Swedish singer starts the construction works for new project in Ukraine

Stenmarck's sod turning ceremony was witnessed by Swedish journalists and representatives of SOS Children's Villages Ukraine. "I am very honoured I am the first person to break the ground on the plot of land where the future village will stand," said the singer, who has been an ambassador for SOS Children's Villages Sweden for two years.

"I feel that this is my obligation as a human being and as a singer to give the world the message that SOS Children's Villages' idea works. I think it's important to bring the two worlds of showbiz and those experiencing more difficult social conditions closer together, to show that not everyone has the opportunities we take for granted."

Stenmarck also visited a public social centre in Brovary and SOS Children's Villages Ukraine's prevention of abandonment programme "Playbus" in Kiev where he joined the playing kids. "The kids are the best - they are straightforward and they never hide their true feelings. Those kids here today were happy," said Stenmarck, who has also visited villages in China and Latvia.

"It's really a great project - a mobile playground with leaders who are guiding the kids when playing. I really admire the volunteers' work. Children give me a lot of energy and I will remember their happy faces when I go to the Eurovision stage on Saturday night."

The first SOS Children's Village in Ukraine will be built in Brovary, approximately 20 kilometres from Kiev. The project in Brovary is part of the big FIFA/SOS Children's Villages' campaign "6 villages for 2006", which aims to raise funds for six new SOS Children's Villages on four continents until the final wistle of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

SOS Children's Villages Ukraine has been running social programmes in Kiev since 2003: distributing food supplies and other necessities to poor families; counselling youth and their parents at the HIV/AIDS social centre; educating kids and parents on the subjects of children's rights, hygiene and sexual education and offering various spare time activities for the poor families.