A Helping Hand for Children - SOS Children’s Villages

On this and every day, SOS Children’s Villages works globally to care for and protect children, and to keep displaced families together About 20 million people worldwide have had to flee their home country because of wars and natural disasters, and another 40 million are had to move within their own countries. More than half are children. As we mark World Refugee Day 2017, SOS Children’s Villages emergency programmes are helping refugees in 14 countries. We are also developing programmes in more countries to help children displaced by wars or natural disaster. One of the reasons why families flee is to give their children hope for a better life. But sudden migration can also have a negative effects on children - separation or loss of parents, poor health care, lost education, emotional trauma, and in some cases neglect. That is why, whenever possible, we are on the ground providing food and non-food items; first aid and counselling; safe spaces for children and families to rest and recover; communications support so that families can find each other and stay in touch; and trauma counselling for children without family. Sometimes, when some refugees find new homes in other countries, we keep working. We always want to make sure that there are long-term solutions (for example: available counselling, language courses, and schooling) that protect these children and help them to integrate into society. Where needed, we also provide a several family-based care options. World Refugee Day is marked on 20 June. At SOS Children’s Villages, we work every day for the care and protection of children, and to keep displaced families together.