By Aisha Tamba
SOS Children’s Villages Gambia will this Saturday join the rest of its other bodies outside Gambia to mark SOS international day.
Every June 23 is celebrated as international SOS day or the birthday of Hermann Gmierner, its founder, to profile the “unique and exemplary work” of SOS Children’s Village in the lives of children around the globe.
Its Gambia chapter has organised a press briefing in Bakoteh yesterday to update the media on this year’s celebration.
Mariatou Sallah, national director, said SOS Children’s Villages international’s main mission is to make sure every child belongs to a family and grows with love and respect and security.
“Our mission is that we build families for the children in need, help them shape their own futures and development of communities. Our work is graded by four key values; courage, commitment, accountability, keep our promises and trust and believe in each other.”
Founded in 1949 by Hermann Gmierner, SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-governmental international development organisation which has been working to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children.
“He established the first children village in Australia by just starting with 600 Austria shilling of his own personal money. We are a global international non-governmental social development organisations and we take care of children who have lost parental care and those who are at risk of losing prenatal care.
“Our organisation parades a family approach to long-term care of orphans and abandoned children.
“We also have another big program which is family strengthening program which cares for children who are at risk of losing parental care.”
The organisers also said the day was set aside to create an opportunity for SOS to interact with partners and well-wishers and to link the work of the SOS with communities and public.
