30 Years of SOS Children's Villages in BiH Marked by Hugs and Gratitude

(Patria) - SOS Children's Villages in BiH this year celebrate three decades of dedicated work, care and support for the most vulnerable – children and young people growing up without parental care, as well as families in social need. This significant jubilee is marked by hugs, but also gratitude to all citizens, partners and friends who have supported their work over the years.

On the occasion of this special anniversary, SOS Children's Villages in BiH, in cooperation with the National Museum of BiH, provided free entry to the museum on November 7 and 8 for all citizens to whom they wish to say thank you in this way!

“Behind SOS Children's Villages in BiH are great 30 years, and today we want to thank the donors, partners and friends of the organisation for everything they have made possible with their support. A stadium would be too small to hold all those who, with their contributions, helped SOS Children's Villages in BiH in its first three decades to directly care for 599 children and young people in SOS families and to support thousands upon thousands of families, children and young people through preventive programmes. Also, we want to announce the next 30 years, what we are doing at this turning point and where we are going. We are expanding our services to be there for every child in need. We place special emphasis on social innovations in line with the needs of children in BiH, support for all young people leaving the public care system, as well as services to support foster care with the clear goal that every child grows up in a family environment and that none of them are alone,” stated the National Director of SOS Children's Villages in BiH, Malik Garibija.

Although it was impossible to summarise all the memories and successes of three decades of work in just one hour, during the event at the National Museum of BiH, where they gathered friends and donors, representatives of the organisation wanted to convey emotion and remind all present of what motivated them to change many lives for the better through dedicated work. And they succeeded, sharing stories from the heart, because every story of children, now adults, is a story of courage and hope, of how love can overcome all obstacles and how togetherness can change destinies.

After the first thirty years, SOS Children's Villages in BiH continue to support children and young people, as well as entire families. In their desire to help every child without parental care, and families at risk of separation, SOS Children's Villages in BiH are working on transforming services to best respond to the needs of those they have been supporting for 30 years. After integrating families into the community, SOS Children's Villages will become centres of social services, meaning that various services intended for the most vulnerable category of society – children and young people without parental care and families in social need – will be available in one place.

With this move, the organisation wants to contribute to improving the social protection system and creating conditions for a better future for children, young people, families and society as a whole.