6 villages for 2006 enters its final stage of fundraising

Every donation made since the project was launched in 2003, and every donation received until the end of football's biggest tournament on 9 July, will serve to give 800 orphaned or abandoned children a new family home at six new children's villages. A further 5,000 children and 1,000 families will benefit from ancillary social projects.

The six new children's villages and ancillary social projects under the 6 villages for 2006 charity campaign are currently under construction, one each in Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Ukraine and Vietnam. So far, two-thirds of the sum required for the building and five-year maintenance of these projects has been collected.

At the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ , 6 villages for 2006 will be presented at the various venues through:

• Field boards at all 12 stadiums with the URL of the 6 villages for 2006 campaign. These were donated free-of-charge to SOS Children's Villages by the German company ODDSET.
• Escort children will be accompanying players onto the pitch sporting t-shirts with the 6 villages for 2006 campaign logo at half of the matches.
• An advertisement of the 6 villages for 2006 campaign will be shown on a large screen to spectators in the stadiums at all 64 matches.
• 6 villages for 2006 information stands in the commercial display areas at 15 matches.

In addition, various football teams and individual players will pledge their support for 6 villages for 2006 during the tournament, and will appeal to football fans worldwide to donate to the biggest fundraising campaign in the history of the FIFA World Cup™. Almost 100 football greats serve as “FIFA for SOS Children's Villages” ambassadors and have underlined their support for 6 villages for 2006, including Andriy Shevchenko, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, Fabio Cannavaro, Juninho Pernambucano, Jay Jay Okocha and many more!

About SOS Children's Villages

SOS Children's Villages, a private and non-governmental social development organisation for children, is active in 132 countries and territories. 444 children's villages and 354 youth facilities provide more than 60,000 children/youths with a new home. More than 137,000 children/youths attend SOS Kindergartens, SOS Schools and SOS Vocational Training Centres. Around 385,000 people benefit from the services provided by SOS Medical Centres and 230,000 people benefit from SOS Social Centres. SOS Children's Villages also helps in situations of crisis and disaster through emergency relief programmes.

Contact:
Adriana Pontieri
International Press Officer
Email: adriana.pontieri@sos-kd.org
Mobile: +43-664 502 0947