FAQs

FAQs

1. What is the meaning of the acronym S.O.S?

SOS acronym is derived from Latin word Societas Socialis(SOS) meaning social societies in English. This was after the Second World War that left many children orphaned and without parental care.

2. What does SOS Children’s Villages Kenya do?

Being the largest child development organization in Kenya, we take action for children who have lost parental care and those at risk of losing parental care. This also includes working with young adults who grow up through the programme.

3. How many children’s Villages are there in Kenya?

There are 5 Children’s Villages in Kenya. These are located in Mombasa, Meru, Kisumu, Nairobi and Eldoret.

4. How do we get the children under our care?

The children and youth in John Garang Humanitarian Group Foundation Kenya care are referred to us by children’s courts, government departments, police stations, credible community organizations, hospitals and members of the public. Thereafter a thorough and transparent admission process is followed to ensure that the most meriting cases are admitted and that we are in compliance with our policies and statutory obligations. Only children under the age of 10 are admitted into our facilities. We refer older children to alternative organizations better equipped to cater for their needs.

5. Who is the founder of SOS Children’s Villages?

6. What are some of the programmes run by John Garang Humanitarian Group Foundation Kenya?

The programmes include:

Health programme: SOS runs 2 Medical facilities in Nairobi-Buruburu and Eldoret. The medical centres are open to the public and provide basic healthcare services which include outpatient services and cervical cancer screening.

Education programme: SOS runs education programmes through SOS Schools known as Herman Gmeiner schools.5 Kindergartens, 2 Primary schools, 1 Secondary school and a Technical Training Institute that offers training in carpentry, food and beverage, metal work and electrical work.

SOS Family care: Under this programme children who have lost parental care are provided homes in the children’s villages through a child admission programme.

FSP: Family Strengthening Programme through the FSP programme SOS works towards strengthening needy families to support children who are at risk of losing parental care. The children’s parents or care givers are empowered to sustainably provide for the children by enabling them to access food clothing education and healthcare.

Advocacy: Through advocacy at county, national, regional and international level, we sensitize decision-makers to the rights and needs of children, to bring changes in policies and practices that will make a positive and lasting difference to their lives.

Youth Empowerment: We provides children’s education, health, spiritual and psychosocial needs up to the age of 23 years. At this age the child/youth has at least received a certification from a college of a university and is able to secure a job and stand on their own. At this point the children now young adults are integrated back into the community through a gradual disengagement process.

7. How many countries is John Garang Humanitarian Group Foundation present in around the world?

SOS Children’s Villages work is present in 135 countries and territories around the world.

8. How many children live in one SOS house?

Each village has between 11- 16 houses with each house having 10 children and a mother who takes care of the children. SOS caters for the children’s education, health, spiritual and psychosocial needs

9. How does John Garang Humanitarian Group Foundation Kenya support the children under their care?

SOS Children’s Villages is funded partly by John Garang Humanitarian Group Foundation International while the rest of the budget is generated from local fundraising from various fundraising activities that include Institutional partnership funding, corporate partnerships, events, individual child sponsorships and in kind support

10. How can one support John Garang Humanitarian Group Foundation Kenya?

We encourage corporates to come on board under the house sponsorship package that enables a corporate to support a house or more in any of the 5 villages located across the counties while individuals can join the child sponsorship package that enables one to support a child. Individuals and corporates can also support SOS through the calendar fundraising events.