My name is Maria Virjee. I was born and grew up in Austria, where SOS Children's Villages was - and continues to be - the most well-known and respected charity in the country. My husband, Minoo, and I came to live in Ottawa in 1965, and once we both had established ourselves a bit in our public service jobs I started supporting SOS Children's Villages. In 1969, I began helping SOS Children's Villages Canada as a local volunteer. I really enjoyed giving my time and financial support to something I believed in.
I wanted to do my share. So many children in the world needed help; needed a hand up -not a hand out. And I knew that SOS Children's Villages was in a unique position to help. Of course, SOS could never help them all, but as the saying goes, it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
With the opening of a new SOS Children's Village in India, my husband and I decided to sponsor children. The first two children we sponsored were a brother and a sister who were found in front of a police station one morning with a little note saying 'I can't look after them anymore. Please do something.' The babies were taken to the SOS Village where their lives were not only saved, but filled with love and hope.
I'll never forget the first time we had the chance to visit the two children at their new home at the SOS Village. I was so shocked at the extreme poverty and the pollution that plagued the country...but my most profound impression from that trip was the moment I first entered the SOS Village.
It was so inspiring to see that the SOS Village truly was a home for these several dozens of orphaned and abandoned children. The sound of laughing children filled the air. Shy children smiled and greeted us with the Indian welcome "namaste." We visited the kindergarten on the grounds and learned of the SOS primary school close by. Clearly these children were being given every chance to be happy and fulfilled.
My husband and I knew immediately that our donations to SOS Children's Villages were an excellent and vital use of our money. And I have continued to sponsor children right up to today. I'm confident that my contributions are lighting a candle of hope.
After returning from India, I increased my volunteering time with SOS Children's Villages Canada doing whatever I could to be of help; everything from coordinating their Christmas Card sales programme to joining the Board of Directors, eventually becoming President. Before I knew it, it was 2004 and I had been supporting SOS Children's Villages for 35 years.
And I knew that I wanted to continue my support well into the future. Recognizing that orphaned and abandoned children will continue to need SOS Children's Villages for many years beyond my own lifetime, leaving a bequest to SOS Children's Villages in my will was an obvious and easy decision to make for me...I knew that this organization would be able to help so many more children - and that's the legacy I want to leave after I am gone.
I recently discussed my intentions to name SOS Children's Villages Canada in my will with Dave Greiner, their Deputy Director, and we agreed that because of my many years of involvement, it could be very exciting to tell all friends of the organization about the powerful impact they could make by following my lead.
I fully understand that everyone's situation is different. In my case, my husband passed away many years ago. And while I still have family in Austria, everyone is all grown up and well taken care of...but I really don't think the size of the bequest matters. It's the gesture of kindness and hope that makes our world a better place.
So, please consider leaving a bequest to SOS Children's Villages Canada in your will and help bring a light of hope to children well into the future. To receive more information about this wonderful way to leave a legacy of love, you can read our overview of planned giving and contact Dave Greiner at (613) 232-3309 in the Ottawa area, toll-free at 1-800-767-5111 or e-mail at d.greiner@soschildrensvillages.ca . Thank you for reading my story and for your support of SOS Children's Villages Canada.
Maria Virjee