The new leadership is committed to implementing important changes to improve child safeguarding and the quality of care provided to children to the highest level, with transparency and accountability.
Innsbruck, Austria, 24 June 2021 - SOS Children's Villages, the world's largest non-governmental organization supporting children and young people without adequate parental care, present in more than 130 countries and territories, has elected Dr. Dereje Wordofa as President and Ms. Beáta Juvancz as Vice-President, with effect from 24 June 2021.
The change in leadership comes with the organization's progress in implementing a far-reaching Safeguarding Action Plan as a commitment to realizing its promise to keep children safe. Additionally, the organization is redoubling its efforts to implement the SOS Care Promise, including youth participation, trainings for care workers, mental health support and education.
Dr. Wordofa's initial priorities will be to drive changes in the wider governance and culture of SOS Children's Villages to strengthen the quality of the programme and safeguard every aspect of the organization.
Dr. Wordofa has dedicated his career of more than 30 years to social development and humanitarian work, most recently as Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Population Fund. Before leaving for the UN, Dr. Wordofa, 55, served as Deputy Head of Operations at SOS Children's Villages for Africa and the Middle East.
Ms. Juvancz, 54, has served as a board member of SOS Children's Villages Hungary since 2018. Ms. Juvancz, managing director of Morgan Stanley in Hungary, brings to SOS Children's Villages a wealth of experience gained over 30 years in general management, strategic oversight and finance.
The General Assembly, the highest governing body of SOS Children's Villages, elected the new president and vice-president today, as well as the members of the International Senate, concluding a three-day virtual meeting.
"I am deeply grateful and honored by the trust placed in me as the fourth president of this prominent federation with more than 70 years of impact," said Dr. Wordofa. "I hope to bring a fresh perspective and new knowledge based on my experience in defending children's rights.
"I pledge to address the failures of the past to strengthen the protection and quality of the program to the highest standard, with transparency and accountability," said Dr. Wordofa. "As president, in a nutshell, my job description will be to ensure that every child and young person grows up with the bonds they need to become the strongest version of themselves."
For more than three decades, Dr. Wordofa has worked in strategic leadership positions in civil society organizations. At the United Nations, he oversaw UNFPA's programs around the world to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights. In this capacity, he spoke on behalf of the UN Secretary-General to member states and other partners advocating action towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Wordofa takes over the role of president previously held by Siddhartha Kaul, who announced on May 7 that he would not run for re-election. The General Assembly also voted in members of the International Senate, with 60% of those elected serving for the first time in this 22-member body.
As president, Dr. Wordofa will assume overall leadership of the global federation. He leads the International Senate and ensures a common approach among the governing bodies. The president represents the federation externally and internally. He will work closely with the Executive Board headed by CEO Ingrid Johansen, who joined the organization in January 2021.
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About SOS Children's Villages
SOS Children's Villages, founded in 1949 by Hermann Gmeiner, is the world's largest non-governmental organization focused on supporting children and young people without parental care or at risk of losing it.
Child neglect, abuse and abandonment are everywhere. Families are at risk of separation. Led locally, we work in more than 130 countries and territories to strengthen families under pressure so that they can stay together. When this is not in a child or young person's best interests, we offer quality care according to their specific needs.
Together with our partners, donors, communities, children, young people and families, we enable children to grow up with the bonds they need to develop into their strongest selves. We defend the rights of every child and advocate change so that all children can grow up in a supportive environment.