SOS villages

SOS villages

SOS Children's Villages is a global, independent, non-governmental organization dedicated to providing a loving, permanent family home for children who have lost their parents or are at risk of abandonment.

 Founded in 1949 by Austrian philanthropist Hermann Gmeiner, it operates over 500 SOS Children's Villages and youth facilities in more than 136 countries, offering comprehensive care, education, and support for the holistic development of vulnerable children and families. 

Who they are:

An independent, non-profit organization that protects children in need.A global network active in over 136 countries and territories.An organization that prioritizes children's rights and aims to break the cycle of child abandonment. 

What they do:

Family-like Care:

Provide children with a loving, permanent family environment through SOS Children's Villages, fostering stability and a sense of belonging. 

Family Strengthening Programs (FSP):

Offer support, resources, and training to vulnerable families and communities to help them become self-reliant and prevent child abandonment and neglect. 

Education and Youth Skilling:

Ensure access to quality education and vocational training to equip young people with the skills and confidence to build independent, self-reliant futures. 

Emergency and Short Stay Homes:

Provide safe spaces and emergency care for children in distress, particularly during disasters or other crises. 

Foster Care and Kinship Care:

Facilitate alternative care arrangements by connecting children with certified foster families or relatives. 

Advocacy:

Promote the rights of children and work to prevent social neglect through community engagement and advocacy based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Global impact and programs

In 2023, SOS Children's Villages reported reaching nearly 3 million people worldwide. Key accomplishments include: 

Preventing family separation: Helped prevent child abandonment by working with local communities and supporting over 103,500 families through its Family Strengthening Programme.

Providing quality care: Offered a range of care options to 69,000 children and young people. This includes family-like care, where children live with an "SOS Mother" and siblings in a family home.

Supporting youth: Supported 52,000 young people and adults through employment and entrepreneurship training programs like YouthCan!.

Advocating for children's rights: Promoted policy changes and better practices in 107 countries. For example, their work in Belgium led to the "Siblings Law," which prevents siblings from being separated in alternative care.

Responding to emergencies: Provided support in 32 humanitarian crises, assisting nearly 1.4 million people in 38 countries in 2023 alone.

Breaking the cycle of neglect: Long-term impact assessments show positive outcomes for former participants, who are more likely to have strong family relationships and become good parents themselves.

Compiled by 

Ms Naresh kuwar