SOS Children's Villages

Help for children in the whole world

The SOS Children's Villages are an independant, non-governmental relief organisation for children acting in the whole world. The SOS Children's Villages made it their task to help children in need to a better life. In 1949, Hermann Gmeiner built the first SOS Children's Village in Imst, Austria. He realised an easy, but epoch-making idea: each child needs a mother and grows up in the most natural way with brothers and sisters in their own house in a village community. This family pedagogic approach transformed the SOS Children's Villages into pioneers of children's care and found appreciation in the whole world over the following decades.

Die Projekte der SOS Children's Villages

The SOS Children's Villages Niger battle against famine

SOS Children's Villages Niger

A better future for children in Niger

Niger belongs to the five poorest countries in the world. Since 1991, the SOS Children's Villages are working in Niger, afther the ministry of social affairs provided a property on the brink of the capital city, Niamey, in 1990. In total, SOS in Niger supports more than 10,000 children and their relatives.

A home for lost children - SOS Children's Village Recife

SOS Children's Village Recife

A home for lost children

Children who cannot live with they parents any more get a new family, care and a good education at the Children's Village Recife. The SOS Family Help supports extremely poor families at the favelas. The Children's Village was built in 2006 with the funds from the World Cup campaign "6 Villages for 2006".

A piece of unburdened childhood

SOS Children's Village Caldonazzo

A piece of unburdened childhood

The SOS Children's Village Caldonazzo stands for a piece of unburdened childhood. In Caldonazzo, the children coming from SOS Children's Villages all over Europe, are staying for three or four weeks in simple tents and bungalows. While the SOS Children's Villages mothers enjoy their well-deserved holidays, the indefatigable Caldo team cares for the lively guests.

SOS Children's Village Nepal - Emergency help for the victims of the earthquake

SOS Children's Village Nepal

Emergency aid for the victims of the earthquake

Ruins, dead and hurt people and desperate survivors everywhere: a devastating earthquake brought death and damage to the people in the Himalayas. The SOS Children's Villages offer emergency aid in order to stand by children and families.

Refugee children in need - aid projects of SOS Children's Villages

Refugee children in need - aid projects of SOS Children's Villages

International Engagement for unaccompanied minors

The emergency relief of the SOS Children's Villages specifically addresses mothers and their children, pregnant women and unaccompanied minors. For this group, escape is much longer, more difficult and more dangerous. Many children suffer from fever, severe colds or diarrhoe.