SOS Children's Villages Hosts Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in Jordan

Oct. 20, 2009 - PRLog -- Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt visited SOS Children's Village Amman on October 1 at special invitation from Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan.  While Ms. Jolie had already visited the village in 2003, committing to covering the running costs of one family house, it was the first time Mr. Pitt had ever been to an SOS Children's Village.

The children and mothers of the SOS Children's Village in Amman were overjoyed to receive a visit from the very special friend, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and Academy Award winner, Angelina Jolie.  The couple stated that their family was having a wonderful time in Jordan.  Ms. Jolie also said, "The SOS model of providing care for children without parental care is one of the best, as they are still in a family setting within their own country. We hope more people learn about their programs and give them support."

Her Majesty Queen Noor Al Hussein, Honorary Chairman of SOS Children's Villages in Jordan, introduced the SOS Children's Villages model to the country in 1983 and has worked tirelessly to help SOS flourish in Jordan ever since. Ms. Jolie acknowledged Queen Noor's ongoing humanitarian work in helping refugees, stating, "We are very grateful to her Majesty Queen Noor for all she has done for displaced Iraqis since 2003 and appreciate the dedication of King Abdullah and Queen Rania to their incredible humanitarian initiatives."

In 2007, Angelina Jolie visited SOS Children's Villages' trauma therapy center at the Oure Cassoni refugee camp in Chad, one of twelve camps providing shelter, food and treatment for severely traumatized women and children who have escaped the horrors of Darfur. Ms. Jolie wanted to see the situation with her own eyes and make the international community aware of the plight of the people from Darfur.  A few months later, SOS Children's Villages was one of three agencies working in Chad who shared a one million dollar donation from the Jolie/Pitt foundation.

Ms. Jolie was named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in 2001 and has visited refugee camps all over the world to raise public awareness for the plight of displaced persons in regions of conflict.  In 2006, she created the Jolie/Pitt Foundation together with Brad Pitt, which donates money to humanitarian organizations seeking to relieve human suffering.

SOS Children's Villages is privileged to count such a dedicated humanitarian among its supporters and hopes to be able to welcome Ms. Jolie and her family again very soon.

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SOS Children's Villages is the largest charity dedicated to orphaned and abandoned children with nearly 500 villages in 132 countries worldwide. http://www.sos-usa.org