In this world, there are a lot of children who are suffering so much, because of poverty, broken families, drugs, and loss of family. SOS Children’ Villages are one of private organizations that try to assist helpless children. I am going to explain about what is this kind of organization, its structure, and where we can find them.
WHAT IS SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE
SOS Children’s Village is a private, non-political and nondenominational welfare organization.
SOS offer abandoned, orphaned, and destitute children-regardless of race, nationality or creed- a new and permanent home, and prepare them for an independent life.
SOS Kinderdof International is the umbrella organization to which all national SOS Children’s village Associations are affiliated STRUCTURE OF SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE.
SOS provides orphaned and destitute children with a new and permanent home. The children receive a good education and sound preparation for life
As a self-sufficient adult. They stay at the SOS Children’s Village until they are to live independently. .
The SOS idea is based on four principles:
The Mother
Every child is given on SOS Children’s Village Mother and Thus someone to relate to constantly throughout childhood and beyond. She has the same cares, duties and joys as any mother and is the head of the family, responsible for the family budget and in charge of her household. The mother is supported by an assistant or trainee mother so that she can enjoy her holiday or days off. Throughout the world SOS Children’s village mothers are recruited and trained to the highest standards>
The small Maria pursued by the gardens and she climbed, with his amiguitos of the village, to the mechanical games without repairs some, while her "mother " Daisy watched with preoccupation how she soiled in a matter of minutes his dress and shoes, that put to him specially for the occasion: the confraternidad encounter.
The girl, of two years of age, seems to be other peoplés to her reality: she lives with his eight detachable brothers and one mother substitute in a small one, but cosy house within the infantile village of Zárate, San Juan de Lurigancho, like other 143 minors.
Chuchón daisy (42), natural of Ayacucho, decided to entirely dedicate itself to take care of to orphaned or left children 17 years ago. The mothers substitutes, are possible to need, must be unmarried. "Although the children who I have to my position did not leave my belly, them master as if they were my children. I undergo and I share joys with them. The satisfaction is immense " explained. Brothers
An SOS Children’s village’s family comprises five or more children, with boys and girls of various ages growing up together as brothers and sisters. New family members are admitted up to the age of ten. According to this model:
- in the same house must not be more than 12 children, they must be of a different sex, equalized by the number (6 boys, 6 girls)
- Children are from 3-18 years old, which is similar with a natural family. That provides emotional relations on horizontal as well as on vertical line of age, which means cooperativity and learning by the model in different spheres.
- emotional relations among children are cherished and every child is treated as special. During that period the similarities which have negative effect on climate and dynamics of the group we try to minimize by the composition of children which means taking care about their personal characteristics and abilities. Namely, hyperkinetic and emotionally unstable children can be in the same group in a small number.
According to the previous experience the difference in age, sex, personal characteristics, abilities and interests present the optimum for establishing the mature emotional relationship on which harmonious functioning of a family depends.
The rhythm of everyday life determines the obligation for attending pre-school institution, Primary school which is near, as well as Secondary School and University in town. During the "time in between" school responsibilities children and adolescents do almost all house works, and organize their private space and environment.
The House
Every SOS has a hose of its town. Each house has combined living (dining or room as the center of social life within the family
The Village
In a space similar to a condominium 10 to 12 houses are located that conform the infantile village. This constitutes in the bridge of integration of the children towards the society, transmitting to them security sensation. The children, who live in a village take a normal life, have neighbors and friends, practice sport and study in schools of their city
The Village is in charge of a director, who besides to support and to orient to mothers SOS in his work always is available for the children
It is organised community which is made up of about 14 family houses, the house of the director and rooms for educator, psychologist and speech therapist. The Villages are situated in the suburbs, but children go to public schools and also have friends outside the village and participate in regular life of the society. The Villages were established in such a way as to let SOS mothers to focus mainly on bringing up children, with the help of experts. The organisational and living matters (getting funds) are taken care of by the SOS Village director. The director, thanks to his pedagogical education gives also professional support to mothers, and together with the educator and technician organises free time for children, especially for boys - sports competition, do-it-yourself activities, etc.
References
(http://www.sos-kd.org/who/index.htm).
(http://www.netup.cl/~aisos/03_aldea/aldea_fr.htm).
(http://www.expreso.com.pe/ediciones/1999/feb/08/nacionales/loc_02.htm - 4k).
(http://www.sos-kd.org/who/fac/childrens_villages/index.htm#goto_4).
(http://www.sosvillages.org.za/founder.htm).
(http://www.sos-kd.org.yu/english/sosfamily.htm)