By Sandeep Pattnaik

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Bhubaneswar, November 23, 2015:  Globally recognized SOS Children’s Village, an NGO working in providing secure and loving homes to parentless and abandoned children, has organized a silver jubilee celebration at its campus on Monday, successfully completing 25 years of its Bhubaneswar operation (Project).

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Minister Women and Child Development Ms. Usha Devi was the Chief Guest of the event.

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Speaking on this occasion, S Sandilya, President, SOS Children’s Village of India said, “SOS Children’s VillageBhubaneswar has contributed immensely to the lives of many parentless children over 25 years and brought them up as the responsible citizens of the country. We are grateful to our donors and supporters who have provided unwavering support for SOS children.”

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 “SOS mothers play a key role in providing children with a sense of belonging and stability of a family life. At SOS Children’s Village Bhubaneswar, mothers have demonstrated responsible personal conduct, family values and self-reliance to the children. This has been exemplified by the children who have grown up to make a name for themselves in fields ranging from aviation to healthcare and education,” Anuja Bansal, Secretary General, SOS Children’s Villages of India said.

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The day’s festivities also witnessed a photo exhibition and sharing of experiences by SOS grandmothers, mothers and youth.

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SOS is the brainchild of Dr. Hermann Gmeiner, an Austrian philanthropist who pioneered the concept of upbringing parentless children not just in regular orphanages, but giving them the quality care of a family including the love of a ‘Mother’ and affection of siblings, living together in a proper home within an organised community village,thus providing them emotional security for a lifetime. For over 50 years in India, SOS Children’s Villages has successfully settled over 4500 children either through marriage or career. At present, more than 6700 children are living in32 SOS Children Villages located across 22 states in India.

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SOS Children’s Villages of India hasbeen accredited with CRISIL Rating of VO-2A indicating the organisation’s ‘Strong Delivery Capability and High Financial Proficiency’.