Stability, Love, and a Happy Childhood

Albertine* was born into a family where her parents suffered from addiction and couldn’t adequately provide for her.

She was returned to the hospital where she was born and a few months later Albertine was placed in the loving arms of her new mother at SOS Children’s Village Ondangwa in Namibia.

“She was such a fragile little baby when she came to me, and I was worried how I would manage looking after her,” says SOS mother Emilia. “My challenge was that she was so tiny, so weak and malnourished. I first took her to the doctor and I received guidance on how to feed and take care of her to ensure she gained weight,” she says.

Albertine is now in a good home with SOS mother Emilia where she receives the quality care she needs to flourish and reach her full potential.

As she bonded with her SOS family, she soon took on a playful nickname. “This came from a song we often sang to her called Ololi ya Silas which means Silas’ truck. Albertine loved this song so much when she was learning to talk that her siblings fondly named her Silas,” says Emilia.

Albertine is in the second grade and will soon be eight years old. Her mother says she is a good dancer and often participates in cultural dances and sings in the SOS Children’s Village choir. “Albertine is a confident, happy, clever little girl, a good listener who likes school,” adds Emilia. “I always encourage her to make the right choices, and guide her to form healthy relationships.”

In her SOS family, Albertine has experienced stability, love and a happy childhood, which has led her to develop a strong relationship with SOS mother Emilia.

“I love my SOS mother because she buys me beautiful clothes and cooks nice food,” Albertine explains. “She bakes me a cake on my birthday to show me that she loves me. She also wants what is best for me. I like growing up in my SOS family because I get many things that are good for me,” she says.

*Name changed to protect the privacy of the child.

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