It is estimated that there are more than 132 million children worldwide who have been orphaned by disaster, disease or poverty, or abandoned on the streets by their parents.

Our goal during World Orphan Week 2012 (6 - 12 February) is to highlight their plight and help give more children a mother, a home, and a family for life.

By taking part in World Orphan Week 2012, you can make a real difference to the lives of orphaned and abandoned children.

World Orphan Week 2012 is a time to remember and reach out to all those children throughout the world who do not have a family that nurtures and gives them a sense of belonging. Why not take part as an individual, a school, a community group, or work place?

Email emma@soschildren.org to request a fundraising pack for World Orphan Week 2012.

What will I receive when I register?

Once you have registered we will send you a World Orphan Week 2012 Fundraising Pack with all you need to make your event a success.

How will my money help?

The money you raise through World Orphan Week will help SOS Children in our work to give orphaned and abandoned children a family for life and a loving home, as well as in supporting vulnerable families in their local communities.

If you are a UK tax payer please make your donation a Gift Aid donation. You can download a Gift Aid form here.

If you would like to use the money you have raised to begin committed support through the sponsorship of a child or an SOS Children’s Village, please contact us when you make your donation or find out more about child sponsorship.

Olga’s story

“I’ve not had an easy life” says Olga, 33, whose upbringing in rural Belarus was marred by her parents’ alcohol addiction. After getting married life didn’t improve and her husband, who was also an alcoholic, died unexpectedly whilst in prison.

Soon after her husband’s death Olga’s father died of ill-health and a year later, her mother and brother were killed in a house fire. Distressed, and forced to care for three young children alone, Olga found it difficult to cope and found comfort in alcohol. Before long, she too was drinking heavily.

Alcohol dependency rates in Belarus are extremely high and according to official statistics, it is the main cause of early deaths in adults. But today, thanks to the support she has been receiving from the SOS Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) Olga is no longer an alcoholic. She has a steady job and although money is tight, her family is happy, “I’m much better now” she says.

The FSP here has been running since 2004 and helps 54 families, many of whom struggle with alcohol addictions and unemployment. The support the family are given helps them with every aspect of family life. Olga attends weekly parenting classes and they are given monthly food packages as well as access to a counsellor and legal advisor. And Olga’s children are flourishing. They receive extra school support and take part in extra-curricular activities as part of the FSP such as trips to museums and themes parks.

“SOS Children has made a huge difference to my life. I never want to lose their support.”

SOS Children’s FSPs support vulnerable families to prevent child abandonment and greatly reduce the number of children taken directly into the care system. Your support through World Orphan Week 2012 can go towards FSPs currently running all over the world.

SOS Children background

SOS Children has been providing a family for life for children who have lost their parents through conflict, famine, natural disaster, disease and poverty since 1949. Over 78,000 orphaned or abandoned children are cared for by SOS mothers in clusters of family homes in 518 of our unique Children’s Villages, in 125 countries around the world.

 A further million benefit from SOS Children’s outreach support which includes education, vocational training, medical care and community development programmes.

To register for your free fundraising pack for World Orphan Week 2012 email emma@soschildren.org