12,000 Orphans are not just for Christmas

This festive season we are proud to be supporting the incredible charity, StreetInvest, and their work with street children around the world.

StreetInvest are a Twickenham-based charity that helps street children by putting trustworthy adults back into their lives. StreetInvest train Street Workers to help to protect these children. Their job is to show the children living on the streets that they have options, to convince them that they are not hopeless or worthless and, most importantly of all, to show them that they are not alone.

[Tweet “Street children are not alone with @StreetInvest”]

This year, StreetInvest have launched a very special Christmas Appeal to support their vital work in Sierra Leone in the aftermath of the Ebola epidemic.

Commenting on the desperate situation in the country, Sir Bob Geldof said, “Frontline work in the local communities of Sierra Leone who have to deal directly with the evil legacy of Ebola for years to come is vital. The 12,000 new Ebola orphans are indeed not just for Christmas. They need on-going support. The Band Aid Charitable Trust is doing its best to help. So can you.”

[Tweet “12,000 Orphans are not just for Christmas – Sierra Leone Appeal @streetinvest”]

Samantha Bond, Christmas Appeal Ambassador, local resident and star of the ITV Downtown Abbey series, said “Christmas must be a time for children. A time when we show our true love and share their delight as they open their presents with all the family. Unfortunately, this is not the case for tens of thousands of street children in Sierra Leone who may be without their parents or guardians this Christmas. For these children the importance of having a trustworthy adult in their lives, especially at this time, cannot be underestimated. It is the support given to them by these local workers that plays a vital part in their future.”

[Tweet “Christmas must be a time for children says @SamanthaBond, @StreetInvest Ambassador”]

Duncan Ross, StreetInvest’s Chief Executive said, “Our partners have registered over 12,000 Ebola orphans who have lost their parents and guardians to the disease. Even before the Ebola outbreak we counted almost 50,000 street children across the country. The memory of Ebola in Sierra Leone may be fading for most of us but not for these children. For many of them Christmas Day is just another day. Perhaps, together, we can make it a little better than that.”

What Can You Do To Help?

This year, as you enjoy your Christmas surrounded by family and friends, spare a thought for the thousands of children who have been orphaned by the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. And for the 50,000 children who already live on the country’s streets.

These children show incredible courage and resilience in the face of a future which looks bleak. Alone, neglected, ignored and abused, Christmas is just another day for these children. StreetInvest passionately believes that no child should grow up alone.

[Tweet “I’m supporting @streetinvest this #Christmas”]

1. Send A Child A Christmas message: [email protected]

Join StreetInvest and their Street Workers this Christmas and offer a glimmer of hope in what must seem such a time of darkness. Sending your message couldn’t be simpler – just click [email protected] and send over your words of support.

StreetInvest will gather together all messages and, in one collective Christmas Greeting, forward them on your behalf to street children in Sierra Leone to show them that they are not alone.

2. Donate To The Incredible Cause Here.

3. Spread the word!

Particularly if you aren’t able to do the above, please at least share StreetInvest’s powerful message. Use the “click to tweet” buttons for quick twitter sharing.

Want to Get More Involved?

Head over to the StreetInvest website for more information and even more ways to get involved. You can make a donation and become a StreetInvest Supporter. Or take a look at the offers page to see what’ll the sponsors (like us) are offering this year to help.