1949. year

The first SOS Village was founded in Austria.

The first SOS village was founded by Hermann Gmeiner with his companions. After war the village served as a home for orphans and abandoned children in Imst, Austria. Thousands of children lost their parents during WW2, being left with no home, care, parental love and attention. H. Gmeiner, a medicine student, was convinced that a family environment provides a more stable basis, on which to build a future, than an orphanage. His philosophy is based on four principles: mother, siblings, family and a village. Care in SOS Children's Villages is still based on said principles.

1955. year

The first youth home was founded

The first youth home was built in Innsbruck, Austria. Based on the child care model developed by H. Gmeiner, SOS Children's Villages organizations are founded in France, Germany, Italy.

1960. year

The international organization SOS-Kinderdorf International was founded.

The international organization SOS-Kinderdorf International is the ''roof'' organization to all national SOS Children's Villages organizations in the world. In the sixties, SOS villages are established in many countries around Europe. Based on this model, creation of SOS villages in Korea, other Asian countries and Latin America begins.

1970. year

Africa

Organization begins operating in Africa, opening tens of villages in many countries.

1991. year

1995. year

Status of a consultative NGO.

SOS-Kinderdorf International obtains the status of a consultative NGO in United Nations Economic and Social Council.

1997. year

First SOS village in Latvia

The first SOS village is created in Latvia, Īslīce, Bauska county, including 10 SOS families with 22 children.

2002. year

Pride in accomplishments

SOS-Kinderdof International is awarded the prestigious Konrad N. Hilton Humanism Prize – a remarkable worldwide award for significant contribution to reducing human suffering.

2006. year

First SOS youth home in Latvia and first family strengthening and support project.

The first SOS youth home in Latvia is opened in Jegava. 6 youngsters ages 16-24 are preparing to begin an independent life in the youth home. In Bauska, help is provided to families in a crisis – family strengthening and support program that runs until the end of 2008.

2007. year

An SOS village and the first family support center are established in Valmiera

The second SOS Children’s Village in Latvia is established in Valmiera. Remarkably, it is the 100thSOS Children’s Village in Europe. 7 families with 35 kids begin their life in the village. The same year the first family strengthening and support center opens its doors.

2008. year

The second youth home and two family support centres are established

SOS youth home in Iecava opens. 8 youngsters in difficulty are provided help and support. Two family support centers are established in Latvia – Riga, and Olaine. This year, a strategic action plan for 2016 was developed in the SOS-Kinderdorf International 18thgeneral assembly in Innsbruck. The plan determines the development of the organization in order to provide help for one million children worldwide – 100 thousand in villages and 900 thousand in family strengthening programs.

2010. year

The family strengthening and support center in Bauska resumes working

The family strengthening and support center in Bauska resumes work. The main objective is to help families by supporting biological families so they can care for their children and the removal of a child from their family would not be required.

2012. year

A family strengthening and support centre is established in Cēsis

A family support center opens in Cēsis thanks to funding by the European Social Fund. Currently there are more than 500 SOS Children’s Villages operating in 132 countries. SOS Children’s Villages organization is caring for approximatelt 1 272 400 children worldwide.

2013. year

Beginning of the crisis program for mourning children – Over the Mountains

The crisis program for mourning children was established at the end of 2013 after the Zolitūde tragedy when the roof of the supermarket ‘’Maxima’’ collapsed and many children lost their parents. After this event, our neighboring country Estonia donated money for Latvia to support mourning children and trained many specialists for providing psychological support in two support camps. Until June 2018, summer camps for mourning children were organized annually. In autumn 2018 the program was renamed to Over the Mountains and steered their work in a different direction, providing regular support to mourning children as well as their parents. Over the Mountains aims to support children, adolescents and their families after the loss of a mother, father, brother, sister or another close person by providing support in groups and individual consultations and enlightening the society. Over the Mountains has taken upon the task to promote a healthy mourning process for children and their families as well. It is a significant contribution not only to the current psychological and physical well-being but also care for a harmonious further development of the child.

2014. year

2017. year

The program Buddy is developed

Within the framework of the adolescent support program Buddy, cooperation is established with families with children, in which the actions of their teenage children has or might lead to unlawful actions. Within the framework of the program the individual development and social skills are encouraged and education and employment are supported.