The city of Putian is located in the south-eastern province of Fujian, a region which, for many years, was at a disadvantage as far as its economic development was concerned. Therefore, there is a special need for homes for orphaned children. The corner-stone for the SOS Children's Village Putian was laid in November 1997; the official opening took place in March 2000.
The SOS Children's Village is surrounded by a lychee grove, and a river runs at the back. The site was provided by the city of Putian. It covers an area of 33,300 square metres and is about one kilometre from the city centre in one of the city's residential areas. There is a primary school, a market and a military hospital near by.
SOS Children's Village Putian consists of 15 family homes, a community house, the village director's house, an aunts' house (aunts are family helpers who support the SOS mothers), staff quarters and various administrative buildings. There is a room for medical treatment, where a doctor attends to the medical needs of the children and staff of the village. There is also an SOS Kindergarten, which consists of four classrooms and some additional rooms. It is attended by both children from the SOS Children's Village and from the neighbourhood.
At a certain age, youngsters from the SOS Children's Village usually move to the SOS Youth Facility. There are two SOS Youth Houses, one for boys and one for girls. Young people often move out of the village and into a youth facility when they start a vocational training course or go on to higher education. With the support of qualified youth workers, the young people develop realistic perspectives for their future, learn to shoulder responsibility and increasingly make their own decisions. They are encouraged to develop team spirit and build up contacts with relatives and friends, as well as with the relevant authorities and potential employers.