Strategy 2030
Ensure the best care for children, innovate, and unite more partners so that no child grows up alone
Far too many children are still growing without adequate care, without having their basic needs and rights met, without the foundation to become self-sufficient adults.
We put disadvantaged children at the heart of our strategy for the next decade. Our strategy directly relates and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals in key areas such as poverty, inequality, education, health, social and child protection, and decent work.
Almost 70 years of experience supporting children without parental care, and those at risk of losing it, have given us a deep understanding of how to prevent the breakdown of parental care and how to care for children who need someone. We do this through innovative and effective partnerships with donors, communities, governments and other organisations.
Our strategic initiatives
1. Innovate Alternative Child Care. Ensuring our own alternative care programmes are integrated into the community.
2. Strengthen Families. Increasing our efforts to prevent the loss of care.
3. Empower Young People. Improving their care and employability.
4. Advocate for Children. Increasing our advocacy impact and giving a stronger voice to children.
5. Create a Movement. Sharing our experience and knowledge with partners.
6. Simplify SOS. Continuing efforts to improve our own efficiency.
7. Invest for Funding Growth. Raising more money to allow us to carry out our vital mission.
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Responding to change
We also see changing needs in the communities where we work, and we are taking concrete action to respond adequately.
Through a rapid programme review process initiated in 2016, SOS Children’s Villages is evaluating programmes in more than 80 member associations for their quality, impact, efficiency, and relevance to the children we work for.
The findings from these rapid assessments will be translated into action plans for improvement and good practices that can be shared and adapted in other locations.
Care innovation
We make it a priority to support our SOS families in living in the community, and being part of community life.
In doing so, we encourage children and young people to establish the relationships, necessary skills, attitudes, and networks they will need for independent life.
In strengthening the level of children’s integration in their communities, the risk of stigmatisation or discrimination for growing up in alternative care is minimised. Children feel less isolated, and happier, when they participate in community life. Integration furthermore helps reduce potential institutional features of alternative care.
Our SOS Children’s Village in Cartagena, Colombia is one example of how integration can successfully be achieved. There is no central SOS village. Instead, alternative care is provided by SOS families living dispersed throughout the city, as well as by foster families who receive support from SOS Children’s Villages.
(Cartagena video)