Women at the centre of SOS Children’s Villages

The creation of SOS Children’s Villages by Hermann Gmeiner was inspired by Gmeiner’s sister, Elsa, who at 14 years old took over the role of the mother to her seven younger siblings. Elsa became the model for the SOS mother. 

SOS mothers are the core of an SOS village. In each village, an SOS mother dedicates her life to providing hope, love, and a sense of belonging to abandoned and orphaned children. They support and accompany children into adulthood and stay in contact with their children long after the children have left a village. Worldwide there are nearly 6,000 SOS mothers caring for over 78,000 children and youth. Approximately 38,000 out of the 78,000 are girls and young women.

“My SOS mum is my real mum. She's the one who made me what I am today. She's the one who believes in me and supports me. She's the one who loves me. I love my mum with all my heart.” – says Plamen, who grew up under the care of a loving SOS mother in our Children's Village in Trjavna, Bulgaria.

An SOS mother for 24 years, Mama Fadia illustrates the important role that SOS mothers have on a child’s development by providing a safe and loving home to grow up in. 

“My calling in life is to be a mother. In my 24 years here, I realised that I need children and they need mothers. When a child calls me mom and I call him or her my child, it fills me with deep emotion. I found this emotion at SOS Children’s Villages, living and experiencing the powerful relationship of being a mother.” – says Mama Fadia.

Mama Fadia also acknowledges the important role of SOS Children’s Villages. “Without SOS Children’s Villages, these kids would be lost”, she says. “Without food, a loving home, a mother, and education, they would be lost. These are basic needs in life. These are the things that help a child differentiate between right and wrong. Without a parent to direct them, they might get caught up with bad friends or resort to stealing in order to get these basic needs.”

Salama Juma Ali has also been an SOS mother for the last 24 years in Zanzibar. When asked why she chose to become an SOS mother, she replied - “I chose to be an SOS mother because I wanted to help disadvantaged children. Orphaned and abandoned children lack the means and ability to support themselves. And, I wanted to be the person who would give them love and joy.”

SOS Children’s Villages also recognises the importance of education for women and girls. SOS Children’s Villages has expanded access to quality education at all levels for more than 206,000 children and youth, including nearly 100,000 girls and young women.

Since 2012, SOS Children’s Villages Zimbabwe has run a project entitled “Gender sensitive communities make stronger families for children.” This project aims to promote access to education for girls knowing that, “the more girls we educate, the more their own children are educated. Eventually it becomes an entire community of educated and stronger families.” 

Nonetheless, emphasis on women and girls must continue as barriers to health care, education, and jobs loom high.

Canadian's wishing to support SOS Children's Villages are encouraged to sponsor a child, sponsor a village or to make a direct donation. Your support ensures that SOS Children's Villages can continue to provide a safe and loving home to orphan and abandoned children worldwide.