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Papara Capital:Papeete Area: 4,167 km² Population: 254,000 (December 2000 est.) Ethnic groups: Polynesian (78%), Chinese (12%), local French (6%), metropolitan French (4%) Official language(s): French and Tahitian Religion(s): Christian (Protestant and Roman Catholic) Currency: 1 CFP Franc = 100 centimes Our Facilities The work of SOS-Kinderdorf International in France started in 1956 on the initiative of the about 20 year old teacher Gilbert Cotteau who, after having met the founder of SOS-Kinderdorf International, , built the first French SOS Children's Village in Busigny in the northern part of France and at the same time the very first SOS Children's Village outside Austria. In November 1960, the corner stone of the second SOS Children's Village was laid in Obernai/Alsace, the construction of this SOS Children's Village being completed in 1966. In 1962, the SOS Children's Village Neuville Saint-Remy was erected, followed by those in Marly-les-Valenciennes in 1963, Jarville and Marange-Silvange in 1964. The seventh SOS Children's Village in France was constructed in 1965 in Calais. Other SOS facilities in France are the SOS Children's Villages Marseille (1972), Carros-le-Neuf (1973) and Plaisir (1987). On 6 October 1995, the corner stone of the SOS Children's Village Papara/Tahiti was laid and already in June 1996, the first six SOS families could move to this new facility which was officially inaugurated on 27 September 1996. The most recent SOS Children's Villages in France are Châteaudun and Digne-les-Bains the construction of which was completed in 1999. Apart from these SOS Children's Villages, there are also other additional facilities like three SOS Vocational Training Centres for youths and one SOS Youth Facility. Contact: Villages d'Enfants SOS de Polynésie BP 50385 98716 Pirae - Tahiti Polynésie-Française tel. +689-432-111 fax +689-432-111