I would wish to revisit this post because the comment posted in response made me realize that the point I was trying to make did not quite go through.
The concept of SOS is based on four principles; the SOS mother, the SOS brothers and sisters, the SOS house and the SOS village. See the SOS mission as described below on the SOS organization’s site.
Each child needs a mother, and grows up most naturally with brothers and sisters, in their own house, within a supportive village environment.
Our SOS villages are made up of a number of houses as we all know. It is for this reason that I say my neighbor is also my brother since my neighbor’s house is in fact another SOS house. So you see, my brother and my neighbor are not two different things.
I agree that within the SOS community we do not emphasis enough that we are all brothers and sisters and when we do we do not explain it well enough, or even early enough to avoid all the pitfalls that follow when the children in the village forget that they are brothers and sisters.
On the other hand, I believe actions speak louder than words. So we as the older brothers and sisters should set a good example to the younger ones and display this brother-sister concept through our actions. For example, going back to the village to solicit the young children for sexual favors is a no-no. Such a relationship should not be encouraged, or even conceived. Imagine what danger an unwilling child may be in if one older child forces their attention on them? Remember that it is very easy for the older children to move in and out of the village without raising any suspicion. In the same way, it will be very easy to even rape a child. I know this is a worst-case scenario but hey, information never killed anyone.
The question today is, will we encourage the SOS children to see each other as brothers and sisters, or will we ignore this relation and in the process become the greatest danger to those who call us and see us as their big brothers and sisters?
Our SOS villages are made up of a number of houses as we all know. It is for this reason that I say my neighbor is also my brother since my neighbor’s house is in fact another SOS house. So you see, my brother and my neighbor are not two different things.
I agree that within the SOS community we do not emphasis enough that we are all brothers and sisters and when we do we do not explain it well enough, or even early enough to avoid all the pitfalls that follow when the children in the village forget that they are brothers and sisters.
On the other hand, I believe actions speak louder than words. So we as the older brothers and sisters should set a good example to the younger ones and display this brother-sister concept through our actions. For example, going back to the village to solicit the young children for sexual favors is a no-no. Such a relationship should not be encouraged, or even conceived. Imagine what danger an unwilling child may be in if one older child forces their attention on them? Remember that it is very easy for the older children to move in and out of the village without raising any suspicion. In the same way, it will be very easy to even rape a child. I know this is a worst-case scenario but hey, information never killed anyone.
The question today is, will we encourage the SOS children to see each other as brothers and sisters, or will we ignore this relation and in the process become the greatest danger to those who call us and see us as their big brothers and sisters?
