SOS-Kinderdorf Faces Abuse Claims

In March 2019, SOS-Kinderdorf worldwide in Munich, Germany received an email detailing alleged abuse. The email described a physical encounter from 1968 involving Hermann Gmeiner, founder of the global children’s charity.

A man woke a teenage boy in his room and made unwanted physical contact, according to the sender. The sender requested compensation for the experience.

SOS-Kinderdorf initially downplayed the message, and leaders disregarded the accusations. The case resurfaced in November 2025 when the Austrian branch of SOS-Kinderdorf publicly claimed Gmeiner abused children with credible reports of sexual and physical violence. This prompted the German branch to search for related cases and locate the 2019 email.

Since the Austrian allegations surfaced, SOS-Kinderdorf faces a growing storm of abuse accusations beyond Gmeiner, involving multiple caregivers. The organization, which receives over one billion euros annually, appears burdened by opaque structures and struggles to address the crisis effectively. The truth of the 1968 claim remains unverified, and the organization continues to investigate multiple reports.