SOS Children’s Villages is a private, non-political, non-denominational organization that provides family-like care to children in need. With the support of our friends and partners, we work to ensure that each child will grow up in a loving home.
In 1949, Hermann Gmeiner founded the first SOS Children’s Village in Tyrol, Austria. He was a child welfare worker, and he saw how children suffered and were left orphaned as a result of World War II. He pioneered the family-like approach to helping children who have lost parental care.
Today, we are located in 134 countries and territories around the world. Our 571 SOS Children’s Villages are home to most of the approximately 86,000 children and young adults in our family-like care program. We also work in the communities to provide support and intervention to families at risk of breaking down. More than 467,000 people participate in our family strengthening programs.
In the Philippines, the first SOS Children’s Village was founded on May 1, 1967 in the province of Batangas. Now we have 8 villages spread across the country, and there are almost 1,000 children and young adults who live under our care. In the communities, we give support and intervention to approximately 5,600 families.
Our approach to long-term family care of orphaned and abandoned children is based on four principles:
We recognise children’s potential, guiding and accompanying them on their path to becoming independent and contributing members of their society.
We work to ensure that children can experience a reliable relationship with a caregiver based on love, respect and security.
We support families to stay together. If children cannot grow up with their family of origin, we support them to form lifelong bonds in an alternative family environment while ensuring that siblings stay together.
We assist families to connect across their community, share experiences, support one another and work together.
Every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security.
We build families for children in need, we help them shape their own futures and we share in the development of their communities.
Courage
We take action.
Commitment
We keep our promises.
Trust
We believe in each other.
Accountability
We are reliable partners.
Angeles Guanzon-Lapena
President
Ramiro De Castro
Vice President
Emerita Escueta
Treasurer
Rommel Oliva
Secretary
Mary Ann Espina
Member
Robert Limcaoco
Member
Shubha Murthi
Member
Maxwell Espina
Member
Evangeline Esperas
Member
Norman Paca
Member
Mel Senen Sarmiento
Member
SEC Registration No. A199601777, DSWD Permit No.
SB-SP-00026-2020 (Nationwide Coverage, valid until July 21, 2020)