March 3rd, 2007: On the occasion of the Official Draw for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, FIFA and its long-standing charity beneficiary SOS Children's Villages announced the launch of their latest joint campaign, "Let's Play, Let's Build", which will become an integral component of this summer's football fiesta in Canada. "Let's Play, Let's Build" aims to raise USD $2 million to combat the growing HIV/AIDS crisis in southern Africa by creating new facilities for orphaned and abandoned children.
"FIFA is delighted to partner up with SOS Children’s Villages once again in 2007," said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. "The 'Let’s Play, Let's Build' campaign perfectly captures the spirit of solidarity that makes the beautiful game such a powerful beacon of hope and fully reflects FIFA's mission to 'develop the game, touch the world, and build a better future'.
This year marks SOS Children’s Villages twelfth year of cooperation with FIFA. Collaboration between the two organizations culminated last year during the "6 villages for 2006" joint campaign surrounding the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. With an astounding USD $25 million raised, construction of six new SOS Villages in Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Ukraine and Vietnam is now in process.
Due to the success of "6 villages for 2006", FIFA has once again chosen SOS Children’s Villages to be its official charity partner for the FIFA U-20 World Cup this summer. The biennial tournament, to be held in six cities across Canada from 30 June to 22 July 2007, showcases some of the world’s greatest up-and-coming players and will also serve as a platform to promote this valuable campaign with SOS Children's Villages.
The United Nations estimates that one child is orphaned by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa every 15 seconds, leaving an unprecedented generation of orphaned children behind. These children are frequently victims of psychological trauma, exploitation and abuse, and receive little or no support. Many are forced to live in grandmother- or child-headed households, living in extreme poverty and unable to eat, access health care or go to school.
Funds raised from the official charity campaign "Let's Play, Let's Build" will go towards building homes and creating outreach programmes in southern Africa. Among the construction plans is a new SOS Children's Village in Namibia, which will include a kindergarten and family strengthening programme. A similar programme will also be established in Rustenburg, South Africa, the location of an existing SOS Children's Village funded by the "6 villages for 2006" campaign, and within eyesight of one of the venues of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.
Donations to SOS Children's Villages can easily be made by visiting www.LetsPlayLetsBuild.ca . The interactive website includes games and information about SOS Children's Villages and the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007. It also allows individuals, groups and corporations to create their own customized donor page, where they can set a financial goal and keep track of their progress.
The relationship between FIFA and SOS Children's Villages is a natural fit. Football often plays a positive role in SOS Children's Villages by contributing to the physical and social development of children. It can also teach children sharing and teamwork skills, build confidence, strengthen relationships with peers and give them a sense of safety and security through regular activity.
Established in 1949, SOS Children's Villages is one of the largest international child charities. Operating in 132 countries, SOS provides long-term family-based care for more than 65,000 children who have been orphaned, abandoned or whose families are unable to care for them. SOS Children's Villages commits to the children under its care from infancy to young adulthood, giving them loving homes and supportive communities in which to grow, and the education, training and life skills to allow them to become active, empowered citizens of the future. To help prevent child abandonment, and to aid families struggling within a cycle of poverty and disease, SOS Children's Villages supports another 600,000 children and their families through family strengthening programmes and educational, medical and social outreach initiatives.