Spurs have the WOW factor!

On Sunday 8 February, World Orphan Week was launched in spectacular style at White Hart Lane, when official SOS partner Tottenham Hotspurs played Arsenal in the North London Derby.

As well as inviting fans to dress up, players warmed up in SOS t-shirts and all staff, from stewards to managers, showed their support by wearing WOW badges. The national press even showed their WOW spirit by wearing purple wigs!

Five of the best dressed supporters were invited pitch-side at half-time to be judged by ex-Tottenham player Gary Mabbutt. Gary spoke of his support for SOS Children’s Villages and the special relationship the Club has built with the Children’s Village in Rustenburg South Africa.

In 2007, the Club announced a four-year partnership with SOS Children, and over the past year and been working on a number of initiatives to support projects in South Africa. The focus of the Club's support has been the funding of a family home in the SOS Children’s Village in Rustenburg. The Club provide ongoing support to the family and recently provided them with a new Computer and digital camera. The 'Spurs House', which is uniquely funded by monies received from player’s fines, now provides five orphaned children in Rustenburg with a family they can call their own.

Earlier on in the week, Michael Dawson and Didier Zokora joined young students at the St Francis de Sales RC Junior School in Haringey this week, taking part in an educational workshop in support of World Orphan Week. Zokora and Dawson assisted Tottenham Hotspur Foundation coaches in delivering a South African-themed education programme, which introduced students to some of the issues facing children in other parts of the world.

SOS Children would like to say a huge thank you to Spurs for their amazing support and for providing such a fantastic start to World Orphan Week.