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So our Amazing thinking, laughing, frustrating Race for Charity is almost here! In fact, it’s in exactly 4 days time. We are running around like mad trying to get everything sorted for the day and that includes our own Halo identity which is pretty close to done as I wrote last week.

The start of the 2009 event

What I really wanted to blog about though is the SOS Children’s Villages which for the 4th time, will be receiving the funds generated from our event. I had originally had a few recommendations about the way they were run so we decided to select them for the proceeds. It was only recently that I found out more about it and last week I was invited to go have lunch at the village in Ennerdale, south of Joburg.

My initial expectation was it was a well-run orphanage. But I was gladly mistaken. SOS is run like no other charity I have ever seen before. I urge you to read this summary about what I learnt about SOS (I am not 100% certain about all the facts but it gets the message across):

• There are 8 villages in SA.
• Each “village” consist of approximately 15 houses.
• Each house has a “mother” who is an amazing person who has dedicated her life to SOS.
• Each house under a “mother” will receive kid placements from newborn to about the age of 8.
• Each house will get about 8-10 kids and this is where it gets interesting.
• These kids then begin to form a family, and live as a family under their “mother” and I must be honest, are a pretty normal, large family.
• The “mother” runs the household like she wants and she cooks and shops and the kids do homework and go to school and have chores to do.
• The “mother” gets an allowance from SOS which she uses to run the household and even gives the kids pocket money.
• Most impressively is that these kids emerge as normal as can be and lots of them often return to visit their “mothers” who soon become “grandmothers” and host their grandkids for Sunday lunches! Awesome!

One such boy who was in the home from 8 years old was a guy called Tinto. Tinto and his 4 siblings were brought into SOS whereby they were all placed into one house under a mother in the village in Mamelodi so they could be together. Tinto excelled at the school they sent him to and was sent to the SOS College in Ghana whereby he was offered a scholarship to Oxford. To spend more time with his siblings and mother and as the oldest brother, he decided to rather go to UCT where he graduated with an honours degree in finance, and is currently working at Anglo Plat.

Tinto isn’t the only story like this from SOS, loads of kids have been successful after given the chance they needed from such a fine organisation. Tinto, however, is going to be attending the Amazing Race on Saturday and I am really looking forward to meeting and hosting him at the event.

I know that SOS makes magic with every cent they receive and I am proud to run an event of this nature that goes to such an awesome cause. If you haven’t already entered the race or want to know more about SOS please check out our event page on facebook with all details for the race this saturday, the 27th March at the Baron in Sandton. Even if you want to come for a drink and check out all the ridiculous costumes, it’s well worth it, so pop round between 12:00 an 13:30.

Have a good one, it’s a 4 day week so we have to work 20% harder!