There is hardly any pathetic condition that can be worse than the life of homeless, orphaned children. These innocent children born in this world like any other human being are subjected to ineffable cruelty and suffering. Such children having nobody to support them easily fall prey to heartless criminals who are engaged in human trafficking. There are cases where children are purposely maimed and forced to beggary. The girls are forced into brothels. Poverty and lack of love and affections convert some of these children into hard core criminals. While there can be no alternative for the love and affection of natural parents, there is a forceful social need for taking some remedial measures to take care of the homeless children.
Having been moved by the condition of the large number of homeless children, the innocent victims of the World War II, Hermann Gmeiner dedicated himself to the service of these children. Born on June 23, 1919 in Vorarlberg (Austria), Hermann Gmeiner had lost his mother very early in life. He served as a soldier in Russia and had first hand experience of the cruelties of the war. Dislocation and suffering of countless orphaned children melted his heart. He realized the importance of children growing in a homely atmosphere, appreciative of various familial relationships. He got the idea of SOS Children’s villages. With whatever he had – that was only 600 Austrian Schillings (roughly US $40) – he established the SOS Children’s Village Association in 1949. In Imst in Austrian Tyrol, he established the first SOS Children’s village.
He gave up even his medical degree course and dedicated himself wholly to the service to the orphaned children with the concept of family-centered child welfare. His concept of child welfare included four factors viz. a mother, a house, brothers and sisters, and a village. For the rest of his life he worked tirelessly for spreading his concept of child welfare and establishment of SOS Children’s villages in all parts of the world. Owing to his selfless service, in the year 1986 when he died in Austria, there were 233 SOS Children’s villages in 85 countries! He had breathed new life into thousands of children!
Now there are 473 SOS Children’s villages in 132 countries. Through the community outreach programs, more than a million children are benefited in the world.
The national organizations are autonomous legal entities like foundation, trust, association and so on, having their own statutes, governing body etc. They are all non-profit organizations. The common factor is that all of them are the members of the umbrella organization SOS-Kinderdorf International. Their directors work on an honorary basis. The member associations have to comply with the international statutes and principles for education and child-care of SOS-Kinderdorf International, and for financial and administrative practices. They also enjoy provision of funds through the umbrella association and the services of the General Secretariat.
In order to provide an insight over the function of SOS Children’s Villages at national level, a brief report on their organization in the Philippines is given below.
He gave up even his medical degree course and dedicated himself wholly to the service to the orphaned children with the concept of family-centered child welfare. His concept of child welfare included four factors viz. a mother, a house, brothers and sisters, and a village. For the rest of his life he worked tirelessly for spreading his concept of child welfare and establishment of SOS Children’s villages in all parts of the world. Owing to his selfless service, in the year 1986 when he died in Austria, there were 233 SOS Children’s villages in 85 countries! He had breathed new life into thousands of children!
Now there are 473 SOS Children’s villages in 132 countries. Through the community outreach programs, more than a million children are benefited in the world.
The national organizations are autonomous legal entities like foundation, trust, association and so on, having their own statutes, governing body etc. They are all non-profit organizations. The common factor is that all of them are the members of the umbrella organization SOS-Kinderdorf International. Their directors work on an honorary basis. The member associations have to comply with the international statutes and principles for education and child-care of SOS-Kinderdorf International, and for financial and administrative practices. They also enjoy provision of funds through the umbrella association and the services of the General Secretariat.
In order to provide an insight over the function of SOS Children’s Villages at national level, a brief report on their organization in the Philippines is given below.
In Philippines SOS Children’s Villages is a non-profit child welfare organization that gives long term family-based care and education to children in need. For forty one years now, it has provided Filipino orphaned, abandoned, and neglected children with what they once lost—a MOTHER who gives unconditional love, BROTHERS and SISTERS to grow up with, a HOME to belong to and a VILLAGE to bridge them to the outside world. We are witnesses to many sad, young lives that become transformed into happy, meaningful existence. All are possible through the power of selfless love.
Our driving force is founder Hermann Gmeiner’s vision—the belief that every child should grow with love, respect and security. By God’s grace, it is now realized in 473 SOS Children’s Villages and 383 SOS Youth Facilities in 132 countries.
SOS Philippines is under Austria’s SOS Kinderdorf International that started in 1949. In the Philippines, there are already seven Villages—Lipa, Tacloban, Calbayog, Cebu, Davao, Manila and Iloilo—with the eighth to open in Bataan come February 2009. This year marks the SOS Family’s 60th year as an organization working to alleviate child abandonment and for the preservation of families. All with the help of Friends who believe that heroism still lives.
Heroes are born everyday, everywhere. Being one does not require Herculean strength or phenomenal powers. What it requires, however, is a big heart, one with a great capacity to love. If we give ourselves a chance, we can all be heroes. In these trying times, kindness and compassion can go far, saving souls along the way. Today’s children are fighting in a harsher battlefield where they are the most vulnerable. Their future lies in our hands. We can be their heroes, fight for their rights to live in a better world.
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.
Our Values: We take action • We keep our promises • We believe in each other • We are reliable partners.
SOS Children’s Villages PhilippinesMindanao Drive, Ayala Alabang Vilage, 1799 Muntinlupa CityWebsite: http://www.sosphilippines.org/ Email: home@sosphilippines.orgContact nos.: (632) 807-0764 (TL) / 850-9654 (telefax)
The wonderful concept of family-centered child welfare that forms the cornerstone of the international organization SOS-Kinderdorf International and its branches in 132 countries makes it a unique organization in the world. The noble service rendered by them deserves any praise. We should do everything possible to strengthen this organization that helps thousands of helpless children grow as ideal global citizens.
Sourcehttp://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/
Our driving force is founder Hermann Gmeiner’s vision—the belief that every child should grow with love, respect and security. By God’s grace, it is now realized in 473 SOS Children’s Villages and 383 SOS Youth Facilities in 132 countries.
SOS Philippines is under Austria’s SOS Kinderdorf International that started in 1949. In the Philippines, there are already seven Villages—Lipa, Tacloban, Calbayog, Cebu, Davao, Manila and Iloilo—with the eighth to open in Bataan come February 2009. This year marks the SOS Family’s 60th year as an organization working to alleviate child abandonment and for the preservation of families. All with the help of Friends who believe that heroism still lives.
Heroes are born everyday, everywhere. Being one does not require Herculean strength or phenomenal powers. What it requires, however, is a big heart, one with a great capacity to love. If we give ourselves a chance, we can all be heroes. In these trying times, kindness and compassion can go far, saving souls along the way. Today’s children are fighting in a harsher battlefield where they are the most vulnerable. Their future lies in our hands. We can be their heroes, fight for their rights to live in a better world.
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.
Our Values: We take action • We keep our promises • We believe in each other • We are reliable partners.
SOS Children’s Villages PhilippinesMindanao Drive, Ayala Alabang Vilage, 1799 Muntinlupa CityWebsite: http://www.sosphilippines.org/ Email: home@sosphilippines.orgContact nos.: (632) 807-0764 (TL) / 850-9654 (telefax)
The wonderful concept of family-centered child welfare that forms the cornerstone of the international organization SOS-Kinderdorf International and its branches in 132 countries makes it a unique organization in the world. The noble service rendered by them deserves any praise. We should do everything possible to strengthen this organization that helps thousands of helpless children grow as ideal global citizens.
Sourcehttp://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/
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