Anika (not her real name) lost her parents shortly after her birth seven years ago. She was brought to SOS Children's Village (Shishu Palli) in the capital's Shyamoli at the age of three days because she had no one to take care of her.

Anika is now growing up in a family of seven, with a mother and siblings. Sabera Sultana is the mother of eight such children. Sonali House is the name of her family.

There are now 15 women in Dhaka Shishu Palli, who are taking care of many orphans in the capital.

Officials of Shishu Palli told The Daily Star that children who have lost their parents are kept here until they become independent. Besides, these children are provided with formal education. They are also engaged in cultural activities. Some of them are also married to respectable families when they come of age.

Many of these children have grown up in this place, completed higher education, and are now working abroad.

Sabera Sultana said, "I can't express in words the joy I feel when these children call me a mother. All my pain goes away in a jiffy. I have no children of my own. They are all I have."

I can't express in words the joy I feel when these children call me a mother. All my pain goes away in a jiffy. I have no children of my own. They are all I have.

— Sabera Sultana

Sabera said she has been raising children in this place for the last 18 years. She has 26 children so far, most of whom are now well-established in society. Of them, one became an engineer and another a teacher.

Another such mother is Amirunnahar. She has been raising children in this village for 19 years, after the death of her husband. Her family's name is Sondhani, currently consists of one son and six daughters.

"I was lonely and depressed following my husband's death. Then I decided to come here. When a two-year-old hugged and called me mother on my first night in this place, I instantly knew I made the right decision. All the emptiness inside my heart disappeared," she said.

"So far, I have raised 17 children. I feel pain in their pain. I feel happy in their happiness. My entire world rotates around them," she added.

SOS Children's Villages Bangladesh is a non-governmental organisation that provides care and support for children who have lost their parents or are at risk of losing parental care. They have been working to ensure children's rights since 1972.

Apart from Dhaka, they also operate orphanages in Rajshahi, Khulna, Chattogram and Bogura.

SOS Children's Bangladesh has recently honoured 13 such mothers with the "SOS Ring Award" for their contributions.

The awardees are Sabera Sultana, Mahfuza Begum, Jhuma Corraya, Nadira Farzana, SK Amirun Nahar, Hasna Aktara Banu, Mazkura Khatun, Shaheda Akter, Kamrun Nahar, Shahanaz Parvin, Dolana Aktar, Nazmun Nahar and Sajeda Begum.

The President of SOS Children's Villages International, Dr Dereje Wordofa, presented the awards to the SOS Mothers in a ceremony held recently, along with some other foreign and national guests.