Some Current and Former SOS Children's Village Board Members

From Left to Right
Mrs Mumsy Matome, Major General B K Oitsile, Mr Derek James, Lady Ruth Khama,
Mr Keith Nichols, Dr N N Mashalaba, Mrs Pauline Brookes.

FACTS ABOUT SOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGES

SOS Children's Villages is a private, non-political andnon-denominational welfare organisation. It offers orphaned and destitute children -regardless of race, nationality or creed - a new and permanent home and prepares them foran independent life in SOS Children's Villages around the world in their own culture.

The SOS Children's Village work is based on four principles

THE MOTHER
Every abandoned child is again provided with a mother. The SOS Mothers arewomen who dedicate their lives to the children entrusted to them. the SOS Mother gives thechild the love and security which every child needs for its sound development. The SOSMother is the head of the family and runs her household independently.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS
An SOS-family consist, apart from the mother, of 6-10 boys and girls ofvarious ages, who grow up together as brothers and sisters. Siblings are not separated.

THE HOUSE
Every SOS Children's Village family has a house of its own.

THE VILLAGE
An SOS Children's Village normally consists of 10-15 family houses, whichform an integral part of the village community. this gives the children cultural roots anda feeling of belonging.

As of 1999 there are nearly 400 SOS Children's Villages and nearly 1,400ancillary facilities such as schools, kindergartens, vocational training centres, medicalcentres etc. in 130 different countries.

In Denmark SOS-Bornebyerne has operated since 1964raising funds forfinancing new SOS Children's Villages in the third world as well as facilitatingsponsorships for children in different SOS Children's Villages around the world.