Motherhood around the world: Four stories celebrating moms

Mothers can be the emotional anchor that research shows children need for healthy development, the fierce protector who stands between her family and crisis, and—when given the opportunity—the most powerful force for change in her community. Moms are often the person relied upon to transform children’s lives with the loving care and support they need to thrive.  

This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating mother figures everywhere. From Ethiopia to Gaza, Nepal to Colombia, we’re honoring the compassionate, dedicated, resilient and loving women who give everything for their children—and standing with those who need your support to do the same.  

Because Moms Matter. 

From loss to hope: A grieving mother’s refusal to let poverty define her children’s future 

When her husband passed away unexpectedly, Leela* was left alone and grieving—with no income to support her two children.   

Like many women in Nepal, she faced an uncertain future without the skills or resources needed for financial independence and stability.  Traditional beliefs often limit young girls’ access to education—requiring them to stay home and complete household chores while their male counterparts attend school.   

The impact of this inequality extends into adulthood. According to UNESCO, with every extra year of primary and secondary education, a girl’s future earnings can increase by up to 20%. But, without a quality education, many young women have little choice but to marry, abandon their ambitions and remain financially dependent on their husband.     

For Leela, this reality led to a crisis when her husband passed away. Her family was at risk of poverty, hunger and the heartbreaking possibility of the authorities unnecessarily separating her family—removing her children from the only home they’ve ever known and placing them in an orphanage or with strangers.   

“I felt completely lost,” Leela said. “Then SOS Children’s Villages stepped in, [and] their guidance gave me hope.”  

With SOS’ family strengthening program, Leela received the vocational skills, small business loan, mentorship and financial literacy training she needed to pursue her professional dreams and provide for her children.   

Leela always loved animals, and her late husband shared her passion. As a way to honor her dream and his memory, Leela enrolled in an 18-month veterinary course.   

When she graduated, Leela fulfilled her and her late husband’s dream, opening a small veterinary shop in her community! Now, she’s expanded her business and travels to nearby villages treating animals—from beloved pets to livestock that families depend on for income.   

“Life still brings challenges, but I am proud of how far we’ve come,” Leela said. “My bond with my children is strong. We share laughter, meals and simple moments. They remember their father with love, and I want to keep his memory alive for them."   

Learn more about how our family strengthening programs prevent family separation.   

From pain to possibility: How trauma-informed care gives children their future back  

When civil war tore through the northern region of Ethiopia, seven-year-old Hannah* lost everything—her home, her sense of safety, even her family.  

As she was fleeing the conflict, her father was killed in front of her—leaving the little girl with severe trauma and no one to care for her.  

But thanks to compassionate friends like you, Hannah wasn’t left alone and unprotected. Instead, she was rescued and welcomed into SOS Children’s Villages Bahir Dar.  

“When Hannah joined my family, she couldn’t speak,” Kassech—Hannah’s SOS Mother—said. “She woke up breathing heavily and afraid she was going to die. She needs encouragement and assurance of her safety every day to process the trauma.”   

Trauma has profound effects on children. It doesn’t just live in their memories—it hinders their ability to function and disrupts their development.   

These children need tailored, specialized care, and caregivers who create a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment for them to heal and grow—not orphanages or large group homes where children face caregiver-to-child ratios as high as 1:31 and siblings are often separated.  

That’s why SOS provides individualized, trauma-informed care in family-like homes where siblings remain together.  

An SOS Mother, like Kassech, nurtures children in a family-like home environment and provides all the resources children need to thrive—like healthy food, quality medical care, education and the deep emotional attachments research shows is crucial to children’s long-term health and success. 

With the support of her nurturing caregiver and trained mental health professionals, Hannah is healing, receiving the happy, healthy childhood she deserves. She enjoys learning in her kindergarten class and playing soccer and hide-and-seek with her SOS siblings and neighbors.  

“The safer she feels, the more she overcomes her fears and finds new energy to learn and flourish,” Kassech said. “She sleeps better these days with no nightmares.”   

Read more about how love is essential for children to heal after trauma. 

From heartbreak to healing: A mother in Bolivia rebuilds her family after loss  

Wilma faced more loss in one year than most people do in a lifetime. When she lost her first child and her husband within months of each other, she was devastated. Her life felt shattered beyond repair.   

But, pregnant with her second child, Wilma knew she had to persevere and rebuild her life for her soon-to-be newborn daughter.  

Wilma courageously opened her heart to love again and remarried, but in another devastating twist of fate, her second husband died when she was pregnant with her third child.   

 Now a widowed mother of two young children, Wilma faced seemingly insurmountable challenges to heal from her trauma. She struggled alone to provide for her daughters under the weight of her grief until a caring neighbor connected her with SOS Children’s Villages.   

With mental health care from trained professionals, daycare services and economic empowerment trainings, Wilma received the resources and support she needed to heal and rebuild her family’s life.  

Today, Wilma owns an ice cream business, and her daughters have a stronger family and a brighter future!  

“My life has changed a lot thanks to SOS,” Wilma said. “My dream is for [my children]. This business is theirs, so they don’t start empty-handed and suffering like I did.”   

Baby’s first birthday: How an SOS Caregiver protects children in Gaza 

Children suffer the most in humanitarian crises, especially after losing the protection and care of their parents.  

This was the case for one-day-old Karam whose mother, injured in the conflict in Gaza, died while giving birth. With no surviving family members, Karam was at risk of growing up alone—incredibly vulnerable to hunger, violence and other horrors.  

Instead of allowing children to be placed in orphanages or other institutionalized care—which has negative effects on a child’s short- and long-term development—SOS provides children in emergencies with a safe home, loving caregiver and all the resources they need to grow and learn, no matter the state of the world around them.  

“When Karam first came to me, he was so small and quiet,” says his caregiver, Basma. “I could feel his fear—he didn’t cry much, just looked around with those big eyes. I held him close and whispered, ‘You’re safe now.’” 

A year later, Karam is a healthy one-year-old deeply attached to the woman who has become a mother to him. He’s grown four teeth, wobbled through his first steps and said his first word: “Mama.” 

Although Karam was born into war, he’s been raised with unconditional love—from Basma and other caregivers at SOS. 

Each child in SOS’ care receives shelter, nutrition, psychological first aid and emotional support from a dedicated team of caregivers, psychologists and social workers. SOS teams continue to work with the Ministry of Social Development to trace extended families and research safe reunification options. 

“Each of his little smiles reminded me that love doesn’t need blood to grow,” Basma said. “The whole village lent a hand in raising him. Other caregivers helped me. The older children played with him. He brought us all together.” 

Read more about how SOS Caregivers protect children in emergencies.  

How you can celebrate mothers worldwide  

This Mother’s Day, you can celebrate the mothers in your life with a gift as special, thoughtful and life-changing as they are: passing on her compassionate, selfless care! 

Some children are struggling to survive without a home or a mother to care for them.  

You have the power to change that and transform a child’s life with the love they need and deserve today. 

When you sponsor a child, you can celebrate the mother figure in your life by sending a child the precious gift of a safe, loving mother. 

*Names changed to protect privacy.    

Sponsor a Child