About Us
Who we are
SOS Children’s Villages is a non-governmental social development organisation that was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in 1949 in Imrst, Austria. SOS stands for Societas Socialis, which was a social club, organized to raise funds for the care of orphaned children in Austria who had been displaced by the 2nd World War and it means socially responsible society. Gmeiner, the founder believed that every child deserves a mother, as well as brothers and sisters, a home and a supportive community environment. The organisation respects varying religions and cultures. It works in the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and promotes these rights.
As a social development organisation, we pioneer a family approach to the long-term care of children who have lost parental care and are at risk of losing parental care. The family approach concept ensures that each child has a caring parent, lives together with brothers and sisters, enjoys a real sense of security and belonging and lives in a community where families share experiences and help one another. The main donors of the organisation are individuals, families and private donors from countries in Europe, SOS Norway, SOS Kinderdorf and SOS Barnebyer. For over 60 years, SOS Children Villages has been helping vulnerable children, families and their communities to flourish. SOS Children´s Villages is working in 134 countries worldwide with 45 countries in Africa.
What we do
As SOS Children’s Villages Eswatini Association works in 3 locations covering 15 communities. The 3 locations are Mbabane (Sidvwashini, Mpolonjeni, Msunduza, Malagwane and Mahwalala), in Shiselweni (Mzizi, Maseyisini, Mathendele, Mangwaneni and Nsongweni), in Siteki (KaLanga, Matsetsa and Mangoleni) and in Manzini (Kwaluseni and Emphini). We work to prevent family breakdown and care for children who have lost parental care, or who risk losing it. We work with communities, partners and states to ensure that the rights of all children, in every society, are respected and fulfilled.
We are non-governmental and non-denominational. We respect all religions and cultures and work with trusted partners in places where we can contribute to social development. All the work we do is made possible through the generous support of sponsors and donors, institutional and corporate partners, and loyal friends worldwide. And yes, your help is needed too.
Our target
The organisation provides care and support to children who are at risk of losing parental care and children that have already lost parental care. The organisation supports children in our target through two approaches. Through Family-Like Care where children in the target group are placed in the care of SOS families resident within the SOS Children’s Villages and Family Strengthening referring to families of origin in communities. Family Strengthening is a community based programme that was started in 2009 as a response to the increasing number of children that were becoming orphaned. The programme provides support to families caring for orphans and vulnerable children with the aim of keeping these children wthin their families and communities of origin.
Communities we work in around Eswatini are: Mpolonjeni, Mahhwalala, Msunduza, Bahai and Sidwashini in Mbabane; Mathendele, Mzizi, Maseyisini, Magwaneni in Nhlangano; Ka-Langa, Mangoleni, Matsetsa in Siteki; Matsapha, Lwandle and Mpini in Manzini.
SOS Children’s Villages work is anchored in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which recognizes the family as “the fundamental group of society and natural environment for the growth and well-being of children;” and that “the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a good environmet”. As a pioneer organization in the area of care and support to children that are at risk of losing parental and those that have already lost parental care we continuously strive to provide quality care and support by working with stakeholders.
