The SOS Village

SOS Children's Village San Vicente, El Salvador

“These villages of peace incorporate all the great religions of the world and know no racial preference. That is a humanitarian breakthrough! We turn abandoned children into fortunate children. Their laughter and positive approach to life make our work worthwhile."
-Herman Gmeiner

The journey can sometimes be very long, with many stops on the way. Eventually, the children arrive at an SOS Children's Village. It is here that they find a caring SOS mother, brothers and sisters - the shelter of a home. Now normal life can begin for them - with everything that is part of it such as kindergarten, school, laughter, quarrel, family life.

Each SOS Children's Village consists of an average of ten to 15 family houses. Many villages also include a kindergarten that is also open to children from the surrounding communities. SOS Children's Villages are open spaces. We place a strong emphasis on the integration of the children into their surrounding environment, as well as on their exchange and contact with neighboring communities. Family strengthening programs and other social services for families and children in need are an integral part of the activities of SOS Children's Villages in many locations.

The SOS Children's Village family-based child care model is formed by four basic principles: village, house, mother and brothers and sisters.

Brothers and Sisters

Once a child arrives at the village, he or she is integrated into an SOS Family. Boys and girls of different ages grow up together as siblings. Biological siblings are never separated when they come to the village, which means that larger groups of siblings can stay together when this is not always possible at other state-run agencies.

The SOS Village House

The house is the social center for the family. As such, it is a warm and inviting, comfortable building where SOS Mothers can focus on rearing their children, and where children can feel safe and secure. More...

SOS Youth Facilities

SOS Children's Villages attaches great importance to ensuring that the young people entrusted in our care are well prepared for the social and economic realities of their world and are empowered to develop their own personal perspectives in life. The overall goal is to accompany young people on their road to becoming self-reliant adults: More...

The SOS Mother

Although she is expected to keep her home and children neat, healthy and tidy, an SOS Mother is more than a child minder. She is a Mother who cares for the whole child. More...