The Gift of Food Outweighs All

This Angolan grandmother takes care of two grandsons, who she has been responsible for since they were very little. Her husband died 15 years ago. She has been a part of the SOS Family Strengthening Program (FSP) since 2009. Through the program, the family receives food packages, school supplies and clothing for the children.

One of her grandsons now lives with family in Luanda, but the 14-year-old, Raymond, is still living with her and attends the 5th grade at the SOS Cambiote school. He wants to be a pilot when he grows up because he loves flying, despite never having travelled anywhere before.

Raymond (left) with his Grandmother and brother.

Raymond attends the afternoon school shift at Cambiote. He likes to play football with his friends, sometimes outside their house and sometimes on the field outside the SOS Village.

The grandmother works in the garden outside her house, selling some of the vegetables she harvests. She also now proud to own another small patch of agricultural land in the community. Her grandsons help out. When asked what is the most important support her family has received from the FSP, she replies the food packages. In her eyes, the importance of having food on the table for her family outweighs the importance of an education for her grandsons.

SOS Children’s Villages supports thousands of  children in need around the world through its Family Strengthening Programs, kindergartens, vocational training centres, schools and hospitals, all of which provide children and families in need with vital access to education and health care.

Learn more about SOS Family Strengthening Programs.