Children who grow up in poverty often don’t have the opportunity to change their situation or develop their talents. The organisation SOS Children’s Villages helps these very children in need to shape their own futures.

SOS Children’s Villages is a private, non-political and non-denominational child welfare organisation. For 70 years, SOS Children’s Villages has been committed to building sustainable and future-oriented social structures for children and families in need. SOS Children’s Villages operates within the framework of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and is run worldwide.

The SOS Children’s Villages Switzerland Foundation finances SOS Children’s Villages and related programmes around the world, but doesn’t run any facilities in Switzerland as such.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the death of Yehudi Menuhin, the festival organisation has decided to embark upon a humanitarian partnership with the SOS Children’s Villages Switzerland Foundation, the aim being to raise awareness of the deep concerns of the humanist and founder of the festival. Using music as a medium, the event aims to draw attention to the plight and suffering of children.

SOS Children’s Villages is officially listed as a humanitarian partner in all of the festival’s communication material and in terms of the media. In addition, SOS Children’s Villages will be present during the entire festival, running an information stand in the Gstaad festival tent. The organisers hope to trigger many meetings and discussions during the concerts and events.

The crowning glory will be a charity gala following the festival. This will take place on Saturday 7 September. After a concert by the flutist Maurice Steger in the Lauenen church, a formal charity dinner will be held at the Grand Hotel Park.

Based on AvS
Translated by Justine Hewson

Information and registration for the charity gala takes place at www.sos-kinderdorf.ch/gala