SOS Children's Village BC | Mission Statement

Our Roots

What we are….

The first SOS Children’s Village was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in 1949 in Imst, Austria. He was committed to helping children in need – children who had lost their homes, their security and their families as a result of the Second World War. With the support of many donors and co-workers, our organization has grown to help children all over the world.

We take action for children as an independent non-governmental child welfare organization. We respect varying religions and cultures, and we work in countries and communities where our mission can contribute to development. We work in the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and we promote these rights around the world.

SOS Children’s Village BC is the only SOS Children’s Village in Canada.

Our Vision

What we want for BC’s children in foster care
Every child deserves to belong to a family and community and to grow with love, respect and security.

Every child belongs to a family and a community
Family is the heart of society. Within a family each child is protected and enjoys a sense of belonging. Here, children learn values, share responsibilities and form life-long relationships. A family environment gives them a solid foundation on which to build their lives within the neighbourhood and the community.

Every child grows with love
Through love and acceptance, emotional wounds are healed and confidence is built. Children learn to trust and believe in themselves and others. With this self-assurance each child can recognize and fulfill his or her potential.

Every child grows with respect
Each child’s voice is heard and taken seriously. Children participate in making decisions that affect their lives and are guided to take a leading role in their own development. The child grows with respect and dignity as a cherished member of his or her family and of society.

Every child grows with security
Children are kept safe by protecting them from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Shelter, food, health care, education and nurture are the basic requirements for the sound development of all children.

Our Mission

To improve the quality of life for BC children & youth in need

What we do
We build families for children in foster care, we help them shape their own futures and we share in the development of their communities.

We build families for children in need
We work for children in foster care whose biological families are unable to care for them. We give these children the opportunity to build lasting relationships within a foster family.

We help them shape their own futures
We empower children to live according to their own culture.
We encourage children to recognize and express their interests and abilities.
We provide children the education, skills training and therapeutic support tailored to their needs so they become successful and contributing members of society.

We share in the development of their communities
We share in community life and attend to the social needs of society’s most vulnerable children.
We establish facilities and programs that aim to strengthen foster families.

Our Values

Courage we take action
We have pioneered innovative approaches to foster care. We research, learn and take action for BC children in foster care.

Commitment we keep our promises
We are dedicated to helping generations of children have a better life. We do this by nurturing sustainable relationships with our donors, co-workers and the communities in which we are rooted.

Accountability we are reliable partners
Since 1986 we have built a foundation of trust with donors, governments, and other partners who support us in our mission. In 2007 we were accredited with the Council on Accreditation, confirming our commitment to quality care and delivery of service, and accountable use of all funds and resources.

What keeps us strong
These are the values on which our organization has been built, and they are the cornerstones of our success. These enduring principles guide our actions, decisions and relationships as we work towards fulfilling our mission.

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