Boyd McBride, National Director SOS Canada, Volunteer, and Mr. Pichler
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Mr Pichler attended the ceremonies because SOS Children's Villages has once again been chosen as the Official Charity for a FIFA World Cup event. This year marks SOS Children's Villages 12th 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.
The latest joint campaign between SOS and FIFA is called, "Let's Play, Let's Build", and has 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.
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™.
Colin Linford and Richard Pichler
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At the opening match on July 1st in Toronto, Mr Pichler was joined by the President of the Canadian Soccer Association, Colin Linford; FIFA U-20 Chairman, Jack Warner; and FIFA for SOS Ambassador, Craig Forrest. The Canadian U-20 team was outmatched by Chile, however the players provided an exciting spectacle.
Face Painting at the SOS Children's Villages tent
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Mr Pichler visited the SOS Children's Villages tent at the stadium, which will be present at all matches. The tent was a hive of activity, with many eager fans getting their faces painted, souvenir pictures taken, and learning about the work of SOS Children's Villages from the many volunteers.
Mr Pichler was also pleased to see the young Captain's Escorts on the field. These children won a contest held by SOS Canada, and had the honour to escort the team captain’s on to the pitch while wearing the ‘Let’s Play, Let’s Build’ logo proudly on their jerseys.