A little boy with a candle at Children's Village Valmiera,…
I know it's only November, but already the Christmas lights are in place in town. This is a story about how Christmas is celebrated in Latvia, as told by an SOS mother.
- Lisa
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A candle at Children's Village Valmiera, Latvia.
I know it's only November, but already the Christmas lights are in place in town. This is a story about how Christmas is celebrated in Latvia, as told by an SOS mother.
"I think that Santa visiting the children is an obligatory detail in the Christmas tradition," says Ligita, SOS mother from SOS Children's Village Islice, Latvia."People need to believe in something," she argues. "Only when we believe in a miracle, it can happen."
She says that she still waits for Santa. "Children wait for him despite knowing that he is not real and I'm waiting for him, too."
Christmas is a time when the family is together, the New Year's Eve is too. "During the Christmas-time we talk all together what went well and play games, on New Years Eve we watch more TV and have fun."
The religious background of Christmas is well known for the children in Ligita's family, but it's not the most important meaning for them. "After Christmas the days will be longer again," says twelve-year-old Kaspars, who likes the New Year's celebration more than the quiet Christmas-time.
Children have always written letters to Santa, Ligita observes that "the more the children grow the more modest the wishes become."
Some of the most important traditions of the family are: They bake gingerbread and they believe that all the food must be eaten; otherwise the next year will be not good.
- Mary
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A group of children sheltering under a sheet of plastic in the rain in Bindura, Zimbabwe.
On the 11th of December 2008 SOS Children's Villages Zimbabwe distributed water containers, water purifying tablets and soap to 240 households in the Budiriro suburb of Harare to help deal with the outbreak of cholera there.
SOS Children's Villages Zimbabwe, in partnership with UNICEF, held their first distribution of 20 litre water containers, water purifying tablets and soap, where 240 households received the items which helped them to provide safe water for drinking and cooking.
A member of the city's health department explained how to use the water purifying tablets and shared with the community how to remain safe during this outbreak of cholera. The visiting SOS Children's Villages Netherlands representative, Ms Valerie Jans, posed the question of what the City of Harare Works Department was doing to address the underlying cause of the outbreak which is poor management of sewage and inadequate provision of safe water. The local authority representative was unable to explain what action was being taken to deal with the crisis.
Supply of water by bowser to affected areas is merely short term relief for residents," commented Gary Birditt, director for SOS Children's Villages Zimbabwe.
However, families who received the items were pleased to be in a situation to be able to protect themselves better from cholera after the distribution. Belter Muchongwe said,"I now have a storage for water. I could not afford the [water purification] tablets but now I can clean up with soap and safe water."
Lizzie Madhimba, a widow caring for her children and who is in extremely difficult circumstances expressed her feelings: "SOS you know your job. This is transparent with names so that everyone gets a container. It was difficult since I live next to drains full of sewer. I am happy you gave me tablets to prevent cholera."
Mary Rombedza, a thirteen year old orphan who is being cared for by her elderly grandmother said, "I will put one tablet in container, well done keep it up!!, when I get home my grandmother is going to be happy", demonstrating that she had understood the instructions on how to use the water purifying tablets.
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