Hundreds of children from Tibet make their way into India over the Himalayas every year. In order to be able to help Tibetan children in a more effective way, SOS Children's Villages decided to build another SOS Children's Village for Tibetans at Gopalpur. The first family houses were completed in 1997. Dharamsala, the centre of the Tibetans living in exile with its schools, training workshops and places of cultural interest, is only 30 km away. SOS Children's Village Gopalpur consists of 33 family houses, staff accommodation, a bakery and grocery shop, and the necessary service and administration area.
The smaller children are taken care of at the SOS Kindergarten, which is also open to children from the neighbourhood. There is an SOS Hermann Gmeiner Secondary School where up to 1,000 children can be taught. The shool consists of 43 classrooms, laboratories, a library and a multi-purpose hall. There is also an SOS Medical Centre where not only the inhabitants of the SOS Children's Village receive medical treatment but also the people from the neighbourhood.
The SOS Children's Village has two SOS Youth Facilities, one for girls and one for boys. 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.