Raising awareness for World Orphan Week is the world’s largest children’s charity SOS Children’s Villages. World Orphan Week, otherwise known as WOW, extends from 8 to 14 February and is an initiative to mobilise corporate South Africans to dress in something ‘wow’ to highlight the plight of orphaned and abandoned children.

Leigh Swartz, Fund Development Manager for SOS Children’s Villages South Africa said: “WOW is celebrated annually across five countries and we’re excited to introduce the concept of dressing up in something wow to raise money for the children of South Africa.” Wearing feathers; hats; sparkle; or something fun is all that is required to make a difference for the children. “We’re expecting South Africans to embrace the concept as a unique way to fundraise while having lots of fun doing it,” said Swartz.

World Orphan Week was founded by Katie Dudley from the UK who was stirred to start something to aid the plight of orphaned children. To date numerous volunteers across four countries have raised nearly R5-million for SOS Children globally over the last five years, “SOS South Africa is hoping to catch-up to that figure with the support of people dressing up wow for WOW,” said Swartz.

An astonishing statistic quoted by SOS International indicates that every 2.2 seconds, a child loses a parent due to war; poverty; natural disaster; disease; AIDS; and other such causes. This staggering realisation leaves us with approximately 133-million children who have lost one or both parents; of which 15-million have been orphaned due to the AIDS pandemic. Providing for children such as these in South Africa is the eight villages and three social centres set up by SOS. The villages currently supports over 6 500 children providing them with ‘families’; homes; and an education. The SOS international organisation cares directly for more than 70 000 children in 123 countries globally.

As a result of the growing orphan crisis in Southern Africa SOS South Africa has expanded beyond its village operations to develop sustainable community-based family strengthening programmes. These programmes aim to assist and support vulnerable children without removing them from their natural family environment. “A characteristic example of where the family strengthening programme is working well is with the many grandparent-headed households,” said Swartz. This community care naturally extends to the families caring for the many susceptible children in our country.

Causing a stir for World Orphan Week is a small but significant way to reach more vulnerable children, “We’re already hearing about people planning their WOW wardrobe – so join in and don a fabulously loud tie, or get dressed up in full evening wear or even decorate your shoes – just make sure it shouts wow!” said Swartz. The suggestion is a collective group donation of R5 per participant, to be donated to SOS South Africa via direct deposit or an EFT.

How to get involved:
- Display WOW posters
- Shout WOW
- Lastly WOW them all!

To make a WOW donation, or to sponsor a SOS child in need, the following are the banking details for electronic fund transfers:
Banking Details for Direct / Electronic Transfer Donations:
Nedbank, Randburg
Account Name: Fund Development Unit SOS South Africa
Reference: WOW (Your name/school or company here)
Account number: 1984 563 068
Branch Code : 1984 05

For more information, visit www.sos.org.za or contact Leigh Swartz on 011 234 8708 or 0861 767 767.