Nathalie Hoffmann-Dondelinger takes over Anouk Agnes.
Once again, a woman is at the helm of the Luxembourgish NGO SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde. As the 2025 autumn term begins, Nathalie Hoffmann-Dondelinger takes over the reins from Anouk Agnes, who had previously announced her decision to step down from the presidency of the Board of Directors for personal and professional reasons, after five years of dedication and service to the organisation.
She is by no means a newcomer to this important role. Nathalie Hoffmann-Dondelinger has been a member of the Board of Directors of SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde since 2013. Over these twelve years of commitment, she has become well acquainted with the organisation’s projects and the work of its teams — both at headquarters and in the field. She has travelled to Haiti and Guinea, where she visited children’s villages and discovered family strengthening programmes — “intense and impactful experiences” that further encouraged her to continue her involvement.
Communication professional and entrepreneur, Nathalie Hoffmann-Dondelinger has always been driven by challenges in a rapidly changing world, where changes are multiplying and the challenges are numerous for NGOs. Well aware of the difficulties, the new president states: “we must constantly question ourselves, adapt our tools and practices in order to remain effective.”
As the fourth President of SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde, Nathalie Hoffmann-Dondelinger intends to ensure continuity, while also striving to strike a balance between the expertise of long-standing members and the energy of younger generations — because, as she puts it, “we must think about the future.” Action, dialogue, trust, and respect are among her key values. When it comes to her priorities, she places strong emphasis on sound governance, high-quality relationships with donors, and the mobilisation and unification of support.
Anouk Agnes’s solid knowledge of the field, international cooperation and sustainable finance proved to be a major asset when she became president of SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde in 2021, after serving as a member of its board of directors.. At that time, the world was grappling with the Covid-19 crisis, soon to be followed by other major emergencies, including the wars in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza — pressing global issues that left their mark on her presidency. Nevertheless, her term was also punctuated by significant achievements, such as the launch of long-term development projects under the 2022–2026 Framework Agreement signed with the supervisory ministry, and the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde.
As she leaves her position, Anouk Agnes highlights ‘the impact of projects on beneficiaries’ and praises the commitment and efficiency of the teams, both in Luxembourg and in the field. What touched her most personally was her 2024 mission to Benin, where she met mothers who had been able to start income-generating activities — “something very small, but something that changes everything, allowing them to send their children to school and bring a sense of calm to family life.”
Although she has decided to step down, Anouk Agnes remains a member of the General Assembly of SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde and will continue to actively support the organisation.
“After five years, it was the right time to hand over the reins — especially as a natural successor was emerging. I’ve been convinced for a long time that Nathalie Hoffmann-Dondelinger will be an excellent president.”