Tsumeb, a mining town half-way between Windhoek and the Angolan border, is the capital city of the Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. The town is surrounded by dry, stony and almost treeless hills. The SOS Children's Village is situated on the outskirts of the town in a middle-class residential area and covers an area of 38.000 m². The children attend the local schools, which greatly supports their integration into the local community. The official opening ceremony was held on 2 April 1998 in the presence of Helmut Kutin, president of SOS-Kinderdorf International, and numerous other guests of honour.
SOS Children's Village Tsumeb consists of ten family houses with a capacity for up to 100 children, houses for the village director and the SOS aunts (who support the SOS mothers and take care of the children when the mothers are on leave), an administration and service area, a workshop and a multi-purpose hall.
The SOS Kindergarten offers enough space for up to 100 children both from the SOS Children's Village and the neighbourhood and it comprises four group rooms, a kitchen and a playground. In order to meet the needs of the growing number of youths, an SOS Youth Facility was established, where up to 20 youngsters can stay during the time of their higher education or vocational training while their youth leaders help them to develop an independent lifestyle and to prepare for life outside the SOS Children's Village. The family strengthening programme offers access to essential services for children’s development (eg. educational, nutritional and health support, social skills) and supports families to protect and care for their children. The programme also aims at linking families with income generating activities and offers help to improve the parents’ parenting skills.