SOS Chidren's Villages

What is WOW? WOW stands for World Orphan Week - an annual fundraising event during which everyone is invited to have fun and help orphaned and abandoned children by 'wearing something WOW' for one day and donating £1 to SOS Children, the world's largest orphan charity. By participating in World Orphan Week, and encouraging others to do so, you can help SOS Children give orphaned and abandoned children a new mother, home and family for life! Register online NOW for you free fundraising pack.

100% of donations go directly to SOS Children – a charity whose main aim is to help children whose parents are not there for them: AIDS orphans, street children, child soldiers and children orphaned by war, poverty, illness or natural disasters. Traditionally, we provide children with a home, a family and a new mother in a purpose-built local Village. We currently run 473 of these unique SOS Children’s Villages caring directly for more than 70,000 children in 123 countries worldwide. In places where there is a high rate of child abandonment, we also run programmes to help strengthen more than one million vulnerable families and keep them together.

It couldn't be easier to get involved in WOW. Simply encourage your pupils, colleagues and friends to get children wearing something WOW for a day in exchange for a suggested donation of £1. Get them to dress up as their favourite super-hero, wear their mum’s clothes, decorate their school bag or pencil case, make their own hat – anything as long as it shouts: ‘WOW’!

A whole host of celebrities have given their support for WOW including 'Chronicles of Narnia' actress Georgie Henley; TV presenters Phil Spencer, George Alagiah and Louise Minchin; fashion icon Vivienne Westwood and rising star Jordan Parkinson. Check out our Celebrity Supporters page to find out more!

Who can WOW?

Everyone is invited to get involved in World Orphan Week – but we are particularly encouraging children of all ages to participate. By ‘wearing something WOW’ children are not only inspired to be creative and have fun, but are also empowered to make a difference to the lives of children who are less fortunate than themselves.

WOW provides children in the UK with an opportunity to learn about other countries, cultures, religions and ways of life. For schools taking part, teachers can combine WOW with one of our lesson plans which enables a real connection with issues on the school curriculum such as the sub-Saharan AIDS pandemic, child soldiers and child labour. We can provide schools with information and resources, from country and Village specific profiles, photos and lesson plans to help make participation in WOW both fun and educational.

Why should children WOW?

It’s easy – online to receive your free pack!

When is WOW?

The next World Orphan Week takes place from 9-15 February 2009 but it’s not too early to put it in your diary, click here and register for your free fundraising pack.

Who will WOW help?

Every penny raised during WOW goes directly to SOS Children, the world’s largest orphan charity. We provide a family and a home for children who have lost their parents through war, famine, disease or poverty. Every penny you raise helps us to help even more children. Find out more about what we do.

How to WOW

For more information about taking part in 'wear something WOW' have a look at our section for Schools and Groups, they are packed full of inspiring ways for everyone to take part - companies, clubs, individuals, nurseries, schools and colleges!
You can also register online your free fundraising pack.

WOW 2008…

World Orphan Week 2008 was a great success with thousands of people supporting the appeal in the UK and even as far a field as Australia! We are so grateful to all of our supporters old and new who took part, raised lots of money and helped to spread the word. We hope you will all be joining in the fun again in February 2009.