World Orphan Week (WOW) began in the UK in 2005, and is owned by SOS Children's Villages UK. It is a week developed to raise awareness for the needs of orphaned and abandoned children around the world. World Orphan Week is a week for groups and individuals to volunteer their time and fundraise to support programs that can support these children in need. This event is growing in popularity with launches in the UK, the US, and Canada. SOS Children's Villages invites schools, community groups, individuals and anyone interested to form their own fundraisers for the campaign.