Sheikh Hasina hails SOS for 4-decades of service for children in Bangladesh

"Future of a nation depends on devotion, knowledge and competence of the children. We hope that the children will see the country with their innocent eyes. They will know about the life and works of the Father of the Nation, freedom fighters and country's history and heritage, " said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka on occasion of the 40-years celebration of SOS Children's Villages Bangladesh on January 30, 2013.

"A large portion of our children in different ways are deprived of the facilities of nursing and rearing up properly. And SOS Children's Villages is playing a very special role for welfare of the underprivileged children," she said.

Sheikh Hasina giving prize to a girl

“When you will get tired of politics please do come here and spend some joyful time with the children of the Shishu Palli, it will help you a lot,” Helmut Kutin (seen in picture in the left), Honorary President of SOS Children's Villages International said with applause from the audience most of whom were children. He said that the SOS Shishu Palli is not far away from the Ganobhaban where the Prime Minister lives.

Known as SOS Shishu Palli in Bangladesh the organisation started functioning in Bangladesh in 1972. The contribution of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was instrumental in realising the SOS Children's Villages presence in Bangladesh. The then President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh - Mohammad Mohammadullah formally dedicated the first SOS Children's Village in the country at Shyamoli in Dhaka on February 10, 1974.

Sheikh Hasina with kids of SOS Children's Village Dhaka

And what an achievement for the organisation - close to 900 young people those who grew up in SOS Children's Villages in Bangladesh are working in every sphere of society and lead their own independent life.

All these children found a home in SOS Children's Villages situated in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, Chittagong, Bogra and Sylhet after they lost their parents or mired in very difficult circumstances when they were infants.

More than 1,100 children and young people are growing up in SOS Children's Villages and about 12,000 underprivileged children are receiving vital help through various health and education related programmes.

At present there are six SOS Children's Villages in Bangladesh, five SOS Youth Facilities, four SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools, four SOS Vocational Training Centres, and six SOS Social Centres with Family Strengthening Programmes.

Fun time in SOS Children's Village Dhaka

According to Unicef, between 1990 and 2009, the under-five mortality rate declined from 151 to 52 deaths per 1,000 live births. Although human development indicators are steadily improving for Bangladesh, 50 per cent of the population continues to live below the poverty line, on less than $1.25 a day.  84 per cent of people survive on less than $2 a day . As food prices rise around the globe, the same income buys less and less each week. Families are working even harder to meet the basic needs of their children. For Bangladesh, Under-five population is 16.5 million and Fertility rate remains at 2.3.

It would be imperative for the society and people to take note of the situation and help SOS Children's Villages to reach to many children in need.

Visit the website of SOS Children's Villages Bangladesh

Or contact:

National Office
SOS Children's Village International in Bangladesh
01 Shamoli, Mirpur Road, Dhaka - 1207
G.P.O. Box - 546, Dhaka - 1000
Bangladesh
Tel : +88-02-8118189, 8114058
Fax : +88-02-8113217
Email : national.office@sos-bangladesh.org