SOS Children’s Villages commemorates Child Protection Week

Children have a right to feel secure in their homes, environments, and places outside of their immediate environment. They need to move freely without fear of attack or abuse, and it is the responsibility of parents, duty bearers and the wider community to provide such safe environments. Children should have safe toys, resources and materials needed for their holistic development. They should receive effective protection from all forms of abuse and exploitation.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, children continue to grapple with unprecedented hardships.

Established in 1982, SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa provides alternative care and child protection services to over 700 children in our villages, and over 4500 children in our Family Strengthening Programme (FSP). Our FSP interventions for children are aimed at equipping families to better be able to care for their children, so that complete family breakdown is avoided, so that no children have to become orphans.

Our programmes aimed at children aim to equip each child to grow into a self-reliant adult, who can become a contributing member of society. In the care of SOS Children’s Villages and at every stage of their lives, the children are afforded psychological, emotional, psycho-social care, fully supported by professional social workers and a team of other child care experts available to the children 24/7.

Children have a right to feel secure at all times. They have a right to live without fear of any form of abuse, and it is the responsibility of parents, duty bearers and the wider community to provide such safe environments. Children should have safe toys, resources and materials needed for their holistic development. They should receive effective protection from all forms of abuse and exploitation.

As a child-focused organisation, efforts that go towards child-protection have been intensified. SOS has Child Safeguarding Investigators, who have the responsibility of safeguarding our children, and investigating where there have been breaches of child protection. These investigators have the knowledge and skills to respond appropriately to reported child safeguarding concerns and allegations within the organisation.  

SOS Children’s Villages is determined to be part of efforts to support children and young people at risk, to work towards a world that is safe for all children.

For more information on our work, and to support our Child Protection efforts, please go to https://www.sossouthafrica.org.za/

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About SOS Children’s Villages

SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-governmental organisation that advocates for the rights of South Africa’s marginalised children. We offer loving, family-like care for children and young people who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care. Established in 1984, SOS has eight Children’s Villages and three Social Centres across eight provinces.

Each year our Alternative Care, Family Strengthening and Youth Employability programmes provide life-changing support to children and families across the country.

The Alternative Care model comprises of four principles that include a mother (each child has a caring parent), brothers and sisters (the family ties grow naturally), a house (a secure place to grow up in) and a village (the SOS family is part of the community).

Our Family Strengthening Programme aims to enable children who are at risk of losing the care of their families to grow within a safe family environment. We work in co-operation with local authorities and other service providers to empower families and communities to effectively protect and care for their children.

For more information

Go to https://www.sossouthafrica.org.za/

Contact: Seithuto Seakgwa

Seithuto.Seakgwa@sos.org.za

+27 (0) 79 122 3332

Issued by:

SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa