Children’s Villages
Family homes with an SOS mother, in the child’s own culture and community.
Our work
What we do
We build families for children in need. We help them shape their futures. We share in the development of their communities.
Our mission
In more than 130 countries, SOS Children’s Villages provides children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it, with a caring, loving and secure family environment.
Every SOS Children‘s Village is a place that children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it, can call home: children live as part of their own culture and religion in a place where their needs for food, health, shelter and education are met.
The SOS mother
More than a place to live — a family
The SOS mother is essential to the life of children and young people without parental care in our SOS Villages. She provides constant care, love and support to five to ten children. These women are locally hired and extensively trained, giving children more than a place to live; they provide a family.
Family strengthening
Keeping families together
SOS Children‘s Villages keeps families together through our Family Strengthening Programs, which help parents and their communities to protect and care for their children. Skills training and community development work help parents to become self-sufficient and prevent child abandonment.
Through SOS Children‘s Villages, kids who were alone and abandoned, or at risk of losing their families, have an opportunity to grow up safe and become self sufficient, better citizens and better parents. That leads to positive, lasting social change.
Our programs
Eight kinds of program, one goal
Family Strengthening Programs
Skills training and community development that prevent child abandonment.
Kindergartens and schools
Access to quality education from the earliest years.
Youth facilities
Mentorship, skills training and guidance for the transition to independence.
Vocational training centres
Trades and entrepreneurship for young people and parents.
Medical centres
Vaccinations, maternal care, treatment and counselling.
Emergency relief programs
Life-saving aid and essential services during disasters and conflicts.
Who we help
Children in need, families at risk
All around the world, there are children who are alone. They’re alone for a lot of different reasons: they’ve been abandoned by their parents, they’re orphaned, they’re forced to fend for themselves. Poverty, illness, conflict and natural disasters also play a significant role. SOS Children’s Villages believes no child should be left alone.
Where we work
Programs in more than 130 countries and territories
Explore the map of SOS Villages across the world, or see project highlights funded by Canadian supporters.