SOS mothers

In each of our Children's Villages, groups of children and young people without parental care, are cared for in family homes by women who have dedicated their lives to being SOS mothers. An SOS mother raises a generation of children as her own and must be able to meet their physical and emotional needs from infancy right up to adulthood.

We carefully select SOS mothers to ensure they can raise an SOS family long-term. By recruiting locally, we ensure they are well-suited to meet the specific needs of the children in their care within their home country.

Becoming an SOS mother takes up to two years of comprehensive training to fully equip them to provide loving, supportive care. They start with three months of theoretical training, covering essential topics such as education, counselling, child psychology, housekeeping, nutrition, and conflict resolution, taught by social workers and childcare experts. They then complete 21 months of hands-on experience as an SOS aunt in an SOS Children's Village. This extensive preparation empowers SOS mothers to offer the highest level of care and support to the children in their homes.

SOS mothers receive free room and board, a household allowance and a salary once qualified.

Every day, SOS mothers meet their children's physical and emotional needs, ensuring that each child feels happy, supported, and has a true sense of belonging.

This short film (3 minutes) tells the story of one SOS mother from Thailand and her devotion to children.