My husband and I lived in Salzburg from 1951 to 1954 as civilian members of the American Army of Occupation. We rented a tiny house in the village of Glasenbach just off the road from Salzburg to Bertchesgarten. We became acquainted with many of our neighbors, thanks to having the only private telephone in the village and being eager to improve our rudimentary German.
Many of the villagers were unemployed and all were living from hand to mouth. Despite this, most of them saved a few groschen a week on a card made for that purpose which they gave to SOS Kinderdorf when full. It can't have amounted to more than a few schillings, but was the true "widow's mite" considering their poverty. When we asked about these donations, we learned about SOS Kinderdorf, and we were privileged to meet Dr. Gmeiner when he visited Salzburg.
We sponsored three children from 1952 onward, and I continue to do so today although my husband died in 2002. Some of our early "children" are now grandparents! In 1999 we were invited to participate in the 50 Year celebration of the founding of SOS. With a couple of good friends, we traveled to Imst.
SOS Imst was the first Kinderdorf we had visited. Cornelia Metnitzer, whom we had sponsored for many years (she is now 33 years old), lives there. Our other two sponsored children lived in Steiermark and Salzburg (Youth House) respectively. We had sponsored Cornelia when she was a child. She left the Kinderdorf for several years, then returned. She is mentally retarded and it was our impression that she could not cope with an independent life. She was a help to the mother in charge of the house and also looked after a beautiful infant girl, aged about one. We had been asked by the SOS if we would resume our sponsorship of Cornelia when she returned to the Village, which we readily agreed to do. She is quite shy and our German is rudimentary so we could not enter into a meaningful conversation, but smiles and gestures sufficed to indicate the goodwill on both sides.
Together with Cornelia, we were taken on a donkey-cart tour of Imst, a charming little town. On the following day, a group of us visitors with our sponsored children went up to the top of the Village to visit Dr. Gmeiner's grave and memorial. This is the most peaceful spot imaginable, a quiet grove overlooking the SOS Village. Flowers were brought by some of us for his memorial, simple speeches made, and a few hymns sung. I have never experienced a more moving--I am tempted to say "holier"--tribute.
That evening, all members of the community: children, mothers, the father and his wife, retired mothers (who share a special house in the village) were invited to a party in a big marquee on the Kinderdorf grounds. There was a local band playing German music; everyone danced with everyone else; we passed the baby around to those not dancing (later she fell asleep amid all the revelry so stayed until the end of the festivities). We sang as well, and short speeches were made by staff and guests, including myself.
My husband, 77, was probably the oldest guest; at the young end, the baby.
It was a truly delightful party. Wurst and beer and soft drinks and apple strudle and fruit and ice cream and delicious bread. The camaraderie was superb. We four native-English speakers felt greatly blessed to be there.
I think SOS has pioneered a new era in the care of orphaned children all over the world. I have dreams of returning to Imst and the Kinderdorf, perhaps offering instruction in English as a contribution to that blessed community.
-Elizabeth Sewell
