SOS Chidren's Villages

Wayne Rooney

In October 2005, footballing star Wayne Rooney pledged his support for SOS Children by becoming the FIFA/SOS Children Ambassador for England. Wayne joined the team of over 100 footballing Ambassadors and lent his support for the ‘6 Villages for 2006’ the joint 2006 World Cup campaign between FIFA and SOS Children.

Wayne Rooney continues to be an Ambassador for SOS Children, helping to make sure that hundreds of children can live in a safe and secure home with a new family.

Wayne Rooney says: “The work SOS Children does is for kids who have suffered and have no family to help them. I know how much it means to have a family who supports you, so I am delighted to give my support to these kids”

Phil Spencer

Property expert and TV presenter (Channel 4’s ‘Location, Location, Location’) Phil Spencer became an SOS Children Ambassador in 2007. He travelled to Ghana last year to take part in SOS Children’s World Orphan Week campaign to raise vital awareness of our work worldwide. Phil has shown tremendous energy and commitment in supporting SOS Children and is passionate about improving the lives of vulnerable children. Watch out for his involvement in World Orphan Week 2009!

Phil Spencer says: “I experienced SOS Children’s work in Ghana first hand last year and was truly inspired by what I saw. I am incredibly proud to be supporting SOS Children”.

Alexander McCall Smith

World famous novelist, Alexander McCall Smith, writer of ‘The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency’ series has a very special relationship with SOS Children. He visits the SOS Children’s Village in Tlokweng, Botswana regularly, and has even based one of his characters, Mma Potokwane (the matron of the orphan farm); on one of our SOS staff members! Every year, Alexander McCall Smith returns to Botswana and never misses the chance to meet with the staff and the children at our Village in Tlokweng.

Alexander McCall Smith says:”What impresses me most is that every child gets unconditional love. It is the most extraordinary feeling every time I come here”

Georgie Henley

We are delighted to welcome Georgie Henley, who plays Lucy Pevensie in the 'Chronicles of Narnia' film series, as our latest WOW Ambasassdor.Georgie Henley reprised her Narnia role in the sequels, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, and the future The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (due out in 2010). Georgie Henley is part of the Ilkley Upstagers' Theatre Group and since the release of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe she has appeared in the stage play Babes in the Wood at her local theatre group and also appeared as the young Jane Eyre in the 2006 BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre.

Georgie says: 'I can't imagine not having my family. To not have that support and love would just be so awful. Family is the most important thing in my life. That's why SOS Children is so important to me too. Every child deserves the same support and care that I have. So it means a lot to me to be involved with SOS Children'

Prunella Scales and Timothy West

Veteran actors, Prunella Scales and Timothy West, have supported SOS Children for more than 20 yeas. Prunella (best known for her role as Basil Fawlty's long-suffering wife Sybil in the British comedy Fawlty Towers) and Timothy (a film, stage and television actor) are loyal in their commitment to helping us make sure more children can be given a family and home.

Prunella Scales says: "The wonderful thing about SOS Children is that it helps with almost every aspect of the children's needs. Yes, it provides them with food and shelter, but it's also there to help with their education and to cope with emotional trauma."

Operababes

Karen England and Rebecca Knight, better known as the Operababes, have supported SOS Children since 2005. To date they have been incredibly dedicated in raising awareness of our work, including appearing at Classic Response, a concert held at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of SOS Children which also featured many classical artists including Aled Jones, G4 and Russell Watson.

In 2006, the girls travelled to Sri Lanka to visit our projects and have since then been proud supporters of our work.

The Operababes say:

“SOS Children provides a home in every sense of the word for kids who have lost everything and would otherwise have very little hope. We are proud to be Ambassadors of SOS Children”

Simon Reeve

Simon Reeve, presenter of the BBC travel documentaries, 'Equator' and 'Tropic of Capricorn', pledged his support for SOS Children earlier this year.

Following the success of BBC Two's ‘Equator’ - which charted a 25,000 mile spherical journey around the world, Simon Reeve and his team recently completed a journey along the Tropic of Capricorn, during which they visited SOS Children’s Village Tlokweng, Botswana.

Simon Reeve says: "SOS is a fantastic charity helping huge numbers of vulnerable and orphaned children around the world. I recently visited one of their Children's Villages in Tlokweng, Botswana, and was struck by the warm, friendly, and - perhaps most important - family atmosphere. They deserve our support"

Craig Owen

In 2005, British violinist Craig Owen appeared at Classic Response, a concert held at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of SOS Children. Craig produced his first solo album 'The Romantic Touch' in 2007 and his second album 'The Classical Touch' in 2008. We are very excited to have Craig on board and look forward to seeing him use his talents for the benefit of our children.

Craig Owen says: 'I'm extremely excited to be supporting such an incredible charity"

Leee John

British jazz musician Leee John (well known for forming soul band 'Imagination' in the early 1980’s) is one of SOS Children’s most creative and loyal supporters. Leee visited our projects in Cape Town, South Africa in 2005, in order to film a documentary about our projects. He subsequently wrote a book called ‘From Within the Heart’ about his experiences. Leee is an active supporter, regularly involved in holding concerts and fundraising events in order to raise our awareness. For example, most recently, Leee visited SOS Children in France.

Leee says: “From within my heart I feel the urgent need to help others who are less fortunate than myself in any way I can. SOS Children gives me this opportunity. The work they do inside and outside the charity is a TRUE inspiration”

Aled Jones

In 2006, Welsh singer and TV presenter Aled Jones visited Sri Lanka to see how SOS Children was helping tsunami-affected children and their families.

Aled says: “I was deeply moved by what I saw in Sri Lanka and SOS Children is a remarkable organisation. It’s all about hope”

Mick Hucknall

Mick Hucknall, lead singer of Simply Red has been a long-term supporter of SOS Children.

He says: "I support SOS Children because it exists to provide homes, support, education and a chance for a normal life to orphaned children. If you feel able to, I would encourage you to make a donation to this charity, however small - just a few pounds will make all the difference to a child in need. If you can make a regular donation please consider sponsoring a child, and help to ensure his or her future."

Richard Attenborough

Lord Richard Attenborough has been a friend of SOS Children for many years. During his visit to SOS Children's Village in Cape Town in 1999 he addressed the children saying,

"We are responsible for your well-being, and we promise to do our best to achieve it."

Stephen Hawking

Leading physicist Professor Stephen Hawking has been a supporter of SOS Children for many years and sponsors an SOS Child in Vietnam.

Professor Stephen Hawking says: "In 1997 we visited our SOS daughter in Hanoi, Vietnam and were very impressed by the love and stability given to the children living there."