| SOS Children's Villages is a private, non governmental charitable organization, which offers a new permanent home to abandonned, orphanned and destitute children, regardless of their race, nationality or creed. |
| An upbringing at SOS Children's Villages is based on 4 priciples. |
| 1. The SOS Mother |
| She lives in a house with children entrusted to her care and is the primary source of love and security for them. |
| 2. Brothers and Sisters |
| 5 to 10 boys or girls of different ages living under the same roof promotes a sense of family. |
| 3. The House |
| A family house provides an environment conductive to their growth and development. |
| 4. The Village |
| With 12 to 15 family houses, the village constitutes a bridge to the broader social network. It offers the children scope for interacting with the community. The village also shares in the development of the community. |