is carried out, where all the characteristics, needs, and abilities of the child are taken into account
Life and routine, daily housekeeping, the formation of responsibility - this is what parents-educators do. For this, they receive employment history and a pension after retirement. Once a year parents have a vacation, during which an assistant replaces the parents, we call "SOS aunt". Children go to the store and pharmacy like ordinary ones, set the table and wash the dishes. In a short, everything is like in an ordinary family
According to the law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on care and guardianship, the state bodies carrying out activities in the field of care and guardianship are:
Care and guardianship activities are carried out by district, city/regional sectors for child protection. The activities of entities and individuals other than care and guardianship bodies to identify and arrange for persons in need care or guardianship are not allowed.
Each SOS Children's Village has close ties with the guardianship authorities in its area, and when it becomes possible to admit a child to the children's village and the guardianship authority requests participation in the assessment of the child's situation, a joint assessment is carried out and if placement in the children's village is in the best interests of the child, the responsible body makes a decision on placing the child to the SOS Children's Village. Priority goes to brothers and sisters from one family: if they get into a foster family or an orphanage, they would be separated (perhaps forever), and SOS Children's Villages have all the conditions for them to live together.