Capital: Tallinn
Area: 45,227 km²
Population: 1.4 million
Ethnic groups: 62% Estonian, 30% Russian, 3% Ukrainian
Official language(s): Estonian
Religion(s): 60% Lutheran
Currency: 1 Estonian kroon = 100 senti
SOS Children's Villages' activities in the country
The SOS Children's Village work in Estonia started shortly after the country regained its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1992. At that time the social welfare system was very underdeveloped and the children's homes were especially depressing. It was urgently necessary to construct an adequate facility for children in need. A government agreement was signed between SOS-Kinderdorf International and the Republic of Estonia on September 25th, 1992 so that this could take place.
The first SOS Children's Village was built in Keila, a small town about 30 kilometres southwest of the capital, Tallinn. The first four children were able to move into their new houses in December 1994. Construction work was completed on the attached SOS Kindergarten and SOS Hermann Gmeiner Primary School in May 1995. Both of them have attained an excellent reputation because of the high standard of teaching on offer. SOS Children's Village Keila and its attached facilities were officially opened on June 16th, 1995.
As the children grew older, it became necessary to buy a house in Keila to use as an SOS Youth Facility. The first youths moved in in September 1999. In autumn 2002 one more flat was rented in Tallinn to serve as Youth Facility for the youngsters of SOS Children's Village Keila. As more space was needed for the SOS youths it has been decided to construct another youth house in Keila which started operating in spring 2004. As the new SOS youth house was much bigger, the previous one was sold.
In 2004 SOS Children's Villages Estonia started to operate Family Strengthening Programmes, which enable children who are at risk of losing the care of their family to grow within a caring family environment. To achieve this, SOS Children's Villages Estonia works directly with families and communities to empower them to effectively protect and care for their children, in cooperation with local authorities and other service providers. As an extension of SOS Children’s Village Keila had become necessary, three new family houses were constructed and finally opened in June 2010 in Põltsamaa for children living together with SOS couples.
At present there is one SOS Children's Village in Estonia, one SOS Youth Facility and three Social Centres (one family strengthening programme and two educational programmes).
Website of SOS Children's Villages Estonia
(available in Estonian)