South Asian Friends of SOS Children's Villages

 

Founded by former SOS Canada Board Member Tahira Haque, The South Asian Friends of SOS Children’s Villages Canada first began its fundraising for SOS Children’s Villages in 2000.

In 2006 this group, of prominent members of Toronto, Ontario’s South Asian Community, wanted to take their fundraising one step further.

Lead by Chairperson Cyma Musarat, the organizing committee has created a very special annual event entitled the Marigold Gala.  Each event has been filled with wonderful cultural and pop music, rich delicacies and fabulous couture. More importantly, each event made it clear to all attending why they were there: for the orphaned and abandoned children being raised by SOS Children’s Villages!

The 2009 Marigold Gala was held in Toronto on the elegant grounds of the Punjani family’s residence.  Despite the dire forecasts and thunderstorms that surrounded Toronto, well over a 100 friends and supporters turned out to enjoy a wonderful afternoon of exceptional music, exquisite food, and a silent and live auction, both packed with fantastic prizes.  It was an afternoon enjoyed by all and as they say, “all for a great cause’.

Proceeds from the 2009 Marigold Gala supported the following projects:


SOS Namibia, Ondangwa

 

Ondangwa
Ondangwa children arrive in new SOS Village
Ondangwa, Namibia, located in Southern Africa has been devastated by the HIV/Aids pandemic.  In response to the increasing number of orphaned and abandoned children in the region, SOS Children's Villages Canada has pioneered the first "All Canadian" funded SOS Village in the country’s northern region. 

 

This new SOS Village, named The Green Family SOS Children’s Village Ondangwa after the sole funders of its construction consists of 12 family homes to raise 120 children. Together with an SOS Family Strengthening Programme supporting the local community, we hope to lessen the devastation of HIV/Aids, prevent further child abandonment, and give back childhood and hope for productive futures to hundreds of extremely vulnerable children.


SOS Pakistan: Rebuilding SOS Muzaffarabad

 

Pakistani
Pakistani boys
Emergency relief continues for victims of the October 2005 Earthquake disaster. SOS focused on caring for children who were left on their own and building two new SOS Villages to raise them in Rawalakot and Muzaffarabad (the latter was newly completed when the earthquake hit, resulting in its total destruction).

 

Thousands of earthquake victims have been assisted by SOS emergency work. Over 200 children who were orphaned during the earthquake, are now in the care of SOS Pakistan, temporarily living in SOS family homes and Youth Homes in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Sialkot as they await completion of the two new SOS Children’s Villages. 

 

See the photo gallery from the 2009 Marigold Gala