The association
Our History
Over forty years ago, Marcel Nilles shared to Hermann Gmeiner, founding member of SOS Children’s Villages, his interest on the concept of Children’s Villages. This became the stepping-stone for the first fundraising activities, with the help of Luxembourgish personalities.
How the concept of SOS Children’s Villages came to life
The idea behind SOS Children’s Villages came to life in the aftermath of World War II, when Hermann Gmeiner, profoundly touched by the distress of thousands of war orphans, decided to build the first SOS Children’s Village in Imst, Austria. His idea became rapidly an international movement.
SOS Children’s Villages in Luxembourg
In the 70s, SOS Children’s Villages infrastructures were implemented in Africa, in Asia and in Latin America. It is following a proposition, submitted by Marcel Nilles to Hermann Gmeiner, which initiated the first ever-fundraising activities in Luxembourg with the main aim to support and help vulnerable children worldwide. Another key person was Mrs Barbara François as well as other Luxembourgish personalities who contributed to our action with their determination and enthusiasm.
On October 10th, 1974, our organization was born under the name “SOS-Interfonds”. A couple of years before that, a first SOS Children’s Village was build in Mersch. This facility is managed by “Lëtzebuerger Kannerduerf”, an association that is as well member of SOS-Kinderdorf International, but nevertheless distinct form our organization. The SOS Children’s Village in Mersch is in charge of their own fundraising activities.
Founding Members of our organization
Marcel Nilles, Barbara François, Georges Glesener, Hermann Gmeiner, Gustave Graas, Léon Hengen, Jutta Kögel-Herig, Constance Molitor-Scholtes, Carlo Quaring, Hansheinz Reinprecht, Albert Stremler, Jules Thyes, Fernand Weiland, Lambert Dupong et Michael Geschliesser.
Brochure 40 Ans.pdf - A télécharger
