Help for families in need - We Strengthen Families

Today, 1 in 10 children and young people are separated from their families, abandoned, neglected or forced to live in an abusive environment, growing up without the support they need to prepare them for their future. 

Due to challenging circumstances, parents/families struggle to provide their children with a loving and stable home.
SOS Children's Villages in South Africa helps families who are in acute danger of breaking up. SOS Children’s Villages' assistance includes a wide range of tailored support, advice and education services aimed at needy children and their parents to help families overcome their challenges and help keep them together. Parents/ families receive strengthening through counseling, skills development, and they are empowered with the resources they need to overcome their difficulties. This also includes kinship care to support children to live with their extended family. With strong families, children and young people can receive the care and support they need to thrive.
 

Children need families

Some families separate because of economic hardship, death of one or both parents and unstable relationships between the parents. The absence of a stable, protective family exposes children to multiple risk factors and makes them vulnerable to neglect, abuse, discrimination and exploitation. Families break up for different reasons. Children are always the ones who suffer. That is why our help for young people has many faces. This also includes relieving, strengthening and supporting families - before they break up.

Working with communities

Each child and each family is part of a community. We work with partners to develop strong social support systems for children and families to develop, grow and learn in a positive, supportive environment. Our allies include community-based organisations, local authorities and governments. Together we build resilience in vulnerable families.

Our help

SOS Children's Villages runs over 550 different Family Strengthening Programmes outside of the SOS Children's Villages supporting families in need in South Africa. We take action to empower parents, families and communities to fight poverty and empower parents to become self-reliant to care for their children.

Health

Access to nutritional assistance, secure their basic needs and promote access to healthcare to keep children and families healthy. 

Training

Training and equipping parents to earn an income and create a stable home. Ensuring access to education for girls and boys, including school fees, school uniforms, study materials, tutoring and after-school help. 

Advisory

Coaching in parenting and household management skills, coaching and further training in the areas of education, housekeeping and violence prevention. 

Income

Advice and education, training, further education for parents to create a sustainable livelihood. 

Nontombi

I live at K13-Ka Ken in Western Cape. I have a sick child that I have to take care of and the food I could afford did not last us the whole month. SOS Children's Villages has been of great help to me, they have assisted me with food, clothes and educational toys.

Nontombi