A Loving home for destitute
and abandoned children.
________
SOS________Children's Villages
of India
Chatnath Homes
13, I Main Road, Professor's Colony
Tambaram East, Madras 600 059.
Phone: 2375061
Introduction
The concept of SOS Children's Village was born out of the devastation of the Second World War. Dr. Herman Gmeiner, an American doctor, was deeply moved by the plight of hundreds of refugee children wandering without home or parents over the ruins of Europe. He took some of the children into his home and watched them blossom under his loving care. Inspired by his success he sought to spread his venture - and started an international phenomenon.
Today there are over 316 SOS Children's Villages spread over the world. India with over 32 Children's Villages, has more Villages than any other country.
SOS Children's Villages - Chatnath Homes
It consists of a cluster of houses - 15 in number. Each home has a 'mother' who takes care of up to 10 children. She is carefully chosen, usually an unencumbered person - a widow or an unmarried lady - who is given the means and facilities to love and look after a family as naturally as any normal mother.
The Director of the Village acts as counselor and father figure to all the families.
Children learn the pleasures of sharing, loving and living together - things that would have otherwise been denied to them. In helping them lead normal, healthy lives, every mother teaches her family the life-style, religion and ethics she knows best. Every family has its particular routines and food habits, celebrates its special festivals and birthdays, evolving its own family identity.
The older children play the role of elder brothers and sisters, sharing the mother's load in the housework.
In short, a SOS Village gives a child in need, what most of us take for granted - a home.
SOS Children's Village and the Community at Tambaram
Apart from the houses, the Village has a Medical Center, a community Center and a Primary School.
The SOS Medical center with its fully equipped clinical laboratory. X-ray unit, dispensary and inpatient facilities provide comprehensive Medicare for people from the surrounding neighborhood and the families living in the SOS Village.
The Hermann Gmeiner Community Center has an indoor theatre, exhibition hall and other infrastructural facilities required. Cultural and educational programs are conducted regularly at the Center, that is open to the community at large and the schools in Tambaram.
The Herman Gmeiner School provides quality education from preliminary level to fifth Standard. All the children of the Village complete their primary education here and join other local schools for Secondary education. Admissions to the school are open to children of the surrounding areas.
Youth Hostel
The boys of the Village, when they complete 14 years of age move to the Youth Hostel in the City, which is under the supervision of an Assistant Director. These boys stay at the youth hostel and attend various schools, colleges and other educational institutions in the city.
Karna Prayag
Karna Prayag is the reception cum adoption center situated in the heart of Madras City. Here, abandoned babies are received and taken care of till such time as they are found a new adoptive home or sent to the SOS Village.
SOS and you
The SOS Children's Villages of India - Chatnath Homes is barely a half-hour drive from the Madras Airport. You are welcome to drop in and observe its activities and life-styles. There is nothing like a personal visit to get to know its family atmosphere and thereby move closer towards appreciating the spirit behind the SOS Movement worldwide.
SOS Children's Villages of India - Chatnath homes is run on donation, gifts, grants and sponsorships.
If you like to help, please contact us at
SOS Children's Villages of India - Chatnath Homes
324 Anna Salai, Madras 600 035. Phone: 4342618
Tele-Fax: 4344332