SOS Children’s Villages Botswana is a non-governmental organization that cares for children who have lost parental care or are at risk of losing it. Operations started in 1987 in Tlokweng and spread to Francistown in 1998, and  Serowe in 2008 in response to growing child protection needs of the country, hence over 30 years of existence in Botswana. The organization is a member of SOS Children’s Villages International, which started in Imst, Austria, 1949 and operates in 137 countries worldwide.

Vision

Every child belongs to a family.

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.

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 recognise 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 society.

Every child grows with security.

Children are protected from abuse, neglect, and exploitation and are kept safe during natural disasters and war. Children have shelter, food, health care, and education. These are the basic requirements for the sound development of all children.

Mission

We build families for children in need.

We work for children who are orphaned, abandoned, or whose families are unable to care for them. We give these children the opportunity to build lasting relationships within a family. Our family approach in the SOS Children’s Village is based on four principles: Each child needs a mother and grows up most naturally with brothers and sisters, in their own house, within a supportive village environment.

We help them shape their own futures.

We enable children to live according to their own culture and religion and to be active members of the community.  We help children to recognise and express their individual abilities, interests and talents.  We ensure that children receive the education and skills training they need to be successful and contributing members of society.

We share in the development of their communities.

We share in community life and respond to the social development needs of society’s most vulnerable children and young people. We establish facilities and programmes that aim to strengthen families and prevent the abandonment of children.  We join hands with community members to provide education and health care and respond to emergencies

Core Values

Courage

We take action. We have challenged traditional methods of orphan care and continue to pioneer innovative child-care approaches. We help children who have no one else to turn to. With a sensitive yet confident approach, we are determined to question, learn and take action for children around the world.

Commitment

We keep our promises. We are dedicated to helping generations of children have a better life. We do this by nurturing lasting relationships with our donors, our co-workers and the communities in which we are rooted. We believe that by making a long-term commitment we have a meaningful and sustainable impact.

Trust

We believe in each other. We believe in each other’s abilities and potential. We support and respect one another, and build an environment where we can approach our responsibilities with confidence. In an atmosphere of trust, we are inspired to share our experiences and learn from each other.

Accountability

We are reliable partners. Since 1949 we have built a foundation of trust with donors, governments, and other partners who support us in our mission. Our greatest responsibility is to guarantee the wellbeing of children by ensuring high standards of care. In doing this we are committed to using all funds and resources wisely, with respect and accountability.