May 17 2002
Eurovision contestants on tour at SOS Children's Village Keila
17/05/2002 - A number of contestants performing at this year's 47th Eurovision Song Contest on 25 May in Tallinn will visit SOS Children's Village Keila, located near the Estonian capital. The children and the Eurovision contestants will have a number of opportunities to demonstrate their talent in the days running up to the musical event, attracting considerable media interest.
Swedish group Afro-dite and the Bosnian singer Maja Tatic are expected to visit the SOS Children's Village, which is located 30 km south west of the Estonian capital Tallinn, on 21 May. A party for and with the children is also planned.
On the following day, the Danish Eurovision contestant, Malene W. Mortensen, will make an appearance in Class 4 at the SOS Hermann Gmeiner School. Malene will perform her song "Vis Mig, Hvem Du Er" (Tell me who you are) with the children and bring a surprise present. The musician Karolina from Macedonia will visit SOS Children's Village Keila on 23 May. Of course, music will also be at the forefront of this visit and the children will, as the smaller contestants representing Macedonia (only informally, of course!), aim to put on their best performance for their guest.
Eurovision contestants from Spain, Austria and the host country, Estonia, are also expected to visit the village, but arrangements have not yet been fixed.
All of the visits will attract considerable media interest and should create excellent publicity for the work of SOS Children's Villages both in Estonia and the respective countries.
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Thanks, above all, to the energetic support of the Scandinavian SOS Children's Village Associations, Estonia's first SOS Children's Village was established in the small town Keila, situated 30 km south west of Tallinn, in 1993. In spite of relatively low unemployment and high economic growth, the country has far-reaching social problems. More than 2,000 children, who are unable to live with their parents, living in state-run homes are one of the consequences. The commitment of SOS Children's Villages has been warmly welcomed by the Finnish population. In addition to the village, which includes twelve family houses, a kindergarten, primary school and youth facility have also been built.