Hermann Gmeiner, founder of SOS Children's Villages, was remembered on the occasion of his 92nd birth anniversary at SOS Children's Villages of India – Chatnath Homes in East Tambaram on Thursday.
It was after the end of the Second World War that Dr. Gmeiner, an Austrian doctor, was moved by the plight of orphaned and homeless children, whose parents were killed in the war.
His efforts single-handedly led to the establishment of SOS Children's Villages throughout the world.
At a function on Thursday evening, Mannar Jawahar, Vice Chancellor of Anna University, was the chief guest at a function to mark the birth anniversary.
At SOS, children live in a house under the care of mothers, who themselves have been abandoned by their husbands and families or, are widows.
While boys above the age of 14 are accommodated in a youth home outside the premises, girls continue remain in the house with their mothers and rest of the children.
Mr. Jawahar said he was touched and at the same time happy that children in SOS Villages were not deprived of a family atmosphere.
He said love, trust and loyalty were the three most important cardinal principles in a family and it was found in abundance in SOS Villages.
A bharatanatyam recital by three students – Girija, Sankari and Vimala was organised on the occasion. Nambi Varadharajan, Director of the children's village gave details of the concept behind SOS Children's Villages.
