SOS Children's Villages is a private, non political and non- denominational welfare international organisation.

SOS Children's Villages offer orphaned and destitute children regardless of race, nationality or creed a new and permanent home and prepare them for an independent life.

SOS Children's Villages exists in 132 countries worldwide and operates in more than 1500 projects including Kindergartens, Youth facilities, Hermann Gmeiner Schools, Vocational Training and Production Centres, Medical Centres and SOS Emergency Relief Programmes.

SOS-Kinderdorf International is the umbrella organisation to which all national SOS Children's Village Association are affiliated.

Hermann Gmeiner the late founder of SOS Children’s Villages was born in Austria in 1919. He was the son of a farmer and his own mother died when he was young. After World War II he studied medicine at Innsbruck University. Hermann Gmeiner built the first SOS Children’s Village in Imst – Tyrol, Austria in 1949 after he was moved by the plight of thousands of homeless, destitute and orphaned children after the war. He continued to help orphaned and destitute children world-wide and expand the SOS philosophy until his death in 1986.  read more...

The SOS Children's Village work is based on four principles:

The SOS Mother: The SOS Mother is the head of the family and living in the home. She is a constant source of reference for the children and shows love towards them. This ensures their healthy development and progress towards independence.

Brothers and Sisters: Boys and girls of various ages grow up together as brothers and sisters. Siblings are not separated and grow up in the same family house.

The House: Each SOS family has a house of its own with bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens as well as living and dining rooms which are the centre of family life.


The Village: The house is an integral part of the village community. This gives the children cultural roots and a feeling of belonging.


The SOS Children’s Village is the overall responsibility of the Village father. He is responsible for guiding and directing both the SOS mothers and children. He provides security, builds trust and shows love to the children as any other father would.