Dirk Bockel: Ambassador for SOS Children’s Villages

Dirk is an ambassador for SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde asbl, and has helped to raise thousands of Euro to help aid their efforts to make the world a better place for children all over the world.  Dirk’s role as the official SOS Ambassador for the Olympic Games in Beijing, led him to raise money for the SOS Village in Tianjin, China.  To read the story and see photos of Dirk’s visit to Tianjin, CLICK HERE.

Be sure to write “DIRK BOCKEL” in the “Remarques” section!

Dirk’s latest project with SOS Children’s Village in Niger (Dosso)

Construction of 6 SOS family houses for 60 children and an SOS Kindergarten for 75 children.

The current situation in Niger

The Republic of Niger is landlocked and borders Algeria and Libya to the north, Chad to the east, Nigeria and Benin to the south, and Burkina Faso and Mali to the west. Its capital city is Niamey. The population of Niger is around 13 million and can be divided into various ethnic groups. The official language is French.  Several factors are causing the rapid desertification of northern Niger. In the Dosso region, where the new SOS Children’s Village will be built, there are a lot of economic migrants who are forced to go and work in other African countries because they cannot find a job in Niger.  Men are migrant and stay away from their families for a long time, and often come back affected by HIV/Aids.

The infection rate is therefore particularly high, and it is continuing to raise rapidly, causing many  Aids-orphans.

The SOS Children’s Village in Niger

SOS-Kinderdorf International has been active in Niger since 1993, when the first SOS Children’s Village opened its doors. The organization is well known and respected and meets all the necessary government requirements. The second SOS Children’s Village is currently being built in Tahoua, 547 km North-East from Niamey, on the road to Agadez. A third SOS Children’s Village will be built in Dosso.

The contribution of SOS Children’s Villages

SOS has committed to financing the construction of 6 family houses for 60 orphans or abandoned children between 0 and 14. The village will also comprise a house for SOS aunts and an administrative building. SOS has, moreover, decided to support the construction of an SOS Kindergarten, which will allow children from the village and from the surrounding community to obtain schooling in a well ran institution. The SOS Kindergarten will have the capacity to welcome 75 children between the ages of 3 and 6. Construction began August 2008.

About SOS Children’s Villages

To learn more about this wonderful organization, please visit their website.

Or check out the SOS Children’s Villages Podcast!