15 June 2006

Orphaned and abandoned children from six countries are to benefit from "6 villages for 2006", the official charity of the 2006 Fifa World Cup, which aims to raise €18-million to build and maintain a children's village in South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Ukraine and Vietnam.

Launched by World football governing body Fifa and SOS Children's Villages in 2003, the "6 villages for 2006" campaign calls on football fans around the world to help give 800 orphaned or abandoned children a new home.

Every donation received up until the final whistle of the 2006 World Cup on 9 July will be used to build and maintain the six new villages for five years, as well as to fund additional projects that will benefit an estimated 5 000 children and 1 000 families in surrounding communities.

The campaign is being promoted at all matches at Germany 2006 through field boards, information stands and the T-shirts worn by the children who accompany the players onto the pitch.

During the final match in Leipzig, a two-minute film on the project will be screened, featuring the building of the first SOS Children's Village, as well as footage from Mexico and South Africa.

The partnership between Fifa and SOS Children's Villages was initiated in 1995 by then Fifa president João Havelange, and has since benefited thousands of children worldwide.

Current Fifa president Joseph Blatter has described it as "one of the clearest signals of social responsibility in the world of football".

Former Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe is one of more than 100 football stars that act as official ambassadors for the "Fifa for SOS Children's Villages" partnership in their various countries.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so online at www.6villagesfor2006.org.

SouthAfrica.info reporter and BuaNews

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	SOS Children's Villages is helping to keep children in the game in 132 countries (Photo copyright Katja Snozzi, 6 villages for 2006)

	6 villages for 2006  Fifa

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