The fourth and, for the time being, the last SOS Children's Village in Kenya was built on a site which is 7.3 hectares and which was donated by the Methodist University of Meru in the year 2000. The small town of Meru is located about 280 km north of Nairobi at the foot of Mount Kenya. The SOS Children's Village is situated on the outskirts of Meru on the road to Mount Kenya National Park. Due to its central location, Meru was considered as a perfect location for the construction of an SOS Children's Village. Meru has a fairly good infrastructure, it is easy to reach and it is situated in the middle of one of the most densely populated areas in Kenya. Educational and social facilities are insufficient, however, due to the construction of the SOS Children's Village and the SOS Kindergarten SOS Kinderdorf International was able to considerably improve the social standards of the local population.
SOS Children's Village Meru comprises 12 family houses accommodating a total of 120 children, the village director's House, accommodation for SOS aunts (SOS aunts take care of the children when SOS mothers are on leave), guest house, multi-purpose hall, library and an administration and service area.
The SOS Kindergarten attached to the SOS Children's Village was opened in 2003. It comprises three group rooms, a Montessori class room, a multi-purpose room, a kitchen and side rooms. At the moment, it is attended by 100 children both from the SOS Children's Village and the local neighbourhood.
The construction of an SOS Hermann Gmeiner School and an SOS Medical Centre are in the planning stage. Whether or not they will finally be built depends on the needs of the local population and the extent to which the local authorities are willing to support the project.