Home Visit SOS Children and Youth Village

March 12, 2019

Home Visit SOS Children and Youth Village

SOS Youth Village, Davao City, Philippines

“The SOS model of providing care for children without parental care is one of the best, as they are still in a family setting within their own country.

We hope more people learn about their program and give them support.”

- Angelina Jolie

SOS Global Supporter and Academy Award Winner

Center Lawn, SOS Youth Village, Davao City, Philippines

SOS Children’s Villages is a private, non-political, non-denominational organization that provides long-term family-based care to children in need. With the support of our friends and partners, we work to ensure that each child will grow up in a loving home.

In 1949, Hermann Gmeiner founded the first SOS Children’s Village in Tyrol, Austria. He was a child welfare worker, and he saw how children suffered and were left orphaned as a result of World War II. He pioneered the family-based approach to helping children who have lost parental care.

Today, we are located in 134 countries and territories around the world. Our 571 SOS Children’s Villages are home to most of the approximately 86,000 children and young adults in our family-based care program. We also work in the communities to provide support and intervention to families at risk of breaking down. More than 467,000 people participate in our family strengthening programs.

In the Philippines, the first SOS Children’s Village was founded on May 1, 1967 in the province of Batangas. Now we have 8 villages spread across the country, and there are almost 1,000 children and young adults who live in our family-based care program. In the communities, we give support and intervention to approximately 5,600 families.

Our approach to long-term family care of orphaned and abandoned children is based on four principles:

The Mother

EACH CHILD HAS A CARING PARENT. The SOS mother builds a close relationship with every child entrusted to her, and provides the security, love and stability that each child needs. As a child-care professional, she lives together with her children, guides their development, and runs her household independently. She recognises and respects each child’s family background, cultural roots and religion.

Brothers and Sisters

FAMILY TIES GROW NATURALLY. Girls and boys of different ages live together as brothers and sisters, with natural brothers and sisters always staying within the same SOS family. These children and their SOS mother build emotional ties that last a lifetime.

The House

EACH FAMILY CREATES ITS OWN HOME. The house is the family’s home, with its own unique feeling, rhythm and routine. Under its roof, children enjoy a real sense of security and belonging. Children grow and learn together, sharing responsibilities and all the joys and sorrows of daily life.

The Village

THE SOS FAMILY IS A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. SOS families live together, forming a supportive village environment where children enjoy a happy childhood. The families share experiences and offer one another a helping hand. They also live as integrated and contributing members of the local community. Through his or her family, village and community, each child learns to participate actively in society.