The SOS Children's Village's South Africa is a private, charitable, social development organisation. It is politically and denominationally independent, and is an affiliated member of SOS-Kinderdorf International. We take action for orphaned and abandoned children by building and strengthening families for them to live in and grow with love, security and respect.

SOS Children's Villages build families for orphaned and abandoned children. Eight to ten children are cared for in small family-type homes, the SOS families, and are raised like brothers and sisters. The head of the family is the SOS Mother, who provides the children with the affection and security they need for their sound development. This is supported by the Village-based Child and Youth Development team.

There are currently more than 950 children living permanently in the SOS Children's Villages in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg, Mthatha, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Nelspruit and Rustenburg.

Community based programmes strengthen families by caring for orphans and vulnerable children, with the aim of keeping these children in their families and communities of origin.

There are almost 4000 children and 1700 caregivers being supported through the Family Strengthening Programmes in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg, Mthatha, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, and Nelspruit; and the three community social centres in Qwa Qwa, Mathanjana and Sekhukhune.

The SOS Children's Villages Association of South Africa is a member of SOS - Kinderdorf International, the largest private welfare organization for children in the world. Over 200 000 children benefit from the various residential, educational and developmental programmes operating in 135 countries.

SOS - Kinderdorf International began in 1949 when the founder Hermann Gmeiner built the first Children's Village in Imst, Austria.He was committed to helping children in need - children who had lost their homes, their security and their families as a result of the Second World War. With the support of many donors and co-workers, our organisation has grown to help children all over the world.

About us
The varied and worldwide projects of SOS - Kinderdorf International are non-profit, apolitical, interdenominational and non-racial. The projects include SOS Children's Villages, SOS Family Strengthening Programmes, SOS Kindergartens, SOS Youth Facilities, Hermann Gmeiner Social Centres, SOS Relief Work, Hermann Gmeiner Schools, SOS Vocational Training and Production Centres and SOS Hermann Gmeiner Medical Centres. In South Africa, we take action for children as an independent non-governmental social development organisation.

We respect varying religions and cultures, and we work in communities where our mission can contribute to development. We work in the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and we promote these rights around the world.

Our Vision
What we want for the world's children: Every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security.

Our Mission
What we do: We build families for children in need, we help them shape their own futures and we share in the development of their communities.

Our Values
What keeps us strong: These are the core beliefs and attitudes on which our organisation has been built, and they are the cornerstones of our success. These enduring values guide our actions, decisions and relationships as we work towards fulfilling our mission.

Our Roots
The principles on which our organisation pioneered a family approach to the long-term care of the orphaned and abandoned child; and on which our community-based development work is built.