Impressed by the scale and scope of SOS Children's Villages' work with orphaned children and their communities around the world, The FA was keen to support the organisation's work further. "We have spent a long time reviewing our charitable donations, mainly to ensure there's a logical connection between the organisations we support and the areas The FA can directly and positively influence," said FA Chairman Geoff Thompson.
"With that in mind, we've looked across the spectrum and compiled a shortlist from which five specific organisations have been selected. Understandably, the selected organisations work mostly in England, but the inclusion of BBC Sport Relief and SOS Children's Villages UK takes our work beyond these shores."
2006 looks like it will be the perfect year for football for SOS Children's Villages, who together with their long-term partner FIFA, are working hard on a joint assistance campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. Under the 6 villages for 2006 campaign, donations will be collected for the construction of six new SOS Children's Villages - one each in Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Vietnam and Ukraine. These new facilities will provide homes in a family environment for hundreds of orphaned, abandoned and destitute children.
The FA has joined an impressive team in Great Britain, which includes "FIFA for SOS Children's Villages" ambassadors Wayne Rooney and Gordon Strachan, as well as Celtic Football Club. International ambassadors include Andriy Shevchenko, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jay Jay Okocha, Fabio Cannavaro, Juninho Pernambucano, Lucas Radebe and Mahmoud El-Khatieb. The FA has committed funds for one of the family houses being built as part of the new South African village, although its support will be more than simply financial. SOS Children's Villages UK and The FA will work closely to raise awareness and funds for 6 villages for 2006 and the organisation's work in general.
Andrew Cates, Chief Executive of SOS Children's Villages UK commented: "We are delighted to be working with The FA, particularly during a World Cup year. Football unites people from around the world and I'm sure that football supporters here in England will generously support SOS Children's Villages in providing a future for children who have nowhere else to turn."
With The FA's support, SOS Children's Villages UK hopes to make 2006 the year that sees football help the world's orphaned and abandoned children.
SOS Children's Villages is active in 132 countries and territories. 438 SOS Children's Villages and 346 SOS Youth Facilities provide more than 59,000 children and youths in need with a new home. More than 131,000 children/youths attend SOS Kindergartens, SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools and SOS Vocational Training Centres. Around 397,000 people benefit from the services provided by SOS Medical Centres, 115,000 people from services provided by SOS Social Centres. SOS Children's Villages also helps in situations of crisis and disaster through emergency relief programmes.
SOS-Kinderdorf International is the umbrella organisation of all worldwide SOS Children's Villages.
(SOS-Kinderdörfer - SOS Villages d'Enfants - Aldeas Infantiles SOS)
CONTACTS:
For more information on 6 villages for 2006 and SOS-Kinderdorf International, please contact:
Hugh Linnehan, Communications Officer
Tel: +43 512 3310 5107
Email: hugh.linnehan@sos-kd.org
http://www.6villagesfor2006.org
For more information on the FA's association with SOS Children's Villages UK, please contact:
Chrissy Davey
6 villages for 2006 Campaign Director UK
Tel: 01223 365589 (office) 07738 496996 (mobile)
Email:
chrissy.davey@soschildren.org http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/charity-news/six-villages.htm