Germany's First Lady visits SOS Children's Village in Botswana

The children prepared themselves to welcome the honourable visitors with lively marimba rhythms and flowers; all 210 children and youths of the SOS Children's Village gathered to greet them, together with the SOS mothers and the village staff. The children and youths were overjoyed as Eva Köhler herself took the mallet and played a few bars on the marimba, which is reminiscent of the xylophone, for the first time in her life.

In her speech, Eva Köhler honoured the "loving" care that needy children receive at the SOS Children's Villages. "A child who is given a peaceful home will later be committed to peace", stated the wife of the German President.

The President's wife also donated 1,800 Euros for the vegetable gardens of the village. The representatives of the German Embassy who accompanied her presented the children with footballs and other small surprises. After a walk around the SOS Children's Village, Eva Köhler visited a water treatment project which came into being through German support. Germany's President Horst Köhler is travelling through southern Africa with his wife Eva. He is now visiting Botswana after having visited Mozambique and Madagascar.