SOS Children’s Villages began its activities in Ethiopia in 1974, following the severe drought and famine in the northern parts of the country that claimed the lives of many persons and left many children destitute and orphaned. SOS established its first Children’s Village in Mekelle town using tents as temporary shelters because of the urgent and desperate situation.

Later, many children lost their parents because of the war with Somalia in the southern and eastern parts of the country, and thus SOS Children’s Villages were subsequently established in Awassa and Harar. At present there are five functional SOS Children’s Villages (Mekelle, Harar, Awassa, Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar) in Ethiopia, with a sixth under construction in Gode.

The facilities attached to our Children’s Villages include SOS Kindergartens, Hermann Gmeiner Primary and Secondary School, Medical Centres, Social Centres, a Vocational Training Centre, and agricultural training Centres.

SOS Children's Villages Ethiopia is working towards a defined set of goals:

• To implement the principles of SOS-Kinderdorf International, at the national level, in the various SOS Children's Villages and in every region in Ethiopia, where SOS Children's Villages are located;

• To gain recognition in society as a non-political and non-denominational organization whose work is related to the protection of abandoned or homeless children;

• To provide a safe, secure and a loving home to homeless children and youngsters, regardless of their sex, religion or cultural background;

• To establish Kindergartens, Schools and Vocational Training centres for the children and youngsters entrusted to our care, and to make these institutions available to local communities; and

• To teach our children and youngsters the skills necessary to achieve a fulfilling and independent life.