SOS Children's Supporters

SOS Children’s supporters all share a commitment to improving the lives of children worldwide and making sure children have a family for life. We are incredibly grateful for their ongoing friendship and support. Here are some of our supporters and their views of our charity:

Kate Humble

Kate Humble is well known for presenting programmes like the BBC's Springwatch and the recent Spice Trail.  She is also the founder of the website www.stuffyourrucksack.com.  Through this website she and her husband Ludo Graham visited the SOS Children's Village Nairobi, Kenya which prompted her to set up the ‘Raise the Roof’ fund: “We took some things that the villagers needed, but we discovered when we got there, that a roof on one of the houses and a water tank had been badly damaged in a storm.  Establishing the fund is a practical response to helping a very worthwhile cause.

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. 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. In 2010, he presented 'Classic Response' for Haiti - a concert at the Royal Albert Hall which raised money for our Haiti Orphan Appeal following the earthquake.

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."

Mo Brandis

London-based Musician Mo Brandis grew up in Germany and Swaziland, Southern Africa. His first album entitled "Mo' Atmosphere" will be released in 2010. 

Mo’s parents run an orphanage and a school in Awassa, Ethiopa and he wrote his song "Live, Love & Learn" after visiting the project. The song features a children's choir from the village of Makibasa. Mo will be using this song to promote SOS Children’s World Orphan Week campaign 2010. You can listen to the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFD5-GvyP60

Mo says “Nobody can change the world alone … but EVERYBODY can make a little contribution to make it a better place”. We’re extremely lucky to have Mo’s talent and energy on board to help us give more orphaned children around the world a home and family for life.