SOS Children's Villages

The SOS Children's Villages South Africa is a private, charitable, social development organisation.  It is politically and denominationally independent, and is an affiliated member of SOS-Kinderdorf International. 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.

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, SOS takes action for children as an independent non-governmental social development organisation. They respect varying religions and cultures, and work in communities where their mission can contribute to development. SOS also works in the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and actively promote these rights around the world.

For more information on SOS Children's Village, contact them on 011 801 0100 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.sosvillages.org.za