The Vaillant Group and “SOS Children’s Villages worldwide” have an international partnership. Since 2013, the family-owned company has been supporting the children’s rights organisation with modern heating technology and a wide range of social projects. In the “Heroes for a warm home” series, we tell the stories of the heroes behind this unique cooperation.
The South African has been working for SOS Children’s Villages for over 20 years. The reason he feels so passionate about his work is the fact that children and young people who have experienced trauma are often left on the margins of society without adequate support.
I strongly believe if children and young people have quality care we will live in a peaceful word. A world in which each child can thrive.
Shaping this world is what drives Coenraad de Beer on a daily basis. As Head of Child & Youth Care Practitioner Support, he and his team train carers who work directly with children, young people and families in SOS Children’s Villages’ programmes. Many girls and boys are traumatised by their experiences in early life. Giving them support and reliability, a second chance at a self-determined life, is the mission of SOS Children’s Villages.
Encounters that often move Coenraad deeply. Walks in nature – to provide balance. Take a deep breath, find peace, recharge the batteries. Almost always at his side: his dachshund, Babsi.
Coenraad de Beer began his involvement with SOS Children’s Villages in the province of Mpumalanga, South Africa, in 2002. A return to his roots. At the beginning of the year 2000, he experienced the effects of HIV/AIDS on families there for the first time. Being confronted with the virus and its consequences on a daily basis awakened the need to make a contribution in his life. For the benefit of disadvantaged children, young people and families.
© SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit / Kristof Göttling
© SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit / Kristof Göttling
Not all children grow up safe and protected. That is why “SOS Children’s Villages worldwide” has been committed to helping children and young people in need for many years. Some have experienced domestic violence, others have lost their families, many live in war-torn or crisis-hit regions.
“Violence often goes a lot further than we think,” as Dr Simone Toepfer has learned from her daily life as a child protection officer at “SOS Children’s Villages worldwide”. It can include, for example, physical or sexualised violence, but also child trafficking or neglect. Children and young people around the world are experiencing increasing violence every day – whether it is in “real” life or virtually on the Internet, including on social media.
Children’s rights are non-negotiable. The well-being of children and young people is our top priority.
Dr Simone Toepfer has been responsible for child protection at “SOS Children’s Villages worldwide” since 2023. In around 3,000 programmes worldwide, employees ensure a living environment is provided in which affected children can grow up protected. Child protection concepts are constantly being further developed and improved. All standards are anchored in the organisation’s child protection policy – a binding fundament that encourages all employees worldwide to focus on child protection. This also includes guidelines that provide employees with assistance on how to act in the event of child protection violations. It is important to SOS Children’s Villages that those affected feel able to speak up at any time. “We take any indications of any form of violation of children’s rights in our programmes very seriously and carefully investigate every single case reported. We treat every report confidentially,” Dr Simone Toepfer emphasises.
The Vaillant Group and “SOS Children’s Villages worldwide” have been linked by an international partnership since 2013. As a family-owned company, we support the children’s rights organisation with modern heating technology and a wide range of social projects. Because every child needs a warm home.
