March 3, 2009: The celebration of International Women's Day, taking place this year on March 8th, began in 1911. It was the brainchild of Clara Zetkin, a German political activist for women's rights, including the vote. The United Nations officially recognized March 8th as International Women's Day in 1975. Today in China, Russia, and many former Soviet republics it is celebrated as a national holiday. In many countries, it is a celebration at the same level of importance as Mother's Day in the U.S.

This year, March 8th will be marked by more than 500 events in 40 countries. The day carries special significance in Russia. Early on, women's marches on International Women's Day helped shift social attitudes, contributing to the 1917 revolution. The Soviet Union strongly embraced the holiday, turning it into a tradition that remains today. On March 8th Russian men express their love by rising early to buy flowers for their wives, daughters, mothers, and grandmothers.

SOS Children's Villages in Russia — Helping Women and Children

Siblings at the SOS Children's Village in Pushkin, Russsia

SOS Children's Villages, founded in Austria in 1949, is the world's largest charity devoted to providing loving homes for orphaned and abandoned children. SOS helps more than the children under its care; it also improves the lives of the SOS mothers who give that care.

Vera Jegorowa, 51, joined SOS Children's Village Tomilino (Moscow) — the first of four in Russia — when it opened in 1998. She was divorced and having a rough time making ends meet. She loved children. She saw a newspaper ad for SOS mothers and responded right away. "I couldn't believe that such wonderful conditions were going to be created for our poor children, because I knew how badly off our orphans were in the state-run orphanages," she recalls. Vera was trained in child education, health, and psychology. Today she thanks "fate, God, and [SOS founder] Hermann Gmeiner that women like me can find themselves here."

She still remembers her first SOS children, five siblings whose grandmother could no longer care for them. They arrived at the village with fear in their eyes. "The little ones called me mom right from the start; they wanted that and so did I. As soon as they had uttered that word, the healing process began." Vera loves being honored by her SOS children on International Women's Day.

Women Find Security in SOS Children's Villages

An SOS Mother and child at the SOS Children's Village in Tomilino, Russia

SOS provides the mothers it trains with material security, professional training, and lifetime bonds with the children they raise. SOS mothers maintain ties with their own families but also form a new, loving community at their SOS Children's Village.

Longtime SOS mothers are given a pension, medical coverage, and sometimes live in SOS mother retirement homes in the villages where they served.

If you would like to help a Russian boy or girl secure a warm home, a loving mother, and a bright future, consider sponsoring a child.