SOS Day - 23 June 2009

Celebrated every year, the international SOS Children's Village Day has become a fixed date in the SOS calendar. Children and staff around the world organise parties and competitions to commemorate the birthday of Hermann Gmeiner, the founder of SOS Children. This year is particularly special, as SOS Children celebrates its 60th anniversary. Mirian, a ten-year-old girl from the SOS Children's Village Tegucigalpa, reminds us why this celebration is so special: “I thank God for the construction of an SOS Children's Village in Tegucigalpa. Because of this, I was able to become a member of a new family and home, with a mother that gives me attention, affection and security.”

How is SOS Day celebrated around the world?

SOS Day at Lilongwe, Malawi

Congregating in the open-air theatre, the children and staff usually entertain each other and visitors from the community with drama, dance, singing and acrobatics. Outside on the sports fields, games of football are played. Just beside the open-air theatre there is usually a bouncy castle - a great favourite with children and adults! Lunch is prepared in advance by staff and is served and eaten in a party atmosphere, accompanied by dancing, singing, bouncing and laughing!

SOS Day Celebrations in Jorpati, Nepal

SOS Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the world. However, the celebrations are unique in SOS Children's Village Jorpati which provides homes for orphaned and abandoned children with special needs. The celebrations usually begin in the morning with children participating in various competitions such as, chess, spoon races, a needle and thread race, a crutches race, a wheel chair race and quiz contests. Various other activities such as bowling, balloon blasting and musical chairs are also held. During the competitions, mothers, aunts and staff cheer and encourage their loved ones.

In the afternoon, a formal prize distribution ceremony is arranged which is followed by a colourful cultural programme organised by youths from the SOS Youth Facility. The programme starts with a prayer and offering of garlands, flowers and tilak (made of holy ash and applied vertically on the forehead) are put on the photograph of Hermann Gmeiner.

SOS Children's Village Greenfields, India

SOS Children's Village Greenfields always hold a party for "SOS Day". The celebrations are attended by children, mothers, retired mothers, staff and youths along with many friends and sponsors. Last year, the deputy superintendent of the police, Mr. Kuldeep Singh, was invited as the guest of honour. The mothers and children welcomed him in a traditional Indian way by putting tilak (made of holy ash and applied vertically on the forehead) on his forehead. This was followed by a short prayer and visit to a family house. A colourful cultural programme was organised by the children which included a group dance performed by children, which was much appreciated by everyone.

SOS Children's Village Los Jardines del Norte, Dominican Republic

Every year, the Dominican SOS Children's Villages celebrates the "SOS International Day" with much joy.The activities last year started early in the morning. The children put up the Dominican flag in the village, with the help of their mothers and SOS staff. In the afternoon, the SOS School choir opened the cultural performances, followed by a few words by Josefina Delgado, the SOS National Director. SOS youths then spoke about their experiences at teh Village and they showed a collage with pictures of their most recent activities, among them, a fundraising fair in 2004.