Karachi

SOS Children's Villages has been working with children and their families in Pakistan since 1975. As a result of natural disasters, political unrest, as well as civil war and military disputes in the various regions, the people of Pakistan have been exposed to a life of great social misery, which has affected children in particular. SOS Children's Villages has provided permanent support in the form of health care, education and counselling to families in need. In addition, when natural disasters have struck, SOS Children's Villages has provided Pakistan with relief aid. At present, there are ten SOS Children's Villages in Pakistan, six SOS Youth Facilities, six SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools, five SOS Vocational Training Centres, five SOS Social Centres, one SOS Medical Centre, and two SOS Emergency Relief Programmes. Two SOS Children’s Villages and one Hermann Gmeiner school are under construction.

SOS Children's Village Karachi was established in 1987 to provide protection and a family life for about 150 orphans and abandoned children from the area. Located in the city centre, the village has direct access to transport and facilities such as hospitals, markets and colleges. Karachi is situated approximately 1,400 km from the capital Islamabad.

The SOS Children’s Village currently has 15 family houses, a village director's house, an aunts' house, a communal building and an administrative block. An SOS Hermann Gmeiner School and an SOS Social Centre were also built on the premises.

The SOS Hermann Gmeiner School has a kindergarten and provides primary and secondary education. It opened in 1998 to provide education of a high standard for around 1,300 SOS children, as well as children from the neighbourhood. It has 30 classrooms, science laboratories, a library and a computer lab. Special classes are on offer to support children with learning difficulties. There has also been an SOS Vocational Training Centre since 1999, which can provide education for 70 young people.

An SOS Youth Facility was established in 1998 to help young people from the SOS Children's Village to develop a sense of responsibility. It is 2 km away from SOS Children's Village Karachi. Up to 15 boys receive training at the SOS Vocational Training Centre to become electricians and plumbers. A male supervisor helps them with their training.

The SOS Social Centre, which was opened in 2005, currently sees around 500 patients a month.