The first SOS Children‘s Village was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in 1949 in Imst, Austria. He was committed to helping children in need – children who had lost their homes, their security and their families as a result of the Second World War. With the support of many donors and co-workers, our organisation has grown to help children all over the world. We take action for children as an independent nongovernmental social development organisation. We respect varying religions and cultures, and we work in countries and communities where our mission can
contribute to development. We work in the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and we promote these rights around the world. With the SOS Children‘s Village concept, our organisation pioneered a family approach to the long-term care of orphaned and abandoned children. This concept is based on four principles:
 

The Mother - Each child has a caring parent

Brothers and Sisters - Family ties grow naturally

The House - Each family creates its own home

The Village - The SOS family is a part of the community