We thank everyone that supported these fundraising activities organized by and supported by the Miss Universe Canada current and past delegates.


TORONTO - BUILDING HOPE WITH BEAUTY

CALGARY - HELPING HANDS FUNDRAISER: Sunday, April 26th

MONTREAL - FASHION FOR CHARITY: Thursday, April 30th

VANCOUVER: Saturday, April 25th
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-LEARN , REACT, GIVE, INSPIRE…-

This is the motto that motivates the individuals behind the S.O.S. Villages in Nicaragua as well as the American Nicaraguan Foundation to pursue the eradication of extreme poverty and promote social sustainability and change in Nicaragua.

The Miss Universe Canada 2009 Delegates in 4 of the main Canadian Cities have put together events in an effort to put these four words into play.

At the end of May 2008, five Miss Universe Canada contestants including the reigning Miss Universe Canada Samantha Tajik were honored to be apart of a goodwill trip of a lifetime to the beautiful country of Nicaragua.

Traveling from one village to another they saw the beauty of the country's agriculture and scenery but most importantly the kind and welcoming nature of the Nicaraguan people. In addition to the beauty of this Central American country, the volunteers were also exposed to the grueling reality of the living conditions in Nicaragua. They visited the S.O.S. Village in Managua, many orphanages in Managua and Granada, housing projects in Ciudad Sandino, Mateare, Nandaime and Jinotepe, a number of schools in addition to other experiences which allowed them to see first hand how much benefit the S.O.S. Village and the ANF has brought to Nicaragua yet enabled them to understand that much more help is still needed.

According to the World Food Program is considered to be one of the 14 countries in the world with an increasingly precarious food security situation. 45% of children in Nicaragua suffer from one kind of nutritional deficiency or another, with northern departments like Matagalpa being hardest hit. With a population of roughly 5.7 Million there are only 35 public hospitals which means about 3.8 doctors in the public sector for every 10,000 people.

The 2004-2005 school year alone saw 200,000 children enrolled in the primary and secondary public school system withdrawn from classes by their parents citing lack of jobs and financial difficulties as their main reasons a great number of parents in Nicaragua have difficulty paying for food, let alone school supplies. Even though abundant in beauty and natural wonders, it is painstakingly clear that Nicaragua is ill prepared to face problems of famine, under-education, social marginalization, and human underdevelopment.

To learn more about the SOS Villages work in Canada and around the world, please visit their official website in CANADA. and to lear about the ANF, please visit their website by clicking here.