SOS Village on the Front Line
November 27, 2007
As SOS Children’s Villages are established where the need is greatest, that frequently means that they are established in war torn regions around the world. On the day after thanksgiving, when we in the US were sitting back and relaxing in the comfort of our families, the SOS Children’s Village in Mogadishu was hit for the second time in 2 weeks as the Ethiopian military carried out operations nearby.
Two weeks ago the village was hit by 4 mortar shells, this time a total of thirteen mortar shells hit the village. Using established protocols, the children and staff were evacuated to a specially built bunker at the first sign of trouble, however this did not prevent five members of SOS staff from being injured and admitted to the village hospital. Two vehicles were also badly damaged, with the staff housing and hospital also being hit and damaged.
So to return to the topic of Thanksgiving, we’d all like to give thanks that no children or staff were killed, and that the fighting has now apparently calmed down around the village.
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New SOS Children’s Village Opened in Brazil
November 16, 2007
We love birthdays of new villages! There is a new SOS Children’s Village in Recife, Brazil. Opening in the Igarassu district, the new village will be home to 130 orphaned children in 14 homes throughout the village.
And do you know how this village came about? It was one of the six villages funded during the 2006 World Cup! The funding for the six villages was two years in the making (starting in September 2004), and the foundation stone for the SOS Children’s Village in Brazil at Recife was laid on December 2005 by FIFA and SOS Children’s Villages ambassador Juninho Pernambucano, a full six months prior to the FIFA World Cup in Germany.
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The Small Change Difference
November 9, 2007
Pennies, nickels, dimes, and their foreign equivalents can add up to a great deal of money when received by thousands upon thousands of people.
Since 2002, passengers of Swiss International Air Lines have been emptying their pockets of foreign coins as part of a “Your small change can make a big change” campaign by the airline. Funds raised from passengers flying during 2005 helped SOS Children’s Villages in Tanzania build the SWISS House, one house amongst the village’s 13 houses and other facilities which when at capacity, will provide for 120 orphaned children.
And as if helping to build a house for orphaned children isn’t enough, employees of Swiss International Air Lines have helped to fund the children’s living expenses through their Staff Foundation for Children in Need.
And additionally, in 2006 and 2007, the passengers donated enough spare change to build a SWISS House in Thailand, and support the construction of the village there. All in all, the initiative has raised money in over 150 different currencies and collected over $800,000.
SWISS is delighted that its customers are so actively and generously involved in these humanitarian endeavours, which offer help, hope and new prospects and perspectives to underprivileged children all over the world.
Source: Skycontrol.net
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International NGO Statement of Concern on Somalia
November 5, 2007
One of our most resilient children’s villages, in an unstable region, is back in the press. SOS Children’s Villages has been in the volatile region of Somalia since the 1980’s, including the time of civil war in 1991. SOS Children’s Villages stayed and provided services and protection to not only orphaned children, but the wounded, and in a time when other aid organizations felt forced to leave. SOS Children’s Villages is more than just an organization of villages, it is an aid organization, responding to community needs and natural disasters around the world.
Along with 40 other international and national NGOs, SOS Children’s Villages has signed a Statement of Concern surrounding their ability to serve those in need of humanitarian aid in Somalia. The Statement of Concern reads:
“There is an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in South Central Somalia. Tens of thousands of people are currently fleeing violence in Mogadishu adding to the up to 335,000 people already needing immediate lifesaving assistance in Mogadishu and the Shabelle regions.”
“International and National NGOs cannot respond effectively to the crisis because access and security are deteriorating dramatically at a time when needs are increasing.”
“The international community and all parties to the present conflict have a responsibility to protect civilians, to allow the delivery of aid and to respect humanitarian space and the safety of humanitarian workers.”
Other organizations joining our concern can be found here.
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SOS Children’s Villages Phillipines Expanding With HSBC Trust
November 1, 2007
What would SOS Children’s Villages Phillipines do if awarded a $75,000 donation from HSBC? Fortunately, it’s not a hypothetical question, it is a reality under HSBC’s Global Education Trust, which has funded the Future First project, an initiative to support street children in realizing a better future. As part of the Future First project, HSBC country coordinators submitted a bid and SOS Children’s Villages was awarded one of the grants. The money will be split three-ways. Twenty-five thousand dollars each will go to:
- The SOS Preschool Education Program in Lipa,
- The SOS Family Strengthening ProgramĀ in Iloilo, and
- A Preschool and Pre-nursery Education Program, also in Iloilo.
Mark Watkinson, CEO of HSBC in the Philippines said projects were evaluated based in part on the vision driving the project, its sustainability, and the quality and creativity of the projects. Congrats to HSBC and SOS Children’s Villages Phillipines!
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Children’s Village Aunts.
October 29, 2007
What is life like inside of an SOS Children’s Village? Who lives in each home? How are unrelated children relating to each other and their new SOS Mothers? These are the types of questions that we hear when introducing SOS Children’s Villages to people who have missed out on the work we do. While being an SOS Mother is one thing, tending to children with their homework, cooking for all and helping feed the youngest, it’s a tough a job as any. But in a village atmosphere, you are also likely to come across family helpers, who can assist the Mothers in their duties. As Magda, an SOS Aunt says, it’s about the children.
[M]ost important of all, you have to ensure that they adapt to their family.
For more on Magda and life inside of the houses of an SOS Children’s Village, continue reading, “In one of the village houses.“
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SOS Children’s Villages in Zambia - A Look Back.
October 25, 2007
On August 6, 2000, over 7 years ago, ZNBC television in Zambia, Africa did a segment for CNN’s World Report. In closing the segment, reporter Henry Ngilazi said, “The children living here may perhaps be in better conditions, but the ever increasing numbers of abandoned and orphaned children calls for concerted efforts from everyone.” Being orphaned and abandoned, living on the streets, SOS Children’s Villages without a doubt puts these children in better living conditions with access to education, family, and support services. But more concerted efforts are always needed, including donations all year round, and more orphans being sponsored.
And look what time has done: In 2004, SOS Children’s Villages in Zambia not only added a second village, but classes for children entering the Hermann Gmeiner School, along with the school itself, a social center, and a medical center. Since 2004, the social center is doing outreach beyond the village to assist over 300 local families, the medical center is open to communities surrounding the village, and the kindergarten and school both have healthy enrollments.
It is exciting to think what another 7 years might bring.
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Antique Vehicle Parade for Hanoi Children’s Village Orphans
October 22, 2007
Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, a hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam organized an antique vehicle parade that will be showing off as many as 22 collector’s vehicles. The vehicles will start the parade route at the hotel and go through the streets of the SOS Children’s Village in Hanoi. Best yet, the parade will help raise money to buy gifts for the children at the village! The money will be raised from the proceeds of the hotel restaurant during their lunch rush on October 28, 2007. Euro Auto, who imports BMWs in Vietnam and Italian fashion gurus La Perla will be golden sponsors of the charity parade. We appreciate all that these companies are doing to support their local SOS Children’s Village.
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Swedish Crime Writer Builds a New SOS Village
October 18, 2007
Award winning Swedish crime fiction writer Henning Mankell, Ingmar Bergman’s son-in-law, has spent the better part of 20 years calling the African country of Mozambique his home. On October 16th he announced that he was donating $2.3 million for the construction of a new SOS Children’s Village, which would house 150 orphaned and abandoned children, and would also include a kindergarten and new school for the children.
“There is a need for thousands of SOS Children’s Villages in Mozambique. I have the possibility to build one, so I am doing it,”
The future children of the village that will bear your name, Mr Mankell, thank you.
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SOS Children’s Village Ghana and the 2008 African Cup of Nations
October 17, 2007
With the 2008 African Cup of Nations, the biggest soccer tournament in Africa until the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, being staged in Ghana, it made sense for the local SOS Children’s Village to work with the tournament to highlight the work and beliefs of the organization. As allafrica.com reported:
Dubbed, “Football for Peace and Development,” the campaign aims at harnessing potentials that abound in football to promote and foster unity in children within Ghana and across Africa.
SOS Children’s Villages-Ghana is therefore using the CAN 2008 soccer tournament to introduce the social function of football to children and highlight the role of football as an engine for development, peace and security and to promote the rights of children and the youth.
The children from the SOS Children’s Village - Ghana will compete in a soccer tournament with other SOS Villages in Cameroon, Benin, Togo, Cote D’Ivoire and Nigeria, as well as with teams from other SOS partners. Other events include a logo design competition, an essay writing competition and a short poem writing competition.
The tournament takes place from January 20th to February 10th in the Ghanian cities of Kumasi, Accra, Tamale, Sekondi-Takoradi, with Egypt hoping to retain their 2006 title and win the tournament for the 6th time.
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