SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka launches #childinme campaign

A child from the SOS family

Celebrities with children who share their ‘inner age’

Children at the SOS Children’s Villages in Galle

Children at the SOS Children’s Villages in Monaragala

Children at the SOS Children’s Villages in Monaragala

SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka recently launched the #childinme campaign to mobilise support for thousands of children in need across the country. Poignantly launched in commemoration of World Children’s Day, the digital ‘hope-raising’ campaign is scheduled to run until the end of the year. The campaign calls on members of the public to calculate the age of their inner child, and pledge their support to children of the same age who are part of the SOS family.

To participate in the initiative, simply visit www.soschildinme.lk and enter the two digits that form your age onto the online form provided on the website. The website will then calculate your inner child’s age by adding the two digits together. If you’re 21, then two and one will be added together to determine your inner age – which in this case will be three. Once the calculation has been done, the website will connect you to children across the island who are the same age. You will then have the opportunity to find out more about them, and support them financially by making a payment online, making a donation at the SOS Villages, or volunteering to spend time with them.  

You are also invited to show your support for the campaign, by taking a selfie of yourself holding a piece of paper which has your #childinmeage calculated on it, you can then post it on key social media sites including Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Skype and Twitter along with www.soschildinme.lk as a caption. A series of activities and events will be rolled out as part of the overall digital campaign which has been developed by Leo Burnett Solutions Inc, the local office of the global advertising network Leo Burnett Worldwide.

Commenting on the campaign SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka National Director Ananda Karunarathne stated, “We are proud to invite the local community to join us in our efforts to support children in need across Sri Lanka. By participating in this initiative, you will be able to connect with the children who are part of the SOS Family in Sri Lanka and provide them with financial and emotional support. Your contributions will enable us to care for these children and provide them with an environment in which they can thrive. 

We would like to urge the public to support this initiative and encourage others to be a part of it. At SOS, we believe that family is of paramount importance and plays a crucial role in supporting the development of children and providing them with a sense of belonging. We also believe that the family based care provides children with an opportunity to form life-long relationships with their SOS parents and siblings, learn important values and grow up to achieve their full potential. Being part of a family provides a solid foundation for the rest of their lives. We conscientiously develop our SOS Children’s Villages for children who need alternative care within a loving family, so that they can thrive in tomorrow’s world.”

The SOS Children’s Villages operate in more than 130 countries to support families and help children at risk grow up in a loving home. For more than 60 years, SOS has worked with partners in each community to either help families care for their children or to provide an alternative, for instance an SOS family, in which the love of a carer is essential. Everything SOS does is based on the best interests of the child, and each has an individual development plan. Additionally the SOS Children’s Villages provide practical support in the long term, so that each child or young person can develop resilient relationships and face life’s challenges in the future with confidence.

The SOS Children’s Villages were formed in 1949 and are dedicated to helping children by providing them with loving homes, educational support and care. SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka has been changing children’s lives for 34 years and is planning to celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2016. The organisation has cared for over 42,000 children over the last few decades and focuses primarily on providing children with family based care. This creative and innovative campaign inspires those who can, to connect and care for children in need, as they are the most vulnerable members of society.