Introducing the SOS Street Team

Matt Drake (far left) with the inaugural SOS Street Team

With the rapid growth of grassroots movements taking hold in the United States, SOS Children's Villages is raising awareness of the plight of orphaned and abandoned children through its newly formed Street Team. The goal of this team is to introduce thousands of people to the struggle of over 145 million orphans in the world – and a solution to this daunting challenge – SOS Children's Villages. The Street Team has a lofty goal of recruiting thousands of new sponsors for SOS children worldwide.

We have recruited energetic and dedicated individuals to execute our field plan for sponsorship. All of the members of the Street Team have experiences that make them powerful in their own way. They are drawn to SOS for varying reasons, but they share the common goals of providing lasting support for orphaned and abandoned children worldwide.

As I write this entry, we have already started recruiting sponsors for SOS Children's Villages with great success. With the team that we have assembled in Washington, DC, we are sure of a successful program. We have set large goals, and are already taking steps towards accomplishing them. With the help of SOS Children's Villages staff and supporters, we hope to grow our Street Team into a success that will be recognized internationally for our informative nature, excellent customer service, and results-oriented attitude.

I am thankful to all the SOS supporters that have paved the way for the introduction of this new program. The one-on-one conversations that we are having with people about the work of SOS are literally saving lives.

Matt Drake, Street Team Leader

Send a Free Mother's Day Video Greeting

In honor of mothers throughout the world, SOS created "The Mom Effect" video to express the important role that mothers play in our lives.

Watch all of our Mother's Day videos now and send a free video greeting to your mom for Mother's Day!

SOS Supporter Impressed by Visit to Cambodian Villages

Laurie Saget (center) with children from the SOS Children's Village Battambang in Cambodia

SOS Children's Villages supporter Laurie Saget traveled to Cambodia recently and had the opportunity to visit the SOS Children's Villages in Angkor-Siem Reap and Battambang.

The visit to the Cambodian villages deeply moved Laurie, and she was very impressed with the time she spent with the children and staff at the villages.

"Both places are very beautiful, clean and all the children and staff are very happy,” Laurie said of her experience. "This makes way for a charity to show that, yes, the money people give really does go to the places for which they are intended."

Laurie's cameraman, Daniel Loewenthal, was also impressed by the visit. The first words out of his mouth when he saw the impressive work of SOS Children's Villages were "I'd give money to this charity."

The footage Laurie and her team took amazed everyone they've shown it to so far, and they would like to share it with you. Watch the video from the SOS Children's Village Angkor-Siem Reap below:

'Slumdog Millionaire' Wins Big

The movie "Slumdog Millionaire" took home eight Oscars at Sunday's Academy Awards in Los Angeles, including the Academy Award for Best Picture. The movie, shot in Mumbai, India, tells the story of an 18-year-old orphan from Mumbai's slums. Uneducated, he grew up with his brother on the city's streets and faced great deprivation, as well as love. His tale is revealed in flashbacks as he plays India's version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." At the February 22nd awards ceremony, the movie's cast and crew gathered on stage. Some of the young cast members came from the same poor areas depicted in the film. The movie is a tale of hope but also starkly portrays the sad life of India's orphaned children.

SOS Children's Villages Cares for India's Orphans

India's economy has flourished in recent years, but poverty is still widespread in its largest cities such as Mumbai, where "Slumdog" was filmed. Poverty often produces orphaned children. SOS Children's Villages, the world's largest charity focused on providing loving homes for orphaned and abandoned children, operates 37 Children's Villages across India.

SOS operates a Children's Village in the city of Pune, 120 miles south of Mumbai. SOS-Pune has 20 family homes, a primary school and a clinic. Orphans fortunate enough to be brought to this village are raised within a stable, supportive community. SOS-Pune also manages a special center for street children and a youth facility. These facilities emphasize vocational training in preparation for higher education and the development of realistic life plans.

In 1963, Hermann Gmeiner, founder of SOS, met Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, then Prime Minister of India, who was extremely impressed by the SOS Children's Village concept. His daughter, Indira Gandhi, was instrumental in hastening the realization of the first SOS Children's Village Greenfields near Delhi in 1968.

SOS Relief Programs During Emergencies

Besides caring for children and youths, SOS also steps in during national emergencies. India has been repeatedly plagued by ethnic unrest and environmental and natural disasters. SOS Children's Villages has given immediate assistance to victims of the country's catastrophes. Examples include the 1984 toxic gas accident in Bhopal, two devastating cyclones in the 1990s, catastrophic earthquakes in Latur (1993) and Gujarat (2001), and the December 2004 tsunami. Often, SOS relief programs have subsequently been converted into permanent SOS Children's Villages.

If you would like to help a child in India secure a warm home and a bright future, consider sponsoring a child.

Gifts of Love

Valentine's Day is approaching fast! Give hope to children who need it the most.

In 132 countries, SOS Children's Villages provide loving homes for orphaned and abandoned children. With the Gifts of Love catalog, you can select a gift to give these children. You can choose from medical care, food, HIV/AIDS prevention, education, play, and counseling services. Give a gift today to change a life forever.

Text Messaging

For those of you who have text messaging on your phones we have great news...

You can now sign up for SOS Children's Villages news and information text messaging! By texting VILLAGE to 90999 you can receive up to four messages per month. This way you can always stay in the know of what is happening at SOS.

You may also donate $5 through texting by sending SOS to 90999. After you recieve the confirmation text, you just need to respond YES. That's all you have to do. Donating has never been easier!

Sailing for SOS

SOS Children's Villages supporter Lee Winters has embarked on a journey, braving the harsh open water to raise awareness for SOS Children's Villages! Lee says he has modest sailing skills, but his support of SOS is far from it.

Lee gave up a six-figure salary in November 2008 to prepare his journey from Kemah, Texas through the Panama Canal to his final destination, which is yet to be determined. He plans to stop at several SOS Children's Villages along the way in Central America and beyond and raise funding to support orphaned and abandoned children throughout the world.

Stop by Lee's web site, Sailing for SOS, to follow his incredible journey. Also consider making a donation to SOS in honor of Lee. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Lee is currently docked near the Yucatan jungle about ten miles away from SOS Children's Village Hampolol in Mexico. Watch his latest video below.