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Plagiari Vari Capital: Athens Area: 131,957 km² Population: 10.6 million (December 2000 est.) Ethnic groups: 98% ethnic Greek Official language(s): modern Greek Religion(s): Orthodox Church of Greece Currency: 1 euro = 100 cents Our Facilities The work of SOS-Kinderdorf International in Greece started in 1975 with the foundation of a local Greek SOS Children's Village Association. In January 1979, the construction of the first Greek SOS Children's Village started in Vari, near the Greek capital, Athens. In 1982, 7 of altogether 13 family houses were completed and the first SOS mothers could move into their new homes with their children in the month of August. In June 1992, an SOS Youth Residence was put in operation in Voula near the SOS Children's Village Vari. In this SOS Youth Residence, the young people from the SOS Children's Village stay during their vocational training and higher education in order to be prepared step by step to become independent. In August 1994, the construction of the second Greek SOS Children's Village started in Plagiari, a town which is located at a distance of 20 km from Thessaloniki. The official cornerstone-laying ceremony took place on 24 August 1994. The SOS Children's Village Plagiari was completed in 1998 and on 27 October 1998, the SOS Children's Village was inaugurated. Since 1996, apart from the SOS Youth Residence and an SOS Youth Community, there is another SOS Youth House in Voula for another 24 adolescents from the SOS Children's Village. The most recent project of SOS-Kinderdorf International, an SOS Social Centre, was opened at the beginning of 1999 in Athens. It offers counselling in psychological and pedagogical matters and concentrates on social problems of children, youths and families in general. (available in Greek)