A portrait of a girl at the SOS Social Center Limon, Costa Rica

The core values of SOS Children's Villages are: courage, commitment, trust and accountability.

What do such attitudes mean to children and youths who are bound up with the organisation's programmes and facilities? Some members of our charity did some research at SOS Children's Village Limón in Costa Rica. This is what they found:

I am confident that my aunt won't tell anybody else what I tell her, so she is a trustworthy person in my view.

Juan, twelve-year-old boy, SOS Children's Village Limon

One has to be aware that one cannot trust everyone. I think a person is trustworthy if you can tell this person a secret or something similar, knowing that he or she is not going to let it go any further. Jorge, 13-year-old boy, SOS Children's Village Limon

A trustworthy person is someone whom you can always count on; you can be sure that he or she will support and advise you whenever you need it. Angelica, 15-year-old girl, SOS Children's Village Limon

For me, the special thing about a trustworthy person is that you can straightforwardly say what you want to say when talking to him or her. Katia, 17-year-old girl, SOS Children's Village Limon

Courage

For me, courage is going to gymnastics, play, and to school. Juan

I think firefighters are extremely courageous; they risk their necks to put out fires. Jorge

In my view, a courageous person always knows how to solve problems or at least how to get rid of them. Angelica

A courageous person dares to say or to do something. Michael, ten-year-old boy, SOS Children's Village Limon

For me, someone who fights for his or her goals and takes risks is courageous. Katia

Commitment

Commitment is to commit oneself to something one is going to do, for instance to behave well. Juan

Commitment is fulfilling one's goal, propose something and do it, or achieve goals which were imposed by others. Jorge

I think commitment is when we devote ourselves to a cause and do everything in our power to achieve it. Angelica

Accountability

A reliable child obeys an adult and is responsible-minded when it comes to his or her studies and homework as well as the cleanliness of the home Jorge

A reliable person will achieve a goal he or she has set. A reliable person knows there is something to fight for and knows that you have to be active in order to fulfill it. Angelica

Being on time with everything makes someone a reliable person. Michael

For me, accountability is all about doing something that I was requested to do - something in the house or any other task. For instance, a reliable person is also responsible with personal hygiene. Katia