The Byline Times article “The Stolen Children Scandal in Syria Exposes a Deeper Problem in SOS Care” by Dr. Justin Rogers exposes serious allegations that the Syrian regime, under Bashar al-Assad, has been using orphanages—including some run by the global NGO SOS Children’s Villages—to hide children who were taken from detainees or regime critics. These children allegedly “disappeared” from their families, had identities altered, and were held in facilities under the guise of orphan care, while their mothers and relatives were denied information or access. The article argues that this scandal is symptomatic of a larger problem: SOS’s model still heavily relies on “villages” (residential, institutional‐style care) rather than family-based or community care. It raises concerns that reforms announced by SOS (new child safeguarding policies, codes of conduct, ombuds systems) may not go far enough unless there is a commitment and measurable plan to phase out institutionalized care in favor of foster care, kinship care, and family strengthening.