FUNDRAISING MATTERS Spring 2011 A different kind of University Challenge World Orphan Week 2011 Pupil power - young people making a difference In this issue 5 2Welcome - Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children 6University Challenge with a difference 3Aldbury village supports SOS 7 Children’s Villages 4New beginning Partnership news Fundraising awareness events 8-10Fundraising activities 11Remembering SOS Children in your will 2 WELCOME from Meryl Davies, Director of Fundraising, SOS Children UK In this latest issue of Fundraising Matters we tell stories of our committed and creative supporters who give their time and energy to help the children in our care. I know I speak for everyone here at SOS Children when I say thank you from us all. At SOS Children we don’t often talk publicly about where our children come from and what their lives were really like before they came to live in our Children’s Villages. Last year, a BBC documentary, Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children told the story of Esther, a little girl living with nothing, distraught with the pain of hunger, caring for her baby sister Tino and nursing her dying mother. Earlier this year, the film makers went back to Zimbabwe to see the girls’ remarkable transformation: from orphans surviving in desperate poverty to laughing girls with an SOS Mother, living in the safety Esther and Tino of our Children’s Village in Bindura and happily going to school. We have an 18-minute version of Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children which puts the immense impact of our work on our screens. This version includes new footage of Esther and Tino and an interview with the SOS Village Director Harold Chabayanzara. If you would like a copy of the film to show to friends - or to any other group then we can send one to you. Let us know if you would like to organise an event, large or small, to tell others about the charity that you support by calling Mary Pountain on 01223 222961 or emailing [email protected] Communities in action a village full of support for SOS Children’s Villages Aldbury in Hertfordshire is a small village with a big heart: a remarkable number of people there are supporting SOS Children’s Villages. The connection started when local resident Jane Brown visited the SOS Children’s Village in Daegu, Korea. Inspired by her trip her local Church, St. John the Baptist Church in Aldbury decided to sponsor our Village in Tlokweng, Botswana. Aldbury’s fundraising has gone from strength to strength. To mark the end of World Orphan Week in February, the Aldbury Junior Church choir sold WOW cupcakes raising more than £100 for Chipata in Zambia. The Aldbury Women’s Discussion Group are regular donors, and the Aldbury District Church Council and Tring Team Parish Committee have also been inspired to support SOS Children. Children at SOS Children’s Village, Tlokweng, Botswana Giving and receiving Youngsters Amel, Imogen and Kirsty celebrated their 12th birthdays with a disco in July last year. They asked their friends to make donations rather than give presents - raising a very generous £400. Amel said “We are really happy and proud that this money has gone to such a worthy cause”. Meanwhile John and Rosemary Kearsey raised £2,345 for our Children’s Village in Awassa, Ethiopia, which was celebrating the 25th anniversary of its school. They asked friends to give donations rather than presents to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. 3 4 New beginning A new SOS Children’s Village The new SOS Children’s Village in Chipata, in Zambia’s Eastern Province, is currently taking shape and will include family homes, a nursery school, a medical centre, a mobile medical unit and an extension to the community school. It will help alleviate the huge problems of family breakdown and child abandonment: in Chipata around 1 in 6 of all children are orphans. It’s a really exciting new project - and one which wouldn’t be possible without the amazing determination and generosity of people like you raising funds to support our work. This Village will be constructed by funds raised entirely by the UK office. Would you like to get involved? By becoming a Village Sponsor you can be part of this project from the very beginning, following progress as the Village is built, the staff are hired, and finally, as the children arrive in their new home. Building work began in October 2010. We expect to be finished towards the end of 2012. Support for Chipata project from Nutricia The employees at the Liverpool branch of Nutricia, a provider of advanced medical nutrition, know how to go the extra mile when it comes to fundraising for our Chipata project. Alongside raising funds through an annual recycling scheme, book clubs, and summer challenges, employees took part in a sponsored run in the Netherlands last September. Later this year, a group will take part in a sponsored 45 mile bike ride between Chester and Manchester. Building work in progress, Chipata Corporate support for our Villages News from our partnerships SOS Children’s Village, Kaifeng, China When we began working with international law firm Pinsent Masons, the brief was clear - to find flexible ways that the firm could support a number of specific projects. Since 2007 Pinsent Masons has made valuable contributions to our Children’s Villages in Kaifeng, China; Greenfields in India and towards the construction of our new Children’s Village in Chipata, Zambia. Phil Peters, Director at eco-investment specialist Greenleaf Global, visited our Children’s Village in Lomé on a business trip to Togo. He was profoundly moved by what he saw. That’s why Greenleaf Global chose to partner with SOS Children’s Villages and direct funds to our work there, sponsoring six children at the Village. As a sponsor, Greenleaf Global receives annual updates and photographs on the children’s progress. For Jonathan Fortnam, CSR Partner at Pinsent Masons the appeal of working with SOS Children is the breadth of our work which means the firm can support us in a range of ways: “Our Manchester office sponsors two children whereas on a corporate level we’ve provided school fees for the last two years for the children in the Children’s Village in Kaifeng, China.” SOS Children’s Village Lomé, Togo 5 6 University challenge A Different kind of University Challenge Students across the country are some of our keenest supporters. Our newest Supporters’ Group is at the University of East Anglia (UEA). Committee member Sarah Ellero said: “We chose to sponsor SOS Children’s Village Pushkin near St Petersburg, because we felt the needs of orphaned children in Russia were less well known than in other places.” They’ve already raised more than enough money for a year’s sponsorship of the Village and through a variety of campus activities they are generating much needed awareness of the vital work SOS Children is doing. UEA Supporters’ Group Meanwhile, students at the London School of Economics (LSE) have literally gone sky high in their fundraising efforts for SOS Children’s Villages - brave RAG members took part in a sponsored sky dive in February. Other fundraising events have included a Freshers’ Ball, a Romans and Greeks party and a Winter Ball. Sophie Count, the LSE RAG Charities Officer, said: “The LSE RAG is proud to have named SOS Children’s Villages as one of its charities. We have had an amazing start to the year and know the money raised is going to a great cause.” If you feel inspired to set up a Supporters’ Group at your university or college, please contact Lottie Riddle, on 01223 222977 or [email protected] LSE RAG Skydive Fundraising awareness events Inca Ball at the Royal Opera House Last winter’s Peruvian-inspired Inca Ball was held in the fantastic setting of the Flower Hall at the Royal Opera House in London. The event raised a splendid £150,000 to support the new SOS Children’s Village in Juliaca, Peru, which ABC Dinner: our international Ambassadors bring their support to the UK Another star-studded event: Aimee, Bouchra, and Carla (ABC), otherwise known as the wives and girlfriends of the Arsenal players Thomas Vermaelen, Robin van Persie, and Cesc Fabregas, hosted a night to remember at Claridge’s in London - featuring comedy stars Dara O’Briain and James Corden and music from The ABC organisers will provide a family home and education for 108 orphans now, and for generations to come. The Inca Ball was directed by Beatriz Barclay who, along with the Inca Ball Committee, put on a magnificent event for 400 guests. the Noisettes - and raised an incredible £172,216 to support our new SOS Children’s Village in Chipata, Zambia including, of course, the football pitch and sports kits for the children. Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are SOS Ambassadors in their home countries of Spain and the Netherlands. SOS Children is now extending its network of UK Ambassadors - of whom there will be more news in forthcoming editions of Fundraising Matters. 7 8 World Orphan Week World Orphan Week 2011 In 2011 World Orphan Week once more raised valuable awareness and funds to help vulnerable children. Katie Dudley, founder of World Orphan Week Organisations near to our offices were particularly active this year: Cambridge warmed to the idea of being part of our campaign for the new Village in Chipata. The Cambridge Academy of English staff and students organised games to raise money and pupils from The Perse School for Girls did the same. A local restaurant raised over £200 and the 12th Cambridge Scouts Bucket collection by 12th Cambridge Scouts joined us at the local football club, Cambridge United, to help collect from fans at a match. World Orphan Week was started by SOS supporter Katie Dudley in 2005 after she saw at first hand the devastating loss caused by HIV/ AIDS and malaria in South Africa. Katie said “I returned determined to do something, however big or small, to help the huge number of children who had been left alone”. The annual event has since raised more than half a million pounds for SOS Children’s Villages and we want World Orphan Week 2012 to be even more exciting. Please contact Mary Pountain if you have a suggestion for an event in your community - she will be glad to send out information and ideas: 01223 222961 or [email protected] Pupil power Pupil power our Schools Coordinator, Helen Elmerstig, is impressed at the way young people want to make a difference Habs boys dancing with Village children We love our younger supporters: ably supported by their teachers and parents they contribute a huge amount and inspire us all with their imagination and energy. Astor College - money for Malawi. Students at Astor College in Dover took part in an anti-smoking project looking at the health risks for vulnerable children in Malawi who are forced to pick tobacco. Students and staff worked together to raise money to support our work for orphans in Malawi, where we have three Children’s Villages and homes for 500 children. Trinity School - from Croydon to Beijing. Students at Trinity School in Croydon, who have the option to study Chinese, were fascinated to hear about our work in China when a representative from SOS Children’s Villages visited them in June last year. Inspired by the talk, the school raised nearly £3,000 for our Children’s Village in Beijing. The Boys at Haberdasher Askes A group of boys from Haberdasher Askes experienced a cricket tour and a life-changing visit to SOS Children’s Village in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The trip was part of a new programme developed by the Longbridge Foundation, promoting the development of a social curriculum in schools through sport of which this trip was part. During their cricket tour, the boys visited the Village and challenged the SOS children to a game of... football. As part of the project, SOS supporter Dakshesh Patel organised a cricket-themed fundraising dinner in London and raised £26,000 for SOS Children. 9 10 Fundraising activities Up for a challenge? 2011 could be the year for you to set yourself a once-in-a-lifetime challenge and raise vital funds for SOS Children’s Villages. We’ve got some great organised challenges lined up for our supporters this year, or maybe you’ve got your own idea for a unique activity? Last year Jeanett Zammit raised money for SOS Children’s Villages by completing the Malta International Challenge Marathon. She said: “It was hard to fit my training in regularly since I work full time and have two children. However, the marathon was an experience I’ll never forget.” July 10th – The British 10K London Run: Run in the capital past some of London’s most iconic sights - and raise money for us too. October 9th – Chester Marathon: We’re proud to be an Associate Charity of the 2011 MBNA Chester Marathon. To guarantee your SOS Children place, please call Lottie Riddle on 01223 222977 or email her at [email protected]. And if running is not for you, then perhaps you would consider being an event volunteer for the day - please get in touch. Join us on Facebook We’ve just launched ‘Team SOS Children UK’ on Facebook - a fantastic place for our fundraisers to pass on their top tips, post their challenge blogs, and event details, and meet other members of the SOS community. Visit and join in at www.facebook.com/ teamSOSChildren 11 Remembering SOS Children in your will You won’t be surprised to hear that legacies are a vital part of the funds we raise for our projects. Generous donors left us a total of nearly one million pounds in their wills last year. The individual bequests varied in size, of course, and as with all donations we receive, we are deeply grateful. Leaving legacies is often the one opportunity we get to give away a large amount - to our loved ones and to the charities we care about. Adding a legacy to SOS Children may not mean redrafting your whole will and may be simpler than you think. There are considerable tax advantages which have recently been further extended. Our Individual Giving Coordinator, Sarah Street, is here to help people who want to remember SOS Children in their wills. You can call her on 01223 222962 or email her at [email protected] if you have any questions. Deciding how to leave your money is an important decision and we are very grateful to everyone who chooses to support SOS Children in this way. Sisters at SOS Children’s Village, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photograph by Dominic Sansoni GET INVOLVED: www.soschildren.org Photograph by Dominic Sansoni Terrington House, 13-15 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 1NL. T: 01223 365589 F: 01223 222960 [email protected] www.soschildren.org Reg. charity number 1069204
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