SOS Children’s Villages is proud to count Angelina Jolie as one of its most dedicated supporters. As the orphan crisis unfolds in Haiti, SOS calls for all organizations to come together to make the right short-term and long-term decisions for children without parental care.

In this recent statement to the public, Angelina Jolie expressed her support of SOS Children’s Villages:

We are all wondering how to help the people of Haiti and how to reach the most vulnerable. With 500 villages in 132 countries, SOS offers a family-based village model that provides for the holistic needs of a child — a caring parent, family, community, education and support.

SOS is the largest organization in the world that addresses the issue of children without parental care. SOS has been in Haiti for over three decades, now raising over 300 orphaned and abandoned children and caring for 4,000 more impoverished children and families to help prevent child abandonment.

That was before the earthquake. Now the needs for orphaned children are almost incalculable. SOS has been pulling resources together to provide temporary shelter for unaccompanied children, safe areas for mothers, and food, medicine, trauma counselling, and reunification programs for families and children.

SOS was there before the earthquake, and during it — but most importantly, SOS will be there for many years to come — to raise these children, in their communities until they are self sufficient adults.

As a long time supporter of SOS, I have visited many of these unique villages personally. I can vouch for their commitment and care for the children. As the Haiti situation unfolds, and we all focus in on ways to help these desperate children — I ask you to please learn more about and consider supporting SOS Children’s Villages.”

Heather Paul, CEO of SOS Children’s Villages – USA, said: “Having Ms. Jolie’s endorsement means a great deal. She has seen our work over the years firsthand — from Darfur refugee camps to rural areas of Africa and the Middle East. And her recent support of our foster care programs in the US means that Angelina understands the complex picture of children without parental care around the world.

Her support bolsters the global spirit of the SOS family. With over a half-century of experience, SOS is there before the tragedy, during the tragedy, and long after the cameras have gone home. So is Angelina Jolie.”

Source: SOS USA