November 1, 2011: American film-maker William Kirkley and American car manufacturer Chevrolet have teamed up with SOS Children's Villages to document the lives of children in Europe who have lived without parental care or at risk of losing it. The collaboration highlights how individual mobility is an essential support system for SOS families -- SOS Mothers, SOS Village staff, and children.
William Kirkley, a 32-year-old from Southern California, won the 2011 MOFILM Barcelona contest in February 2011. MOFILM inspires film-makers to create videos for big brands and social causes. "Great movies, short films, even the occasional well-done commercial take me to a different place where I can walk in someone else's shoes and experience their dreams," William Kirkley said.
As part of winning the contest, Kirkley was commissioned to make a film documentary about SOS Children's Villages and its partnership with Chevrolet Europe. This gave him the opportunity to travel to SOS Children's Villages across Europe and record the hopes and dreams of orphaned and abandoned children.
In addition, William Kirkley decided to make a short film on SOS Children's Villages. Starting on May 14, he traveled to SOS Children's Villages Programs in France, Italy, and the Czech Republic and visited SOS Children's Villages International in Innsbruck, Austria. The result is an emotional portrait of SOS Children's Villages.
About Chevrolet's Partnership with SOS Children's Villages
In celebration of its centennial in 2011, Chevrolet has been giving 100 birthday presents, new Chevrolet cars, to SOS Children's Villages in Europe, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Lesotho and Israel. The initiative will increase the mobility of the children and their SOS mothers as well as the ability of the social workers who run the SOS Family Strengthening Programs to visit disadvantaged families in the communities.
Chevrolet will provide 20 Spark city cars, 20 Aveo hatchback small cars, 20 Cruze compact cars, 20 Orlando 7-seaters and 20 Captiva 7-seat SUVs to SOS Children's Villages. The 100 Chevrolets are being handed over between February 22 and November 3, 2011, the actual 100th birthday of Chevrolet, which was founded on November 3, 1911 by Louis Chevrolet and William Durant in Detroit.