A 1950’s lifestyle

Imagine a world where we can fully trust our children to be free outdoors, to play together without constant supervision, and to trust society that nothing will endanger them. Well, this is how the children at the Village live.  

When you enter the Village you see kids playing in the field or playground, and enjoying the outdoors. It took me back to my carefree childhood and reminded me of 50’s sitcoms, where all of the children in the neighborhood played together outside.   

The SOS children were not cooped-up inside playing videogames or watching television for five hours straight. They were outside enjoying the fresh air, playing pick-up basketball or soccer, or gathering the rest of the children to play a game of hide-and-go-seek. A few mothers would watch the children, but not every mother was needed. The children were looked after in the Village as a whole, rather than individually like we often do in North America.

I found the SOS Children’s Village to be extremely safe. The staff there took the necessary measures to ensure everyone was watched over and out of harm’s way. Under that blanket of comfort and security, the kids are free to thrive and live life to the fullest. Back in North America, things haven’t felt quite that way in a long time. This experience in the Village made me long for those days and wonder what it’d be like if kids living in large cities were able to once again – play outdoors freely and safely with their neighbours.