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SOS Worldwide 

The first SOS Children’s Village was founded in 1949 by Hermann Gmeiner in Imst, Austria, in order to give a home to children who had lost their parents in the war. During a time in which abandoned children were mainly raised in orphanages, the SOS Children’s Village was a radically new model that focused on humanity and an individual, sheltered upbringing. Hermann Gmeiner, the founder of SOS Children’s Villages, firmly believed in this idea and that it could take root all over the world: “The children’s village must be a light and shine outwards to the world.” 

Indeed, the idea gained ground in many countries. After only 10 years, there were already 20 SOS Children’s Villages. Today there are 500 SOS Children’s Villages and 400 residential homes for youths in 132 countries around the world.


Additionally, there are more than 1,400 auxiliary facilities such as nurseries, schools, community and medical centers including youth facilities.

The principles of our help have stayed the same to the present day. The children receive the opportunity to establish resilient and long-lasting relationships within a family and the chance to shape their own future.  They live in accordance with their cultures and religions and take active roles in the lives of their local communities.

In SOS projects, staff members place great importance on encouraging the children’s individual abilities, skills and interests – the children receive the upbringing and education they need in order to successfully contribute to the societies that they live in.

In context of an international study, “Tracking Footprints,” former SOS Children’s Village children were asked how they live today.  It turned out that the majority have a comparatively good educational development, were able to make starts in the job market and lived in stable familial settings.