We serve children and young people who are in vulnerable situations, promoting their development and autonomy, through foster care in protective family environments and strengthening their family, social and community networks.

Vision

Every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security.

Values

• Commitment
• Boldness
• Responsibility
• Trust

What Is SOS Children's Villages?

For us there is nothing more important than the well-being of a child.

In 1971, thanks to Dr. Manuel Mateos Fournier, with the support of Hermann Gmeiner and many people of great heart, the National Board of Trustees was created and the first SOS Children's Village was built, located near the Basilica of Guadalupe.

Our Programs

We develop actions to prevent the loss of family care. When this is not possible, we provide tailored alternatives by promoting contact and/or return to the family of origin.

Mexico ranks first in the world in child sexual abuse with 5.4 million cases a year, so the federal government and the 32 local governments have taken on the task of guaranteeing well-being of girls, boys and adolescents.

Give Children a Loving Home

As a child, you need someone who stands by you and believes in you, no matter what. SOS Children’s Villages is here for those children who are growing up without the care and support they need. Our quality care puts their individual needs and best interests first and foremost, and provides a nurturing and stable [family] environment. With strong and healthy relationships, each child and young person can grow up with the trust and sense of belonging that is essential for them to become their strongest selves.

Make Families Stronger

Each child needs someone to support and protect them as they grow. But many parents face hardships that prevent them from giving proper care. SOS Children’s Villages offers tailored support to strengthen families in need, helping to keep them together. From counselling to skills development, parents are empowered with the resources they need to overcome their difficulties. With strong families, children and young people can receive the care and support they need to thrive.

We Advocate for Children's Rights

All children have equal rights to care and protection, and to live a healthy life free from abuse and harm. SOS Children’s Villages defends and promotes these rights for all children on a global, regional, and national level. We work with partners to improve laws, policies and practices so that each child and young person, and their families receive the care and support they need. By advocating to uphold their rights, all children can become their strongest selves.

Protecting Children in Emergencies

Children are most vulnerable during an emergency. When disaster strikes, SOS Children’s Villages acts quickly to protect and care for children. With our long-term, global and local presence, we protect their rights and help keep families together. We stay for as long as it takes to help them overcome the emergency and rebuild their lives.

What are the criteria to receive children in an SOS Children's Village family?

Children who live in an SOS Children's Village require a family environment, because their parents or relatives for various reasons are not able to care for them.

We support, accompany and guide the children, adolescents and young people at all times so that they can reintegrate with their biological family. So we carry out actions that reverse the situations that gave rise to family separation; and when this is not possible, we provide family environments, such as SOS Children's Villages.

Often they have been neglected, abused, abandoned and need a family environment for the restitution of their rights, therefore there is no specific age to receive a child or adolescent or group of biological siblings.

We try that the children who arrive to an SOS family are not older than twelve years old, because of the difficulty they may have to adapt, however, for their best interest, the brothers and sisters of a natural family will be together in the SOS Children's Village, even if some of them are older than twelve years old.

Under what pedagogical concept are children, adolescents and young people educated?

Our work around the world is based on the Council on the Rights of Children and Adolescents, a specialized body on childhood that operates as a fundamental framework from which all policies and organizational guidelines are based.

Furthermore, education in each country is characterized by the cultural and ethnic background of the children, by their religion and also by the people who take part in the educational process.

Do the children in the SOS Children's Villages have contact with their biological family? Can they visit them?

Every child has the right to maintain contact with his or her biological family. When the contact with the biological family is positive for the child, mutual visits are maintained and promoted, as well as family reintegration; that is, in some cases, when the biological family overcomes the situation of adversity that prevented them from keeping their children, they can be reunited. In cases where this is not possible, the SOS family maintains that role, even after the youngsters reach the age of majority.

At what age do the children leave?

SOS families are very similar to any common family, that is why there is no age limit for children to leave. After completing their high school studies, children are encouraged to continue with a high school education or to aspire to a university education.

When they have grown up and are ready to become independent, we accompany them during this process, supporting them financially with a percentage for their studies, housing and medical follow-up, while they become self-sufficient.

In addition, our door will always remain open for them to come and visit us or to communicate any problems they may have.

Can children be adopted?

We have a family model in which we provide a family environment for children who for various reasons do not have the care of their parents. The Organization does not promote adoption processes, however some of our participants may be in a process of adoptability as determined by the governing body (DIF). Therefore, SOS Children's Villages collaborates in the process of possible adoption, but does not directly carry out the process, the only one in charge of exercising this function is the DIF.

Who finances the organization and where do the funds come from to support the programs?

We have different fundraising programs: Amigos SOS, Padrinazgo SOS and Empresas de Gran Corazón, with the contribution of many generous people we guarantee the welfare of the children.

We also have an international subsidy until 2021, by which time we must reach financial sustainability.

Is it possible to visit an SOS Children's Village to bring gifts to the children?

Following established procedures to maintain the privacy of the families and the protection of the children, our donors are always welcome.

It is necessary to write an email to amigossos [at] aldeasinfantiles.org.mx in order to coordinate any visit.

Are there fathers in SOS Children's Villages?

Motherhood or fatherhood are synonymous of love, protection, security and support for the development of children and can be in charge of a caring adult, such as the SOS caregivers. Therefore, although in Mexico we do not yet have SOS Parents, we are not closed to the possibility.

Can a single mother, who is in a difficult situation, leave her children in an SOS Children's Village?

If a woman is in a difficult situation and does not know what to do with her children, we recommend that she go to a government agency (DIF), which determines what is best for these children and their families, then if it is determined that we are the best option for the child, he or she will be channeled through the DIF.

Do you work with street children and children with disabilities?

We have been able to serve children with disabilities for years. However, if it is a child who requires specialized care, for which we are not prepared, we suggest that he/she be treated in a specialized entity.

On the other hand, children and adolescents in street situations often have difficulty adapting to a family model; they may no longer trust family life, they may be very independent, or their experience with their parents has been extremely drastic, so they reject a family environment and prefer care entities that have specialized work for such conditions.