SOS Children's Village Asiakwa

Due to the dire need for child care facilities for orphaned and abandoned children in rural areas, SOS Children’s Villages International was moved to build yet another SOS Children’s Village in the beginning of the 90s, in Asiakwa, about 100 km northeast of the capital, Accra.

Asiakwa can be reached in about two hours from Accra. The province capital Kibi is about 20 km away. The SOS Children’s Village Asiakwa was opened in November 1993 in the presence of the President of Ghana, Mr J. Rawlings, and the Secretary General of SOS Children’s Village International.

The SOS Children's Village Asiakwa was built on the top of a hill in a very beautiful countryside. It was built according to the traditional style of the local architecture. It consists of 12 family houses, a Village Director's house, a guest house, a community hall, a service and administrative block, sports facilities and a playground.

The SOS Kindergarten, which was opened at the same time as the SOS Children’s Village, comprises two classes, one classroom for special education and ancillary rooms. At present, about 50 children from the SOS Children's Village and the neighboring community are cared for in the SOS Kindergarten.

As soon the youths reach the age of about 15, they move into one of the three SOS Youth Houses, where they are cared for by a youth leader. Being admitted into an SOS Youth Facility means starting to take responsibility for oneself and is therefore a big step towards independence. Being fully aware of this, SOS mothers, the Village Director and a psychologist prepare them carefully for that change.

Usually, youths stay up to four years in an SOS Youth Facility. They may stay longer, however, if they are looking for work, completing professional training or studying at a university.

The SOS Hermann Gmeiner Primary School was opened together with the SOS Children’s Village. At the moment, it is attended by 210 children from the SOS Children’s Village and the neighbouring community. It comprises 6 classrooms, an administration room, a multi purpose room and a canteen. In 1996, the SOS Hermann Gmeiner Secondary School, which includes three classrooms and several side rooms, was added to it.

Due to the poor quality of the medical service available in the area surrounding the SOS Children’s Village, the SOS Medical Centre was opened in May 1993. It includes a room for medical treatment, a consultation room, a department for infectious and non-infectious diseases (two rooms with four beds each); a pharmacy, a reception, a waiting room, and sanitary facilities. About 750 patients receive medical care at the SOS Medical Centre every year.

Ever since it was founded, the SOS Social Centre has been offering the following services: family strengthening programmes and HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, assistance to HIV/AIDS affected persons including the provision of foodstuff, medication, school scholarships, and support with the setting-up of self-help projects.