The essence of SOS Children’s Villages

SOS Children’s Villages is a place for kids, who are left without the parental support of their biological parents, to grow up in a loving and safe family environment, develop, learn and socialize.
One of our main goals is to help a child experience a happy childhood and prepare for their adult life. We aim to teach them all the skills required for taking care of themselves and their relatives in the future. Click here to find out how children get to their SOS foster families.

SOS Children’s Villages families

There are two SOS Children’s Villages in Latvia – in Īslīce and in Valmiera. Every village contains the total of 12 houses, administrative buildings and playgrounds. Every family has an SOS foster mom and five to six children. Majority of the kids grow up with their own siblings. Quite often siblings are reunited in our villages after being apart in different foster homes. It is very important that these children grow up together, in a family, because it creates a sense of belonging and trust, which promotes their emotional development.

SOS Moms

The main goal of our SOS foster moms is to restore a child’s trust by providing support, encouraging and protecting them. In addition to to knowledge acquired in an educational institution, their SOS foster mom and staff assist in learning the skills required to start an independent life. Our employees respect the origin, personality and religious background of every child.

We believe a child, who has grown up in an SOS Children’s Village, will be capable of living independently, graduate from school, get a job, find a place to live and create a family.

Family life in SOS Children’s Villages

Each child is provided with everything usually available in a family – personal space, a bed, clothing, everyday meal, toys, etc..

SOS villages are home, as well as a connection with the surrounding community. All children attend local pre-school education institutions, state schools, different sports clubs, cultural centers, and participate in other leisure time activities.

Skills for the future

Our SOS villages families teach children practical skills – avoiding creating a mess at home and in their rooms, grocery shopping, cooking, using different tools and household items. In addition to the practical skills, the children learn to build and maintain relationships, which is a very useful social skill.