Soaring High on the Wings of Hope

19-year-old Warrant Officer Hena Pore became the first girl pilot and NCC cadet from the state of Rajasthan to fly a Microlite Zen Air STOL CH-701 aircraft on the foggy morning of 27th January in 2007. WOW!
The SOS Children’s Village in Jaipur, where Hena grew up, rejoiced in the triumph of their girl along with the entire state of Rajasthan. Daniel Verma came to SOS Children’s Village (Jaipur) when he was barely 10-week old. Right from this early age, he had a passion for computers and information technology! He started his schooling at Tagore Public School and later joined the World Wide Web Institute where he honed his knowledge and skills while working as a Business Coordinator. His hard work and determination paid off when he got a scholarship for pursuing higher studies in Computer Science at Demontfort University, Leicester, in the UK. He now lives in London and is currently working as an Account Manager – Mid Market with Software Spectrum, the world’s largest software reseller.

These are but only two of the many success stories of the children who have found love, hope and a strong support for a new future in the SOS Children’s Villages spread across 132 countries in the world. SOS Children’s Villages of India is a voluntary organization that is working to give children in need a family, a home and a sense of security. It is dedicated to caring for parentless, homeless and abandoned children. It also works with families to strengthen the ties between parents and children, so that children don’t suffer or get abandoned because of broken homes. The organization neither works for profit nor is it supported by the government. SOS Children’s Village of India was established in 1964. Today, there are 40 Children’s Villages and 122 allied projects like Kindergartens, Medical/Social centers, Hermann Gmeiner Schools, Youth Houses and Vocational Training Centers, spread across the country.

“At SOS Children’s Villages, we believe that the love of a caring mother, an upbringing in a natural family environment and a permanent home, can help children grow up as independent secure and contributing members of society,” says Asha Fernandes, the area coordinator of SOS Children’s Villages in India. “We’ve responded with major relief and rehabilitation work during times of major natural disasters and calamities that have befallen our country.”

Every SOS Children’s Village comprises of 15 to 20 family homes, each family unit consisting of 10 children. Each family home is headed by a mother who brings up as many as 30 children. The children share their lives as brothers and sisters and grow together, under the care of their SOS Mother. The mother is supported by mothers-in-training called aunts, and professionals called counselors. The entire village is looked after by a father figure known as the Village Director. The SOS Children’s Villages in India are looking for volunteers. You could help bring hope and love in the lives of these distressed children. Jaago Re!

Parimal Tripathi is a volunteer content writer for Jaagore. To learn and speak about issues on street children, environmental pollution, garbage disposal, corruption, volunteering, volunteer work, community services, NGOs, Anti Corruption in India, social and civic issues visit http://www.jaagore.com