SOS Children's Villages Canada announced today long-term, sustainable initiatives to help children and families rebuild their lives following the tsunamis in Southern Asia.
FIND THE FAMILY: SOS will provide up to 10,000 children who have lost or been separated from their parents with shelter, food, clothing and other daily needs, while actively working with other aid organizations and governments to reunite these children with their families. By January 3, 2005, SOS had more than 6,000 of these children in its care in child relief centres in India and Sri Lanka.
REBUILDING LIVES: SOS will help families deal with the devastation and trauma as they work actively to restore their livelihoods:
- Families will receive financial aid as well as daycare and schooling for their children.
- Families will receive aid to set up simple housing and purchase equipment to earn income. Since many of the affected families worked in the fishery, boats and nets must be replaced as quickly as possible. Fishing boats are already on order and small cooperatives of 10 to 12 families each have been organized to share boats.
- Families will receive financial support to guarantee children a stable environment and ensure a steady income for their parents. The program will also focus on strengthening single parent families through a three-year program comprising educational, nutritional and health support.
A central focus will be to help children deal with trauma. "These children have faced destruction and death; many have been separated from their families; while others have lost their parents and their homes," said Michael von Herff, Chairman of the Board of SOS Children's Villages Canada. "Our SOS staff are trained to understand the causes and impacts of childhood trauma, and they continue to develop their skills and competencies in these areas."
Mr. von Herff was accompanied by Senator Jim Munson to launch SOS Children's Canada's RELIEF TO REBUILDING Campaign to raise funds for the international child welfare organization's programs. "I was able to witness first hand on a recent visit to China the essential work this organization does," explained Senator Munson.
"While the high standard of the facilities and services which SOS provides is impressive, I was most struck by the exceptional skill, caring and commitment demonstrated by SOS staff at every level." Long-term relief programs now either in operation or advanced stages of planning will total over $16 million.