SOS Children's Villages Zambia

SOS Children’s Villages Zambia is an affiliate to SOS Children’s Villages International. It was established soon after the Second World War as a mitigating response to the growing population of homeless children, who had lost their families during the Second World War.

SOS Children’s Villages Zambia was established in 1999. It works within the organization’s vision of ensuring that every orphan and vulnerable child is provided with a home where they receive love, respect and security. It established its first Family Based Care (FBC) programme comprising fifteen family houses in Lusaka. With the growing demand for its services, SOS Children’s Villages Zambia has expanded its geographical reach to Kitwe, Livingstone and Chipata. The organization has also increased the number of beneficiaries as well as programme interventions.

WHO WE ARE

OUR ROOTS – What we are

• The SOS Children’s Villages concept, pioneered a family approach to the long-term care of orphaned and abandoned children.

• We take action for children as an independent non-governmental social development organization.

• We respect varying religions and cultures.

• We work in the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

– What we want for the world’s children

• Every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security.

OUR MISSION – What we do

• We build families for children in need, we help them shape their own futures and we share in the development of their communities.

OUR VALUES – What keeps us strong

Courage: We take action
Commitment: We keep our promises
Trust: We believe in each other
Accountability: We are reliable partners

The SOS Children’s Villages are built on four principles:

The Mother: Represents the biological parents. She lives with the children with whose care she has been entrusted in a family house, teaches them about the organization of daily life, establishes strong relations based on trust and affection, and provides the children with a warm and reassuring home. The women who undertake this very demanding job are single and have gone through an intensive two years training course;

Brothers and Sisters: Children grow up as brothers and sisters and natural siblings are never separated.

The House: Every SOS family has a house of its own. The house is the family’s house, with its own unique feelings, rhythm and routine. Under its roof, Children enjoy a real sense of security and belonging. Children grow and learn together, sharing responsibilities and all the joys and sorrows of daily life.

Village: is made up of an average of 10 to 15 family houses. The village constitutes a family-like community and gives the children cultural roots and a sense of belonging. The child is eligible for admission into the village family house from day one of his/her birth up to the age of 12 years. At the age of 14 or 15, adolescents leave the village family house for the SOS Youth House, which will lead them progressively towards becoming independent adults. The youth facilities are headed by Youth care Co-Workers who advise and guide youth. Youth learn to manage their finances and organize their everyday life. Whilst at the youth facilities, youth continue their studies up to professional college or university training.