Submitted by crinadmin on
We build families for children in need. We help them shape their own futures. We share in the development of their communities. SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-governmental social development organisation, which has been active in the field of children's needs, concerns and rights since 1949. Its activities focus on neglected and abandoned children and orphans, as well as disadvantaged families. If a child or children cannot stay with their biological family, their right to care, protection and equal opportunities should still be guaranteed. This is the basic principle according to which SOS Children's Villages carries out its activities in 132 countries and territories. SOS Children's Villages makes it possible for orphaned and abandoned children to be part of a family once again by providing homes and family-based care. Children are taken into an SOS Children's Village if it is likely or certain that they will not be able to return to their biological families. In many cases, preventive care to support and stabilize families in times of crisis can mean that families do not break up, and the threat of the child being uprooted can be contained. This is why, in addition to SOS Children's Villages, we provide "family strengthening" programs and facilities, which offer targeted promotion, support and advice for socially and economically disadvantaged families at risk of living in poverty. SOS Children's Villages' commitment to bringing up the children in its care to the best of its ability requires additional investment in many regions of the world, not just to provide for the children's basic needs and emotional stability, but also to prepare them thoroughly for independence. Supporting facilities like kindergartens, schools and vocational training are an essential part of this. All educational and vocational training facilities are also open to the public. In addition to providing care for children and young people, running family strengthening programs and providing vocational training, SOS Children's Villages cares for peoples' basic health through medical centres in many locations. The centres are designed for educational and preventive purposes, particularly regarding the fight against AIDS and to teach people how best to care for their children and their children's health. Where facilities currently exist or where there are established networks, SOS Children's Villages can provide immediate relief if a crisis, war or disaster occurs. Our emergency relief programs range from the creation of emergency clinics, temporary food provision centres and emergency shelters to distributing relief supplies and carrying out reconstruction work. Children and their families are the number one target group of our emergency relief programs. However, since SOS Children's Villages seeks to stabilise families on a long-term basis, emergency relief often leads to the creation of permanent facilities, such as SOS Children's Villages and/or other social aid facilities.
