NHS Wales Informatics Service (NWIS) has chosen SOS Children's Villages as its charity of the year. This was after two members of staff, Alan Owens and Neil Kitching, visited Lesotho to deliver IT and data training. Whilst over there, they identified a community learning hub based in an SOS Children's Village that needed financial support to complete and make functional.
SOS Children's Villages began working in Lesotho in the 1980s, distributing food and medical supplies as part of an SOS Emergency Relief Programme. Since HIV/AIDS remains one of the country's most striking public health concerns, the organisation has specifically supported families affected by the disease. Currently, they are supporting young people and children by providing day care, medical assistance and education in two different locations. When children can no longer stay with their families, they are cared for by their SOS mothers in one of the SOS families.
Before the pandemic, a charity cycle event was being organised to take place in July to raise money for SOS Children’s Villages. Because of the change in circumstances caused by the pandemic, this became a virtual event that everyone could participate in, in any way that they chose. The aim was to complete the circumference of Lesotho 30 times (16,950 miles). Staff were asked to donate, and then walk, run or cycle as many miles as possible throughout July. Everyone taking part was encouraged to nominate 5 other people to get involved.
Together, we managed to raise an impressive £1,770 and completed 11,780 miles through a mixture of walking cycling and running. The money raised will go to SOS Children's Villages, who will use it to begin developing a community learning hub based in the children’s village in Lesotho.
If you didn’t get a chance to donate, there’s still time. Visit the JustGiving page to contribute.