Friday, July 20, 2007: Give Two Twoonies if you're a Canadian Soccer Loonie!
With the final matches of the FIFA U-20 WorldCup Canada 2007 approaching, FIFA and SOS Children's Villages are issuing a challenge to both Canadian soccer fans and spectators at Sunday's games
While fans will be anxiously waiting to watch the games on the pitch, off
the pitch FIFA and SOS want to draw the attention of Canadians to more than
just match results. The FIFA U-20 World Cup Official Charity Campaign "Let's
Play, Let's Build" aims to raise $ 2.3 million to benefit HIV/AIDS orphans in
southern Africa.
"As the goals are scored to determine the winner of the U-20, let's score
goals that really count," said Boyd McBride, National Director of SOS
Children's Villages Canada. "If every fan in the National Soccer Stadium
donated two twoonies, or each viewer at home gave 21 cents, we could raise
$80,000 and reach our campaign goal."
$80,000 could build a solid educational foundation for 80 children for
three years, providing them with a formal education from kindergarten into
primary school including teachers, uniforms, books, lunches and school
supplies.
Funds raised for "Let's Play, Let's Build" will go towards building homes
and creating outreach programmes in southern Africa for orphaned and abandoned
children. Among the construction plans is a new SOS Children's Village in
Namibia, which will include a kindergarten and family strengthening programme.
A similar programme will also be established at an SOS Children's Village in
Rustenburg, South Africa.
For those going to the game drop by the SOS Children's Villages tent to
learn more, or visit the campaign website at www.letsplayletsbuild.ca
About SOS Children's Villages
SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-governmental social
development organization which has been working to meet the needs and protect
the interests and rights of children since its foundation in 1949 in Austria.
Operating in 132 countries, SOS Children's Villages provides long-term
family-based care for more than 65,000 children who have been orphaned,
abandoned or whose families are unable to care for them. To help prevent child
abandonment, and to aid families struggling within a cycle of poverty and
disease, SOS Children's Villages supports another 600,000 children and their
families through family strengthening programmes and educational, medical and
social outreach initiatives.
