WORD BY MENNO ANTAL - SUPERVISORY BOARD CHAIR
Covid-19 has increased the necessity of our work
impressed by the performance and flexibility of the Dutch team. Despite the challenges of working from home and personal family situations, they managed
‘Africa will be hit hardest by the Covid-19
family structures means children are at
to achieve all their targets. The various
pandemic’ was the headline on the SOS
greater risk of being abused, neglected or
experiences gained are important learning
Children’s Villages website at the end of
abandoned. The need for our work has
points, which we can take forward after
March 2020. This was also the trend in the
therefore increased in the past year. More
Covid-19.
national media. However, the conse-
children, young people and families need
quences of Covid-19 on the African
support to overcome the Covid-19 crisis.
continent does not only concern the
6.4 EVALUATION OF ITS PERFORMANCE
Transparency and trust Just before this report went to press, the
number of people killed by the virus, but
Looking at the activities of SOS Children’s
results of independent investigations,
the impact on the lives and the future of
Villages this past year, in which we
initiated by SOS Children’s Villages, in the
these people. Of the children, young
supported and implemented large projects
field of child safety and integrity were
people and families that SOS Children’s
- as described in this annual report , I am
released. It is our responsibility to
Villages focuses on.
relieved to conclude that we were able to
regularly check how our protocols are
realise the ‘support more people’ objective
functioning. These investigations revealed
the MD, in document form as well as verbally,
For example, education in many countries
and help a large number of children,
that violations have taken place in the
is considered open and positive. Written
is not geared towards home schooling.
young people and parents/caregivers
protection of children, and that in others
information provided is extensive, it could be
This is due to a lack of access to online
(176,500 people) with support from the
corruption and fraud have taken place.
The Supervisory Board held a performance
more compact. The different committees –
education as well as a lack of materials
Netherlands
This affects the core of SOS Children’s
review of its activities for the Annual Report
Audit, HR, Fundraising and Simba Family
and space - from books, laptops and
2020. It was conducted in accordance with
Care – facilitate a more substantive
radios to a place to study. It means a delay
Commitment of colleagues and
acknowledged the findings, immediately
the Wijffels Code - using a questionnaire and
discussion of sub-areas. As a whole,
in the development of many children,
supporters
communicated openly about them and the
an assessment interview on the subject. The
feedback provided by the committees to the
many of whom were already at a disad-
In addition to the unconditional
first steps have been taken to further
topics discussed included:
Board generally runs efficiently.
vantage. In addition, there are many
commitment of our colleagues in the field
tighten policies. An independent special
vulnerable families. Families already living
and the strength of the worldwide organi-
committee will follow up on the conclu-
1. The composition and responsibilities of the
The Board does see several points for
in poverty, families in which grandparents
sation, this has been made possible by the
sions and recommendations. With the
improvement.
have taken over the children’s care,
loyal support of our donors and partners,
greatest possible priority, improvements
families whereby the knowledge of and
and the efforts of the Dutch team. The
to the child safety policy will be initiated and implemented.
Supervisory Board;
management team. Information provision by
2. The effectiveness of meetings and information provision; 3. The performance of the committees and individuals; 4. The Supervisory Board’s relationship with management and the organisation.
need for hygiene is lacking or is not a
Board is very grateful to all our supporters
diverse governance topics, in the future,
priority. When people have to choose
who - in spite of possible concerns of their
Supervisory Board members also need to
between a loaf of bread and a bar of soap,
own - have freed up extra funds for the
With the support of the Board, SOS
discuss the projects in a more substantive
they logically choose the bread. Many
children and families, or have been willing
Children’s Villages will continue to work in
manner.
people live from hand to mouth. If they
to enter into a partnership at this time.
a transparent manner in order to restore
cannot work, the direct consequence is
This demonstrates their commitment and
trust in our work, while continuously
understanding of the urgency.
including our supporters in the actions
• Besides the necessary attention to the
• The Supervisory Board considers that it
The evaluation
would also be good to perform an evalu-
that there is no food on the table. And how
In general, Supervisory Board members are
ation of management as a whole on a
do you keep your distance when you live
periodic basis.
on top of one another in a slum?
satisfied with its performance and the way in which management facilitates it. The Board’s
Villages. We, as SOS Children’s Villages,
• The Board has concluded that the
undertaken. In the coming years, we will Immediately after the lockdown came into
continue to realise our ambition to
effect, the Supervisory Board and the
collectively support more children and
diverse composition means that it feels all
Supervisory Board should also be included
More people received support
organisation drew up various scenarios of
young people, within strengthened
major areas of expertise are well covered.
briefly during Zoom meetings.
It is in fact the aftermath of Covid-19 that
what might happen. In the end, the impact
families and in safety, on their way to a
causes the most concern and hits children
in financial terms was limited. This has
bright future.
and families the hardest. The food
allowed us to fully continue our activities,
method of communication adopted by the
insecurity, the economic consequences of
while adapting to the restrictions and
managing director and the broader
not being able to work, the impact on
needs resulting from Covid-19. I am also
The Supervisory Board expresses its appreciation of the transparent and dynamic
57 | SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES IMPACT REPORT 2020
• Post-Covid-19, more time should be spent together.
