SOS Children’s Villages

SOS Children’s Villages, with its family approach to childcare, is a new form of orphanage for Russia. Here, children left without parental care find a home, a family, friends and hope of a happy future.

In every family there are 6-8 children – boys and girls of differing ages. Biological brothers and sisters are never separated but live together in the same family house. The SOS Mother is the head of the family – bringing up children in a loving and caring environment.

Each Children’s Village consists of 10-12 separate family houses.

The Village Director presides over the management of the Children’s Village. He and his family live in the Village providing the SOS Mothers with help and care. The assistants to SOS Mothers are called “aunts”. When necessary (due to a mother’s absence - sickness, vacation etc.) the aunt takes the place of the mother, living with the children for that period of time. She also helps do the housework.

Among the staff of the Village, are such specialists as teachers and psychologists. There are also administrative and technical staff in the Villages, for example book-keepers, secretaries, craftsmen, drivers, security guards etc.