For 40 years SOS Childrenās Villages in South Africa has been providing care for children who have lost or are at the risk of losing parental care. Over four decades, SOS Childrenās Villages has transformed the lives of many vulnerable children in South Africa.
SOS Childrenās Villages is an independent, non-governmental organisation that advocates for the rights of South Africaās most marginalised children. We offer loving, family-like care for children and young people who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care. Established in 1984, SOS Childrenās Villages in South Africa has 11 programmes across eight provinces.
Our Vision
Every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security.
Our Mission
We build families for children in need, we help them shape their own futures and we share in the development of their communities.
How we work
At SOS Childrenās Villages, we believe that children can develop to their full potential only if they have a supportive and protective family environment. We work to make this a reality. At the core of SOS Childrenās Villages programmes is the individual child who has lost the security of a well-functioning family. What is best for the child guides our work. We focus on each childās care, education and health and we encourage children to actively take part in the decision making that affects their lives.
Our model of care at SOS Childrenās Villages is seen as a distinct form of alternative care, it is unique as it combines elements of residential care and foster care.
Each year our Family-like Care and Family Strengthening programmes provide life-changing support to children and families across the country.
Family- like Care
The Family-like Care model comprises of four principles that include a mother (each child has a caring parent), brothers and sisters (the family ties grow naturally), a house (a secure place to grow up in) and a village (the SOS family is part of the community).
Family-like care involves recreating a supportive family environment. It is not the only form of alternative care, but we believe that it provides a supportive environment for children to thrive, and that it should be a central component of our child protection system.
Family Strengthening
We work with disadvantaged families in order to prevent crises that can lead to family breakdown. We offer various forms of support to strengthen and stabilise them, so that ideally children can grow up in their own families. The objective is to build on the skills and capacity of biological parents, SOS families, social workers and other care givers within the community and to ensure that children enjoy positive and caring relationships.
When children can no longer live with their own families, we provide quality alternative care, for instance an SOS family, in which the love of a care giver is essential. We also support foster families who provide stable and consistent care to children who cannot remain in their biological family and for whom this form of family-based care is considered the best option.
Short-term solutions may be offered in crisis situations.
And through advocacy, we aim to highlight the need for governments, decision makers and other stakeholders to improve the quality of care for all children in South Africa.
It is our aim to raise well-rounded children, to create adults that can go forth in the world with confidence and self-sufficiency. There are countless stories of children who go on to live fulfilling lives both personally and professionally and start their own loving families.
One such young person is Nobuhle, former SOS Childrenās Villages beneficiary from one of our programmes, she wrote an inspiring letter thanking SOS Childrenās Villages SA for the loving home theyāve provided for her for more than 10 years.
Nobuhle and her siblings came to SOS CV after one of the teachers from their school introduced them to the organisation. Upon finishing her matric, Nobuhle went to study at the University of Cape Town studying for a Bachelor of Social Sciences majoring in International Relations and Psychology. She studied further towards her BA Honours in International Relations at the University of Pretoria.
āI am thankful to SOS for having created a safe home for me, and taking away all the fears I had in life before SOS CV.ā
SOS Childrenās Villages supports over 700 children in 9 villages across South Africa, with over 4000 families being supported in the Family Strengthening programme.
This care cannot be provided without donations from generous individuals and companies, every investment is appreciated. All donations made to SOS Childrenās Villages in South Africa are exempt from donations tax and qualify the donor for deductions from taxable income in accordance with the income tax act 58 of 1962.
The support of corporations and foundations helps us make this vision a reality. From cause campaigns to corporate grants to employee engagement, the ways to support SOS Childrenās Villages are varied.
SOS Childrenās Villages in South Africa has also recently established Face-to-Face fundraising teams who campaign at different shopping centres every week. The teams are responsible for engaging and recruiting new regular donors forĀ the organisation.
For more information and to support this cause, please go to https://www.sossouthafrica.org.za/
Contact details
Woodmead Willows Office Park
19B Morris Street East
Woodmead, 2191
Private Bag X40022
Ferndale, 2160
Tel: +27 11Ā 234 8708
Fax: +27 11Ā 234 4844
