The special father of SOS Children's Villages

The founder of SOS Children's Villages in Vietnam

In early March, SOS Children's Village Vinh welcomed a special person, who laid the foundation for this children's village in particular and the SOS Children's Village system in Vietnam in general. That is Mr. Helmut Kutin - who was the President of SOS Children's Villages International for nearly 30 years, and is currently the Honorary President of this non-governmental organization.

Mr. Kutin visits children at SOS Children's Village Vinh. Photo: TH

Although he is about to turn 82, Mr. Kutin is still very healthy and agile. This tall man is no stranger to all members of the village. During his days here, he spent most of his time visiting orphans being raised by SOS Children's Village Vinh. With his fluent Vietnamese, he asked each child in turn. Afraid of affecting his children's health, he even gave up his habit of smoking continuously. "Before, I came to Vietnam continuously, then went to all the villages to visit. But for the past 2 years, due to the epidemic, I have been stopped, and only now have I been able to return to Vietnam. I miss them so much," Mr. Kutin said, in a conversation with Nghe An Newspaper reporter.

Mr. Kutin (left) talks with Nghe An Newspaper reporter. Photo: TH

Helmut Kutin was born during the fierce World War II. The war also left him an orphan. Kutin was later adopted by Hermann Gmeiner to the SOS Children's Village in Austria, which was also the first SOS Children's Village in the world.

Mr. Kutin said that in early 1968, he first came to Vietnam with the father of the international SOS Children's Villages system - Hermann Gmeiner. The young man then decided to stay in Vietnam and take responsibility for building the first SOS villages in this country that was suffering a lot of losses due to the war. By the end of 1968, SOS Children's Village Go Vap was completed. At that time, this was the largest SOS Children's Village in the world, with 41 houses, caring for nearly 400 orphans.

A few years later, the SOS Children's Village in Dalat was also established, both villages were directed by Kutin. However, after operating for more than a year, the SOS Children's Village in Dalat was forced to close. In March 1976, he left Vietnam to return to Europe. Not long after, the SOS Children's Village in Go Vap also stopped operating, the orphans had no place to stay, the mothers of the village had to take them back to their hometowns, living a difficult life.

Although he is about to turn 82, Mr. Kutin is still quite healthy. Photo: TH

In the following years, Mr. Kutin tried many times to go to Vietnam with the hope of reopening the SOS Children's Villages but was not approved. However, he did not abandon the children, regularly sending goods and money from Europe to support his children. "I was very disappointed during that time. But I understand that at that time, Vietnam had just gone through a war and was still facing many difficulties. There were many barriers," Mr. Kutin said.

By 1987, when Vietnam had entered the opening period, the leaders of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs invited him to Vietnam for discussions. Immediately after that, SOS Children's Villages resumed operations after more than 10 years of interruption. This was also one of the first humanitarian organizations to come to Vietnam. At this time, Mr. Kutin was now the President of SOS Children's Villages International, and he began to build more similar villages in Vietnam. To date, the whole country has 17 villages in all provinces and cities from North to South. That is Kutin's favor for the country that he considers his second homeland, because most other countries only have 1 or 2 SOS villages.

Idol Uncle Ho

When we met Kutin, he was wearing a dark khaki suit. He said that this was the outfit he often wore and it also came from his admiration for Uncle Ho. Because this was the type of outfit Uncle Ho used to wear. Throughout his life, he learned a lot from President Ho Chi Minh. Even his smoking habit. Mr. Kutin smoked continuously, and it was also the type of cigarette that Uncle Ho liked.

During his student years in Austria, Kutin was one of the most active protesters against the war in Vietnam. He said that back then, he often held short banners with slogans supporting Vietnam, and went with the crowd through the streets to protest the war in a country he had never set foot in. Along the way, he and his friends kept shouting “Ho Chi Minh - Ho Chi Minh” to show their support.

Mr. Kutin during a visit to Kim Lien relic site. Photo: TH

“I have also read many books about President Ho Chi Minh. He is my idol. He was a great man who sacrificed his whole life for the country and the people. Nowadays, such people are very rare. President Ho Chi Minh lived a wonderful life for his homeland and country,” said Mr. Kutin.

“I still remember when President Ho Chi Minh passed away, I was in Vietnam working as the Director of SOS Children’s Village Go Vap. At that time, many people in the South cried on the streets,” Mr. Kutin added.

Because of that admiration, every time he comes to Nghe An, one of Kutin's familiar destinations is the Kim Lien Relic Site (Nam Dan District). He said that in 1990, the Vinh SOS Children's Village was put into operation, a project to celebrate the 100th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday. This is the 4th SOS Children's Village in Vietnam.

“Back then, SOS Children’s Village Vinh was still very simple. After it was put into operation, I stayed here for a long time. At that time, there were only houses to shelter unfortunate children. But now there are schools and youth hostels here…”, he added.

Khaki is his familiar outfit. Photo: TH

Mr. Kutin does not have his own family, he spends most of his life going to places where there are orphaned and unfortunate children, places that need help and love... He said that SOS Children's Villages around the world are his family. The orphaned and unfortunate children who have been and are being raised by the villages are his children and he feels happy about that.

“I have many wishes, that is the system of villages is developed, cared for, shared. All people in the world live in peace, in love, helping each other. I wish that wars like the one in Ukraine will end soon. War brings nothing but loss and suffering,” said Mr. Kutin, expressing his wish that the community will support the children in SOS Children’s Villages, who have experienced many losses, to have a prosperous and happy life.

Having fought in Russia during World War II, Hermann Gmeiner truly understood the suffering that war brings. He was moved by the pain of many children who had lost their parents and became street children because of the war. In 1949, after calling for support, he founded the SOS Children's Villages in Austria. Kutin was one of the first children to be adopted.

In 1985, after Hermann Gmeiner's health declined, Kutin became President of SOS Children's Villages International until 2012. However, he did not retire and continued to be Honorary President of this organization and spent most of his time visiting and helping children around the world.

Currently, there are more than 570 SOS Children's Villages in 137 countries and territories. The purpose of SOS Children's Villages is to provide "family-like care" to poor, street children and orphans so that they can have a "loving home" and "not have to grow up alone".