All about SOS Children’s Villages Canada: Radio interview

Listen to Helmut Gschoesser's conversation with Thomas Bauer, President and CEO of Children’s Villages Canada, on CHLO AM530. Discover the incredible work being done to support vulnerable children and families around the globe and learn how you can make a difference. The transcript is below. 

 

 

Transcript

 

Host: We are joined today by Thomas Bauer. He is the President and CEO of SOS Children's Villages Canada.

 

Can you tell us and our listeners more about SOS Children's Villages, your organization's history and the work that you do? 

 

Thomas: Guten Morgen, Herr Ruth. Herzlichen Dank erstmal für die Einladung. Ein herzliches Guten Morgen und hallo an alle Zuhörerinnen und Zuhörer von German radio. Let's switch back into English, so we can have our conversation. 

 

Thank you for the invitation. Really happy to be here. We are very happy to answer some questions and talk about SOS Children's Villages. 

 

As some of the listeners, all of the listeners, or most of the listeners know SOS Children's Villages is a global NGO and the largest child-focused NGO in the world, supporting children and young people without parental care. 

 

So children who cannot live with their parents for various reasons or who are at risk of losing parental care. 

 

The organization itself was founded in 1949 in a small Austrian town called Innsbruck by a young medical student named Hermann Gmeiner. 

 

As you can imagine, in 1949, post-war Europe was a devastating situation, in particular, the situation for children who had lost their parents during the war was disastrous. 

 

So that young medical student implemented a very revolutionary approach. 

 

At that time, that model of family-based care was remarkable. Taking these children who had lost their parents and raising them in families in a village environment. 

 

So this model spread very, very quickly across Europe.

 

In the early 50s Germany, France and many other countries in Europe, and then gradually, over the following years and decades, it spread around the world. 

 

Today SOS Children's Villages operates in more than 130 countries worldwide. 

 

As I said, it's the biggest child-focused agency. This year is a very important milestone in our history. 

 

This year marks the 75th anniversary of SOS Children's Villages internationally and the 55th anniversary of SOS Children's Villages Canada. 

 

We have thousands of supporters and volunteers, friends, staff members and coworkers worldwide. 

 

For us, it is very, very important that our organization is locally rooted. So all our operations in the various countries are run by locals. 

 

That is one of our most important features that really roots the organization in the countries [where we work]. We are very, very proud of where we are because there's so much to do in this world. 

 

We're really looking forward to and we're really glad to talk about SOS Children's Villages and our work here today. 

 

Host: So, Thomas, actually, believe it or not, I remember when it started in 1949 in Imst. That is just over the hill where I was born and raised, and I remember it vividly.

 

When did SOS Children's Villages launch in Canada? What is its history in Canada? 

 

Thomas: In Canada SOS Children's Villages started in 1969, so that's quite a few years ago. This year we're celebrating our 55th anniversary here in Canada, which is a big milestone for us. 

 

Our head office, our Canadian headquarters is here in Ottawa, and that's where I'm calling from at the moment. 

 

This is where we run our operations for the last decades. We are a relatively small team of less than twenty staff members that are here in our office. 

 

Our focus primarily over the years has been to engage with Canadians and mobilizing Canadians advocating for the rights of children globally, and then raise funds in support of various programs around the world. 

 

So we have really done a long journey of really great development over the last 55 years. 

 

In fact, with the support of many, many, very, very generous Canadian donors, friends, and supporters, we can support our programs and operations globally.

 

Host: How has SOS Children's Villages' work evolved over the last 75 years? What impacts has the organization made? Are there any that you feel most emotionally connected to? 

 

Thomas: Over the last 75 years globally, when the organization was founded in 1949 in Austria, it was a different situation than it is right now in many societies, although we still work in many conflict areas around the world. 

 

But our work has evolved in the sense that we are very, very strongly collaborating with the national welfare systems in various countries. 

 

We are responding to natural disasters, we are responding to difficult economic situations in many countries. 

 

We are responding to social development in many countries where disadvantaged communities are struggling to keep their families afloat and take good care of their children. 

 

We have to look at the statistics that one in ten children today globally are separated from their families, they are abandoned or neglected or living in abusive environments. These are the families and the communities that SOS Children's Villages works with. 

 

We have expanded our reach from the SOS Children's Village to programs for the families and children living in the surrounding communities that are vulnerable and where children are at risk. 

 

Our focus is on supporting families, supporting single-headed households or mothers who live alone with their children or grandparents who live alone with their children or older siblings who live alone with their younger siblings. 

 

To ensure that families don't break apart and that families can stay together, so that children don't have to end up in an SOS family in a village. So this has become, over the last decades, an increasing focus of our organization. 

 

Part of that is also that we do employability courses with parents or caregivers. We're also focusing very much on schooling, education and employability for young people. 

 

So that when they go into the work market they are well equipped and can really participate in society and become contributing members of society. 

 

Then we have different skills training, we have medical centres... so we have a lot of different approaches to really ensure that families can stay together. 

 

An SOS family, so the SOS village where children grow up separated from their biological families, is really a last resort. 

 

This combination of our work has evolved over the years, and makes us unique, and makes us very successful in our work. 

 

But there's still a lot of work to be done. And we're never working in isolation. We are always working with community-based organizations. 

 

So we want to make sure we're working with local partners to really achieve the biggest impact. 

 

It is working with vulnerable families, making sure that siblings can stay together because very often, when siblings go into care, they are split up and sent to live in different places. 

 

So we want to ensure that siblings stay together when they come into our care. 

 

There are a lot of things we could talk about for a long time, but you know, our time today is a bit limited. But I hope this gives a good understanding to your listeners on what we do and how our work has evolved over the years. 

 

Host: Can you tell us more about how Canadians have supported SOS Children's Villages over the last 55 years? 

 

Thomas: Yes. As I said earlier, we were founded [in Canada] 55 years ago. Over these five and a half decades, we have continued our work. We have engaged with Canadians. We have established a really strong base of friends, young supporters and donors who help us in our work. 

 

When we look at just last year, 2023, we were able to reach nearly three million people through our various programs across the globe. 

 

...with our SOS Children's Villages, community programs, social centres, educational centres, medical centres, skills training... 

 

So there is a huge number that wouldn't be possible without the support of each and everyone here in Canada. 

 

From long-term Canadians who have lived in Canada for generations to newcomers to Canada like myself may enjoy hearing more about our work in their home countries. 

 

So, it's really exciting work here in Canada. We're certainly very, very grateful for all the work that we can do because Canadians have supported us in various ways, in terms of advocating, hosting events, inviting friends and spreading the word about our work. 

 

Host: I now understand that SOS Children's Villages' work goes way beyond what we traditionally know as sponsoring a child. 

 

Your organization's work to prevent child abandonment and support families in crisis has been highly recognized in the international development sector.

 

Can you tell us more about how and why Canadians should care about what's happening beyond our borders when many are struggling at home? 

 

Thomas: Yes, I think that is a very, very valid point. I think we see this in many, many countries around the world. Not only here in Canada, but in many other [developed] countries where situations get very, very difficult in daily life. 

 

Where people struggle to put food on the table, there is difficulty finding jobs. It is difficult for young people to get into the workforce and to establish their own life. So I think it is remarkable to see, and we see it on a daily basis. 

 

I can tell you that it is, and we are very, very grateful to the people who work very, very hard here and are still thinking of other families and other children in other countries across the globe who are also in difficult situations. 

 

Where people are giving to our organization and making it possible for us to support families and vulnerable children. I'll give you an example. 

 

We have a strong focus in our work in Namibia, a country in southern West Africa. 

 

I've been travelling there many, many times, and it's amazing to see the dedication and the support that we receive from Canadians to our work there in Namibia. 

 

We are supporting two SOS Children's Villages. We are supporting communities there that are struggling to survive. They struggle on the day-to-day. 

 

The situation is not easy in Canada and in other countries. It is absolutely remarkable and heartwarming to see that there are a lot of people still saying, “I want to think beyond my borders”. 

 

I acknowledge that there are natural disasters, that there are conflicts, that there is extreme poverty, that there are all sorts of devastation going on in this world. I want to support that too. 

 

I can only commend each and everybody that supports us in all various shapes and forms. That's remarkable to see. 

 

Host: Can you share a bit of information on how Canadians can support SOS Children's Villages' work around the globe? 

 

Thomas: The easiest way to inform yourself more about our work in Canada and what we are doing internationally is to look up our website at soschildrensvillages.ca. 

 

On our website, you will find information on how you can support us in various forms, in terms of small donations, one-time donations, regular giving and information about our programs, including our work in Namibia and the Dominican Republic and other places around the world. 

 

We rely on the ongoing support of Canadians. 

 

So, whoever is interested, I would invite everybody, your listeners, to please visit our website at soschildrensvillages.ca. 

 

Then you can choose and see what's interesting. You can reach out to us. There is an email address there. We're more than happy to answer questions and engage with your listeners and see what we can find. We are very grateful for all the support. 

 

Host: On a final note, Thomas, and it's something no one wants to think about, but what about leaving a gift in a Will to a charitable organization like SOS Children's Villages Canada? 

 

Thomas: I'm very happy you bring that up. Thank you very much. Like you said, we are not very often thinking about what comes afterwards, maybe when we are not on this earth. But I think this is a fantastic way of leaving a legacy in the lives of children and vulnerable families that have no one else to fall back on. 

 

On our website soschildrensvillages.ca, there is more information on leaving a gift in your Will. We would encourage you to always obtain legal advice from a licensed lawyer. 

 

But for us, it's really important. Every amount is helpful. Every amount supports children in need in many, many places around the world. 

 

So if any of your listeners is considering leaving a gift in their Will, we're highly appreciative. Please reach out to us and we can offer more support. But it's also very important to seek legal advice. 

 

Host: Any final words? 

 

Thomas: Auch nochmal von meiner Seite und wie du hören kannst: Heiligkommen, wir ursprünglich auch nicht aus Kanada und ich bin jetzt seit mehreren Jahren hier in Kanada. Fantastisches Land, großartige Leute, und nochmal herzlichen Dank für die Einladung zu dem Gespräch.

 

Ganz liebe Grüße an alle zuhörerinnen und Zuhörer. Vielleicht gibt es die eine oder den anderen, der sich für unsere Arbeit hier in Kanada interessiert und was wir global international machen, welche Programme wir unterstützen, welche Kinder wir unterstützen Ganz herzliche Einladung unsere Webseite zu besuchen.

 

Und wie gesagt, herzlichen Dank nochmals und viel Erfolg weiterhin mit der radio show. Vielleicht hören wir uns in der näheren Zukunft nochmal wieder. Alles Gute.