How Action and SOS Children’s Villages are helping families recover

Action wants to contribute to the communities where we operate. We focus on children, as they are the future and we believe children deserve a safe and healthy start in life.

As part of our partnership with SOS Children’s Villages, we support a local project each year through one of our country offices. In 2025, our office in the Netherlands supported the SIMBA programme, a specialised family care project that helps families restore stability, trust and long-term wellbeing.

One family’s story shows what that support can mean in practice.

After years of increasing tension at home, a 13-year-old boy was temporarily placed in care. His mother initially believed the solution was to change her son. Through the SIMBA programme, a different insight emerged: if she changed as a parent, her son would change with her. By working on her own past and self-image, space for recovery gradually opened up. Step by step, the bond between mother and son was rebuilt.

The family home provided a positive role model through a father figure, while the mother rebuilt her confidence through small but meaningful contributions to daily life. After a year and a half of intensive work, her son returned home full-time.

The connection to the programme did not end there. Mother and son still visit the family home regularly for meals, not out of necessity, but from a place of strength.

By supporting projects like SIMBA, Action contributes to a lasting foundation of support, recovery and trust that helps keep families together.