Who are we?

SOS Children’s Villages is a social development organization that primarily targets children without parental care or children at risk of losing parental care. We operate as a non-governmental organization with a social mission. Independent and respectful of different religions and cultures, we work in communities where our mission can contribute to development. We work in the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The first SOS Children’s Village in Benin was established in Abomey-Calavi in 1987. In 1999, a second SOS Children’s Village was opened in Natitingou, followed by a third in Dassa-Zoumé in 2005. The Community Support Program for Child Protection (PACOPE), which aims to support grassroots communities and the national child protection system, will begin in Abomey-Calavi and Parakou on January 1, 2022.

SOS Children’s Villages in Benin is a member of the SOS Children’s Villages International federation, which coordinates the work of SOS Children’s Villages in 137 countries and territories around the world.

It is important to remember that the first SOS Children’s Village was founded in 1949 in Imst, Austria, by Hermann Gmeiner. He was committed to helping disadvantaged children who had lost their homes, security, and families in the aftermath of World War II.

At SOS Children’s Villages, the core competencies based on the values below are: Kindness, Continuous Learning, Initiative, and Results Orientation.

For our managers, there are leadership competencies that are essential. These are Collaboration, Empowerment, Serving as a Role Model, and Strategic Thinking.