SOS Children’s Villages of India supported over 24,000 Indian children and youth with a loving home in FY 2019-20, its just-released annual report stated.

The organisation also supported 15,000 children during disaster and emergencies and 2,000 youth from underprivileged background for employability.

In addition, 8,000 vulnerable families were given support through the SOS Family Strengthening Program (FSP).

Sumanta Kar, Senior Deputy National Director, SOS Children’s Villages of India said, "Our unique ‘Family-like Care’ model offers personalised care to children by a trained caregiver, called an SOS Mother, Siblings, Family and a community (the village)."

"This is what sets us apart from other childcare organisations," he added.

"Children in an SOS Children’s Village are raised with all the inputs needed for their safety, development, participation and path to independence," he further informed.

"But most importantly, they develop a strong emotional relationship with their SOS mother and siblings with whom they stay in the same house for many years," he added.

"The lasting bonds contribute to a much better physical and mental growth and hence holistic development outcomes for children," he further said.

In FY 2019-20, a total of 6,685 children continued to live and grow up in 32 SOS Children's Villages spread across the country.

Also, 548 new children without parental care were brought to the Villages to a loving SOS mother.

Interestingly, 25 per cent of siblings in SOS Children’s Villages are biological siblings and are kept together in the same family, just as they would have in their own biological families.

More than 4,600 SOS children continued to attend regular school during the year.

About 200 girls and 151 boys graduated from Class X, while 146 girls and 121 boys graduated from Class XII in the academic year 2019-20.

Also, 1,275 youth (54 per cent girls) under the care of SOSCV India opted for higher education.

As many as 180 SOS Children (46 per cent girls) also got employment during the year (their first-ever job).

Additionally, 318 youth living in SOS Children's Villages (54 per cent girls) were successfully integrated into the mainstream society, with an average monthly salary of Rs 18,407.

The organisation also supported 370 youth for enrolment in higher education and professional courses.