Our Work

SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana is dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people without parental care or at risk of losing it. Together with partners, donors, communities, children, young people and families, we enable children to grow up with the bonds they need to develop and become their strongest selves. We speak up for each child’s rights and advocate for change so all children can grow up in a supportive environment.

By “children and young people without parental care,” we mean those who are temporarily or permanently growing up without the care of their families: children in residential care, in foster care, children who are living on the street. By “those at risk of losing parental care,” we mean children and young people in families that are struggling to stay together and where parents are having difficulty providing the care, stability and connection their children need.

Our approach

Each child and young person is unique , they have their own needs, come from different circumstances, and possess an individual potential for impacting the world. This understanding is at the heart of everything we do to offer care and support that is appropriate to the needs of each child, young person and family we work with, that takes into account their experiences, culture and wishes. To accomplish this, we work with each child and young person so their voice is heard and they have a say in the care and support they receive.

What we do

PREVENTION

Keeping families together and preventing child-family separation

If possible, the best place for children to grow up is within their family. Our activities range from working directly with families and communities, to research on the reasons for family breakdown, to developing and sharing training materials related to parenting and mental health.

PROTECTION

Ensuring care and protection when there is no family or it is not in a child or young person’s best interest to stay in the family

Our activities include directly caring for children and young people, also in emergencies; working with partners to train foster parents and with governments to implement care standards; supporting young people to become self-reliant, and much more.

ADVOCACY

Changing policy and practice to improve the situation of children and young people without parental care or at risk of losing it

This pillar of action focuses on systemic change. Among other activities, we work with partners to create platforms for children and young people to bring the issues they face into discussions at the local, national and global level.