Hermann Gainer, a child welfare worker, started the SOS Children’s Village in Tyrrell, Austria in 1949, who was orphaned during World War II.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to India Katharina Wieser paid a courtesy call on two Indian SOS Children’s Villages (SOS CVIs) in Faridabad – one at Greenfield and the other at Sector 29. He also visited the Hermann Gainer School. The city’s high school is named after the Austrian founder of SOS Children’s Village.
Rakesh Jinsi, President, SOS Children’s Village of India, Rajneesh Jain, International Representative / Asia – SOS Children’s Village and Sumant Kar, Secretary-General, Ambassador to SOS Children’s Village of India.
Commenting on her visit, Mrs. Katharina Weiser said, “I am delighted to meet the children of SOS Children’s Village and the students of Harman Gainer School, Faridabad. I am very pleased with the high quality work that the SOS Children’s Village of India team is doing for the care and protection of the children. I think what they are doing is so important to society. We are delighted to see how SOS Children’s Villages, from a single location in Austria, has become a global movement to enable countless children to grow up in a family and with love, respect and security. I am sure that India’s SOS Children’s Village will grow exponentially in the years to come. At the Austrian Embassy in India, we are committed to supporting them in every possible way for their noble cause. ”
During the visit, Wieser exchanged views with the children’s village mothers, retired mothers and children. He saw an exhibition of paintings on the history of SOS Children’s Village, India, held in the gallery of SOS Children’s Village-Faridabad Sector-29. The children there perform a Rajasthani dance, a colorful Indian traditional dance, in honor of the ambassador. At Hermann Gainer School, Mrs. Catherina Weisser visited students’ science projects and launched a book of poems written by them.
Weiser also visited the Asia office of SOS Children’s Village and the SOS Children’s Villages at the National Training Center and Resource Center in India, all located in the city.