SOS Children's Village Rio Grande do Norte is situated in the federal province of the same name, in the town of Caicó (population approximately 50,000) in the northeast of the country. This very hot and dry region often suffers from long droughts, which have very bad consequences for the economy of the area, especially its agriculture.
The SOS Children's Village was built in a large residential area on the outskirts of Caicó. It is very well integrated into its surroundings. SOS Children's Village Rio Grande do Norte opened its gates in June 1978 and consists of 17 family houses, where up to 170 children can find a new home. There is also the village director's house, a house for the so-called SOS aunts (SOS mother trainees or family helpers who support the SOS mothers during their daily work and fill in for them when they are ill or on leave), a multi-purpose hall for functions and festivities, and an administration and service area.
The adjoining SOS Hermann Gmeiner School provides primary education to up to 320 pupils, both from the SOS Children's Village and from the local community. In 2002, an SOS Youth Facility was set up in the province capital of Natal, which is 292 kilometres from Caicó. It accommodates up to 43 youths from the SOS Children's Village. Young people usually move from the SOS Children's Village to an SOS 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.