SOS Children's Villages Lebanon

SOS Children's Villages Lebanon is a non-governmental, non-profit social development national association and a member of the International Federation of the SOS Children's Villages (SOS CV), an umbrella organization for 136 national SOS CV organizations in the world. We are part of the world's largest practitioner movement for supporting children who are deprived or at risk of losing parental care. Our Mission We build families for children in need.We help them shape their own futures.We share in the development of their communities. Our Vision We believe that every child has the right to live within a family and to grow surrounded by love, respect and security. Our programs FAMILY LIKE CARE The SOS Children's Villages family-like care strategy emphasizes family relationships; each individual in an SOS family receives a unique supporting identity and a sense of belonging. The bond between the children amongst each other and their SOS caregiver lasts long after they leave the SOS Children's Villages and become independent adults.Each child joins a family of 5 to 7 brothers and sisters with an SOS caregiver in their own home. The SOS caregiver is responsible for her own family and house, manages her own financial spending and contributes to the balanced development of every child. As professional caregivers, and with the support of the family like care director and the family like care pedagogical team, SOS caregivers provide the best alternative care for the children and relate to them with the same duty and joys of every other biological mother. FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAMS In addition to the family-based care program that the children and youth receive directly under our care, SOS Children’s Villages Lebanon also works to strengthen disadvantaged families by supporting caregivers in acquiring specific skills that will help enhance their economic situation.In 1986, in the midst of the 15 years Lebanese civil war, SOS Children's Villages Lebanon was the first to introduce SOS Family Strengthening Program (FSP) in Lebanon. Later on, this pioneer program was adopted and duplicated worldwide. FSP was a response to the civil war when many children faced the risk of abandonment after they lost their fathers and the mothers did not have the financial means or capacity to support their families on their own.The SOS Family Strengthening Program has been active for the last 36 years and is implemented through two SOS social centers, in Beirut and Bekaa (Ksarnaba), and currently assists over 700 children and their caregivers in various regions of the country. There are currently two SOS Children's Villages deployed all over the Lebanese territories: SOS Children's Village Bhersaf (Metn), founded in 1969. SOS Children's Village Ksarnaba (Bekaa), founded in 2006. In addition, there is one youth house for boys between the ages of 15 and 18 located in Byblos and another one for girls located in Jal El Dib. SOS Children's Villages Lebanon also runs two Family Strengthening Programs, the first one in Beirut and the second one in Bekaa.