About
Founded in Imst, Austria, in 1949, SOS Children’s Villages has since become one of the world’s largest charities dedicated to orphaned, abandoned and other vulnerable children.
Today, in over 560 SOS Children’s Villages globally, our professionally trained, local SOS mothers ensure that every child and young person grows up with the support, education, and life skills necessary for them to reach their full potential.
We also offer tailored support to impoverished, struggling families in over 700 SOS Family Strengthening Programs, providing them with counselling, parenting and professional skills development, education, and health care.
When disaster strikes, we protect and care for children who are especially vulnerable in times of conflict and crisis. As we are already part of local communities in over 130 countries around the world, we can quickly act to save their lives, protect their rights, and support their families.
We provide quality health care in over 60 health programs to the children in our care, and families from surrounding communities – often where no other medical facilities exist.
We encourage children to actively take part in the decision-making processes that affect their lives and speak up for themselves. By advocating to uphold their rights, all children can become their strongest selves.
Our Impact
We achieved change for 1.28 million people in 138 countries and territories in 2021, ensuring that children in Canada and around the world were safe and healthy, and that families could thrive.
- 68,000 children and young people cared for in our SOS Children’s Villages.
- 200,000 children and young people being educated in our schools and employment programs.
- 300,000 children and their families accessing our quality health care programs.
- 455,000 children and their families empowered from our family strengthening programs.
- 190,000 children and their families aided in our emergency response programs.
