Under the motto “10 years of love and care”, the 10th anniversary of SOS Children’s Village in Macedonia was celebrated in the Macedonian Opera and Ballet. Patron of the celebration was the spouse of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Ms. Maja Ivanova.

”In the SOS Children’s Village, those who have lost their biological parents and parental care, find a comfortable home and love, growing up in a harmonious family environment. Thanks to the care and support of the SOS Children’s Village, children and youth receive the warmth of the family home, get warm motherly word, care when sick, compassion in tough times, advice for their first sympathy and love. It is a place where children spend their childhood carefree with laughter and songs, with a child cry from time to time, but a home always filled with pleasant tune of children’s noise”, Ms. Ivanova said in his speech.

Thus, she added, the SOS Children’s Village enables the children to develop into strong personalities, able to cope with challenges in life.

"Children are our greatest wealth, our pride, our joy and our future. All children have equal rights and should all be given the necessary support and ensure equal opportunities. Those who are left without parental care, as a particularly vulnerable category, deserve full care and protection which will allow proper psychophysical development. The responsibility for children rests in the whole community, in all of us", the First Lady stressed, adding that we will leave the world to the children and that we are challenged to teach them recognize the real values in life and give strength to persevere and succeed in this world.

Ms. Ivanova paid tribute to the SOS mothers who, as she said, give their unreserved love and motherly care to children, together overcoming all obstacles and all challenges that stand in their way.

The President of the Managing Board of SOS Children's Village awarded Ms. Maja Ivanova with a plaque as a token of appreciation for the support and commitment to continuing and strengthening the mission of this organization.

The Children's Village cares for 87 children without parents and parental care and supports 350 children in the community who are at risk of being abandoned by their biological parents. SOS Children's Village is present in more than 132 countries worldwide. These organizations exist since 1949, when the first SOS Children's Village in the world was founded by Herman Gmainer in Imst, Austria. SOS children's villages respect different cultures and religions and work in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and promote these rights around the world.