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The “Villaggio SOS di Ostuni” is a member of the Kinderdorf International, the world's largest private organization that assists children in need without any discrimination regarding race, nationality, religious. The “Villaggio SOS di Ostuni” is active since 1969.
The main goal of the SOS Village is to host temporarily children from problematic family situations. The organization aims to ensure every child a family friendly environment which is able to foster the development of positive relationships, to create situations of psycho-physical experiment and dynamic family-type essential for personal and social growth. The “Villaggio SOS di Ostuni” is working with the Regional Social Services (“Servizi Sociali Territoriali “) and the Courts for minors (“Tribunali per i Minorenni”) to facilitate the return of children in the family of origin or, alternatively, to mediate the inclusion in a new family (foster care or adoption). In any case, children are housed until they reach an adequate level of independence in managing their lives and integrate into society. The “Villaggio SOS di Ostuni” helps and hosts young people with personal and social difficulties up to 18 years and even up to in the case of specific needs.
The “Villaggio SOS di Ostuni” is composed of eight “family-type” community, a hospitality community dedicated Mamma-Bambino” and a house dedicated to young people “Casa dei Giovani”.

The family-type community: in each of the eight family-type communities there are 5 to 6 children living together with a residential educator. She ensures the continuity of the educational development and emotional relationship of the children, are also responsible for the management of the home (as a housewife) and take care of the relationship of those children with their own original families. Each community is also constantly supported by another educator.

The community "Mamma-Bambino": it is called “L’Abbraccio”, welcomes pregnant and new mothers with children in need of psychological and educational support. They don’t have valid family references or are victims of family violence and abuse.

The "Casa dei Giovani": it is situated 500 meters from the Village and houses 6 young boys aged between 14 and 21 years whose reintegration into the family of origin is particularly hard. They are supported to develop a path of autonomy and social inclusion.

The environment inside those structures is the one of a family in which there is mutual support, trying to build a feeling of peace and serenity, contrasting the difficult situation in which children and young people have been facing before.
In the houses of the Village children and staff member live together like in a normal family with areas of privacy - appropriate to the needs of each person; there is also the possibility to meet friends and live spaces of socialization outside the Village. The children don’t lose contact with the natural parents: it’s considered essential as educational activity seen the foreseen, if possible, return in families of origin. Particular attention is therefore given by educators to build positive relationships with families of children. The volunteers will also assist operators in this task which is not always easy but rewarding: it’s related in a constructive way with people facing of psycho and social problems.
During the summer period (around mid-July to mid-August), there will be the opportunity to take our children to an international summer camp that takes place every year in Caldonazzo lake (Trentino Region) with the participation of over 1000 children housed in different European SOS Villages. Every single group, composed of children and educators, is housed in tents and bungalows. The holiday period in Caldonazzo serves as a vacation period to the children but also to offer them different types of activities - useful to their bodies and minds. A rich program of activities makes this possible. Children spend creative days, in small and large groups, marked by various activities: sports, hiking, camping outdoors, handicrafts, theater, dance, music, etc... It’s also promoted the living together with people from different nationalities, leading to a better understanding between different peoples. The aim is to develop in children (and people around them) the sense of friendship and peace.

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