SOS... safe as houses

The SOS Mamelodi Village, in particular house number seven, was adopted by G4S in 1992. This financial assistance has not only assisted in maintaining house seven, but has seen many orphaned and abandoned children placed under its care, many of whom are now living happy and successful lives.

In celebration of SOS Children's Villages 25th anniversary, the security services company recently announced it would be increasing its national sponsorship value from R70 000 to R390 000 per annum. In addition to the Mamelodi sponsorship, the company has agreed to support a further two houses at the Rustenburg and Ennerdale Villages, as well as an extra five Kindergarten playrooms at the Pietermaritzburg, Ennerdale, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Rustenburg Villages.

Celebrating 25-years of operation in this country, the SOS Children's Villages Association of South Africa (http://www.sosvillages.org.za) is a non-profit organisation and the largest private children's welfare organisation in the world. SOS Children's Villages raises orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children and caters for all races and religions nationally. It relies completely on donations from corporates and the public at large.

Through the establishment of villages, which are headed by a Village Director, and assisted by SOS Housemothers, the organisation is able to build families for children in need who have come through the courts as a result of abuse, neglect, abandonment or an inability of parents to care for their children.