Capital: Tashkent
Area: 447,000 km²
Population: 26.9 million (July 2005)
Ethnic groups: Uzbeks, Russians, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Tartars
Official language(s): Uzbek
Religion(s): Muslim, Eastern Orthodox
Currency: 1 sum = 100 tiyin
SOS Children's Villages' activities in the country
First relations between SOS-Kinderdorf International and the Uzbek government were started in 1996. The country had been independent from the Soviet Union since 1991 and catastrophic social and economic conditions were prevailing. The existing orphanages were falling apart. Therefore, SOS-Kinderdorf International made the decision to take Hermann Gmeiner’s idea to Uzbekistan and to build an SOS Children’s Village in the capital Tashkent.
The first mothers and children were able to move into SOS Children’s Village Tashkent in November 2000 and the attached SOS Kindergarten also went into operation at the same time. In spring 2007 SOS Children’s Villages Uzbekistan 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 Uzbekistan 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.
Another two programmes start in 2008 in Samarkand and in 2009 in Tashkent. Their aim is the qualitative improvement of services of public schools and kindergartens by offering skill enhancement to teachers and educators as well as supporting children on a demand-oriented, individual basis.
For 2010, the establishment of the third Uzbek SOS Children’s Village is planned in the city of Urgench, for the first time following the new programme structure of SOS Children’s Village. Intended are SOS families in owned flats, a Family Strengthening Programme as well as an Educational Programme.
At present there are two SOS Children’s Villages, one SOS Youth Facility, one SOS Kindergarten and six SOS Social Centres in Uzbekistan.
Website of SOS Children's Villages Uzbekistan (available in Uzbek)