© M. Morosini

At SOS Children’s Villages we believe that children can only develop to their full potential if they have a supportive and protective family environment.  We work to make this a reality. 

At the center of our SOS Children’s Villages program is the individual child. We encourage children to actively take part in the making of decisions that affect their lives. 

Family strengthening program in Patzún (Guatemala) © SOS Archives

Preventing Crisis Leading to Family Separation

We work with disadvantaged families in order to prevent crises that can lead to family separation. We offer various forms of support to strengthen and stabilize families as much as possible so that children can grow up in their own families. The aim is always to build the skills and capacities of carers and of their communities so that children can enjoy positive and caring relationships.

We also strengthen SOS families and foster families, which provide stable and consistent care to children who cannot remain in their family of origin, and for whom family-based care is considered the best option. Short-term solutions may be offered in crisis situations. 

SOS Kindergarten Tbilisi (Georgia) © Alan Meier

Individualized Care

Whether located all together or dispersed within a community, SOS families provide individualized care and promote the development, education and health of each child. We work together with communities to develop and improve local education and health infrastructure. In some cases SOS Children's Villages runs kindergartens, day-care centers, schools and vocational training centers, as well as medical centers.

Building on our experience, we are also a leading voice for children who have lost their parent or whose parents cannot care for them.  We aim to make a change that will improve the lives and living conditions of all these children, their families and their communities.