Children grow up in SOS Children's Village families until the age of 14, when they become adolescents and then move out of SOS Villages to separate homes in the community to live independently or to be reunited with their families of origin. During this they receive good health and psychological care and guidance, and learn the necessary skills and abilities that they need to be able to rely on themselves. SOS Children's Villages also provides quality education up to university level or vocational training. We seek, in cooperation with partners, to enable young people to obtain education and provide training opportunities and a motivating educational environment that supports the development of young people's skills and increases their chances of accessing the labor market towards financial independence and building their future. Young people also participate in many awareness and guidance programs. They also participate in voluntary community service, for example Diabetics Friend Society, Cancer Friend Society, Ministry of Education and Summer Camps.

We work directly with families at risk of breaking down to ensure they have the support they need to provide their children with strong bonds. We work with communities, local municipalities and national governments to implement measures that prevent children and young people from losing parental care and strengthen and stabilize families, including during emergencies. 

SOS Children's Villages Palestine supports families to develop their capacity for protection and care for their children and strengthens the network for protecting children at risk and their families in the community. The Family Strengthening Program is aimed at children and their parents who are at risk of family separation.

In our direct work with families and extended families, we offer a range of services, such as livelihood support, parenting workshops, psychological counselling, family counselling, support in accessing social and health care services, providing parents with entrepreneurship and vocational training to help them become financially independent and create a stable home and access to education, including covering for school fees, uniforms, learning materials, tutoring and after-school help.

The Family Strengthening Program in the West Bank operates in two districts, Bethlehem and Hebron, and in Gaza within five geographical areas.

To ensure that families can stay together and thrive for generations, it is paramount to strengthen them through crises and champion the physical and mental health of children, young people and parents. 

Children who have lost the care of their families, temporarily or permanently, are disproportionately affected by adverse childhood experiences and therefore more likely to suffer from mental disorders that often continue to affect them in adulthood. Also, families under pressure are more likely to lack access to physical health services. Whenever it is necessary medical assistance and therapy is provided to them according to each family’s needs in our family strengthening approach.

In our alternative care services, we strive for every child and young person to have the supportive relationships and the feeling of security they need to overcome difficulties and build resilience. 

We provide medical care to families in hard conditions and psychological care to traumatized children. 

SOS Children’s Villages’ work mostly focuses on the prevention of mental health conditions with a specific focus on children and families at risk. In case that the needs of children and young people exceed the capacities of our services (due to severe mental health conditions), we cooperate with and refer to specialized services

Children are especially vulnerable when disaster and conflict strike. Protecting children and families is at the heart of our emergency work. We ensure those at risk get the support and care needed to rebuild their lives and strengthen their communities.

Families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip suffer from difficult economic, living and psychosocial conditions due to the ongoing blockade and the difficult economic situation. Sometimes, our humanitarian response requires immediate support to secure initial food supplies and basic life needs, such as distributing aid baskets. Also, psychosocial support is essential in responding to emergencies affecting children and families affected by conflicts and disasters. Families and children participate in psychosocial support sessions that reduce stress levels, trauma and fear among children and parents alike, enabling them to recover together as a family.

Through our emergency aid in Gaza during the war that began in October 2023, we have already reached more than 32,000 children and adults. Our interventions have included:

Providing basic needs for families: We have worked to support families financially, giving them access to essential survival needs, such as food, water, medicines for children and the sick, and hygiene supplies.

Psychosocial support: Children in Gaza are severely affected by the loss of caregivers (either their mother or father), violence, the loss of their homes, and the death of relatives, in addition to the traumatic experiences of war. Specialists in our team support children and their families by addressing trauma and helping them survive. We have supported more than 2,000 people from over 300 families through group and individual counseling sessions.

Recreational activities: Free and recreational activities allow children to experience moments of childhood joy, away from the tragic circumstances of war, and give them time to be themselves and adapt to their new reality.

Receiving unaccompanied and separated children: We host children who are unaccompanied or separated from their parents and provide them with the necessary care, support, and protection. In many cases, we have successfully reunited children with their families.