SOS Children's Villages SA celebrates 30th anniversary

For 30 years, SOS Children's Villages have been making an impact on the lives of so many people, more especially children in South Africa. Since 1982, SOS Children's Villages have been serving the greater good in South Africa, starting with our greatest hope, the children.

The SOS Children's Villages Association of South Africa is a member of SOS - Kinderdorf International, the largest private welfare organisation for children in the world. Over 200 000 children benefit from the various residential, educational and developmental programmes operating in 135 countries. Former President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu are among the most prominent advocates of SOS Children's Villages in South Africa.

The vital role is to manage and support eight Children's Villages and three SOS Social Centres. These villages offer care and support for the children under their care. Ennerdale, the first village to be established in South Africa, was built in 1983 in what was then a 'coloured' township south of Johannesburg. The Ennerdale village consists of 16 family houses and is currently home to 158 children. Other villages include Mamelodi, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg, Mthatha, Nelspruit and Rustenburg.

Assistance for children affected by HIV/Aids

With the prevalence of the HIV/Aids pandemic, community-based childcare and support programmes were established at all SOS Children's Villages to provide practical assistance for children most affected by HIV/Aids. The three social centres include the Mathanjana Social Centre in Mpumalanga, the Sekhukhune Social Centre in Limpopo and the Qwa Qwa Social Centre in the Free State.

"I would like to personally thank our friends for your continued support, we could not have achieved as much as we have without you. We look forward to many more successful years of providing a loving home to every child," says Siphiwe Maphanga, national director of SOS Children's Villages South Africa.

While pleased with the impact SOS Children's Villages have made in so many lives, Leigh Swartz, fund development manager, says they rely greatly on sponsorship and contributions in order to maintain the pioneering programmes in the community. "We implore South Africans to keep supporting SOS as they have for the past 30 years."

The anniversary will be observed throughout the course of 2012 with various roadshows, events, information-sharing sessions, fundraising events and awareness campaigns forming part of the celebrations. The South African public, as well as corporates and media owners are urged to contact Leigh Swartz or the Village director in your area to find out more about what's going to be happening and how you can get involved.

For additional information, go to http://www.mypressoffice.co.za/SOSVillages/default.html.