16-20 September 2024 is National Wills Week. During this important week, South Africans are reminded of the importance of leaving a Will.

One does not need to leave their entire legacy to family and friends, one can also choose a charity beneficiary.

SOS Children’s Villages has a bequest programme where people can include SOS Children’s Villages as a beneficiary in their Will. This thoughtfulness today will ensure a brighter future for the children and youth in the care of SOS Children’s Villages. The organisation offers loving, family-like care for children and young people who have lost or are at risk of losing the care of their families. Instead of growing up on the streets, a child could be given a mother of his/ her own, a family and a comfortable home at an SOS Children’s Village.

Established in 1982, SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa has eight programmes across the provinces, supporting more than 700 children. In these villages, the children are provided with a safe home, healthcare, education, and all that they need to become contributing members of society.

When one makes a Will, they express their wishes for what will happen to the people they care about after they are gone. But that Will could make a wish come true for a child who has never had the kind of care that ordinary South Africans provide to their own loved ones. SOS Children’s Villages encourages people to consider drawing up a Will and including a bequest for the SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa.

Some attorneys across the country are offering their services to members of the public to put in place a basic Will drafted by them, free of charge. This is an opportunity that all South Africans should take advantage of. SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa also informs the public that they can include SOS Children’s Villages as a beneficiary in their Will.

This is the warm-hearted legacy that South Africans could leave behind simply by including a bequest to SOS Children’s Villages in their Will.

After providing for loved ones, there are several ways South Africans can leave a gift to charity in their Will:

• Residual Gift
• After all loved ones have been looked after and debts paid, one can leave a percentage of the remaining estate.
• Specific Gift
• Leave a fixed sum of money, household contents or pieces of furniture.

About SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa

SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-governmental organisation that advocates for the rights of South Africa’s most marginalised children. We offer loving, family-like care for children and young people who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care. Established in 1984, SOS Children’s Villages has eight programmes and three Social Centres across eight provinces.

Each year our Alternative Care, Family Strengthening and Youth Employability programmes provide life-changing support to children and families across the country.

The Alternative Care model comprises of four principles that include a mother (each child has a caring parent), brothers and sisters (the family ties grow naturally), a house (a secure place to grow up in) and a village (the SOS family is part of the community).

Our Family Strengthening Programme aims to enable children who are at risk of losing the care of their families to grow within a safe family environment. We work in co-operation with local authorities and other service providers to empower families and communities to effectively protect and care for their children.