Celebrity Couple to Help Poor Families in India

Oscar-nominated actress, Maggie Gyllenhaal and her husband, actor Peter Sarsgaard, are to act as global ambassadors for a new project by international charity organization, SOS Children’s Villages and global lifestyle brand, Esprit.

The aim is to see 140 abandoned Indian children housed and provide support to poverty stricken families to keep them together.

The screen couple will launch a new housing project in Mumbai, India.

In 2008, SOS Children’s Villages and Esprit committed to a long-term partnership to help children in India and worldwide. The focus of this partnership is to prevent children from being abandoned by their parents.

Currently, Esprit supports six SOS Children’s Villages Family Strengthening Projects around Delhi that aim at building capacity in families, improving education, and providing much needed medical services.

In Alibaug, south of Mumbai, a new village has been built with 14 family houses for over 140 children financed by Esprit.

Speaking of their involvement with the project, Maggie said, “Despite the dynamic economic advances India has enjoyed in recent times, it may be hard to accept that India has the largest population of street children in the world with at least 18 million children living or working on the streets of urban India. There are approximately 250,000 in Mumbai alone.”

“It’s a privilege for Peter and myself to join hands with Esprit and promote the remarkable work of SOS Children’s Villages, which for the past sixty years has continued to provide children worldwide; love, security and a nurturing environment that only a family can provide.”

Dr. Christian Gruenler of SOS Children’s Villages, said, “We are honored to welcome both Maggie and Peter as goodwill ambassadors for the opening of the SOS Children’s Village in Alibaug. We were drawn to the couple, as we both share a common commitment to help eradicate child poverty in developing countries.”

The announcement was made Friday, Oct. 1.