The idea of the SOS Children’s Village is an important milestone in the development of a modern approach towards the welfare of children.

Deprived of their natural parents, children are placed in an environment which is as close as possible to a natural home. SOS Children’s Villages meet this need by providing them with loving care, security, higher education and job-training. This allows them to live normal lives and a sense of confidence is instilled in them that develops their full potential.

The organisation is working towards the goal of one day being able to provide shelter to every deserving child in the country. This is a realistic target as the organisation admits only those children who are either complete orphans or, categorised as ‘social’ orphans. Social orphans are the result of the mother being remarried or having an incurable disease or mental illness and, as a consequence, being unable to provide for the children.