Skanska sponsors new children’s village in Sri Lanka for child victims of tidal wave

The tidal-wave disaster has left thousands of children with no parents. SOS Children’s Villages has set up 16 emergency aid centers to take care of children in southern India and Sri Lanka. Skanska is now contributing USD 500,000 so that an additional children’s village can be built in Sri Lanka. “The aid needs on Sri Lanka will be exceptionally great for a long time in the future, particularly among children,” says Elisabeth Andersson, Secretary General, SOS Children’s Villages in Sweden. “Accordingly, we are very happy that Skanska contacted us to contribute to the long-term effort.” SOS Children’s Villages is now working with provided the hardest-hit areas in Sri Lanka with temporary housing, clean water, food and medicine at five SOS Social Centers. The organization is working with reuniting families separated from one another and to find relatives to take care of children orphaned by the disaster. However, long-term aid is needed for those children who have no relatives to care for them. Consequently, a new village for 100 to 150 children will be built in Sri Lanka. Work is expected to get under way within three to four months. This will be the sixth children’s village in the country. “Our contribution is earmarked for the construction of a new children’s village on Sri Lanka to contribute direct and long-term assistance to children affected by the disaster,” says Skanska CEO Stuart Graham. “It feels natural to help children on Sri Lanka since through the years Skanska has been involved in many construction projects there.” With Skanska as the main sponsor for the new children’s village on Sri Lanka, employees of the company will also be offered the opportunity to personally support the village in varying ways. SOS Children’s Villages is now also helping about 1,000 affected families in southern India and Sri Lanka so that they can rebuild their lives. This includes providing new fishing boats to those who have lost their boats so that they will again be able to earn money. About SOS Children’s Villages SOS Children’s Villages is today the largest organization in the world providing care for orphaned and abandoned children. Since its founding in Austria in 1949, SOS Children’s Villages has built and operated nearly 450 SOS Children’s Villages in 132 countries. In addition the organization has about 1,100 schools, hospitals, trade schools and youth homes. SOS Children’s Villages is non-governmental organization with no religious connections and works in accordance with the UN’s Children’s Convention. Orphaned and abandoned children are cared for in a family environment in a self-sustaining household. All the children who grow up in a village receive a nine-year compulsory education, followed by advanced education or vocational training. For additional information, visit www.sos-childrensvillages.org. For additional information, contact: Elisabet Andersson, Secretary General, SOS Children’s Villages in Sweden +46 703-78 73 90, e-post: elisabet.andersson@sos-barnbyar.se Caroline Maino, Press Relations Manager, SOS Children’s Villages in Sweden +46 706-84 84 14, e-post: caroline.maino@sos-barnbyar.se Anna Wenner, Press Officer, Skanska AB, + 46 8-753 88 99