October 18 2011

Opening of 14th SOS Children's Village in France

18/10/2011 - On 8 October, a new SOS Children's Village was opened in Persan, a community in the Val-d'Oise department in Île-de-France, 30 km north of Paris. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the children and staff of the SOS Children's Village Persan, by institutional partners, business partners and donors.

Photo: SOS Children
Big day for the children from the SOS Children's Village in Persan - Photo: SOS Children's Villages France
The SOS Children's Village of Persan was initiated at the request of the General Council of Val d'Oise to meet a real need: high-quality, family-based alternative care for children and especially siblings whose difficult family situation requires an alternative care setting. This is the mission of SOS Children's Villages: providing a stable home in an SOS family, where brothers and sisters grow up together under the protective and reliable care of an SOS parent.

49 children have now opened a new chapter in their lives in an SOS Children's Village, which is located in the town of Persan in a residential area of 90 units. The SOS Children's Village has ten family houses who all meet the characteristics of "low-energy building".

Mr Pierre Pascal, president of SOS Children's Villages France, said: "An SOS Children's Village is a place full of life (...) I would like to thank the tens of thousands of donors who have enabled the realisation of this great deed through their generosity and loyalty. And I would like to express our gratitude to the corporate partners who have accompanied this project, as did their employees and customers who proved a deep sense of solidarity (...)."

Photo: SOS Children
Photo: SOS Children's Villages France
Mr Philippe Cousin, mayor of Persan, recalls "the unanimity of the council of the City of Persan" about the project and that there is a good partnership between the City and the SOS Children's Village: "Everything is organised to receive all children in school classes in the city."

Mr Arnaud Bazin, President of the General Council of Val d'Oise (former mayor of Persan) said to Mr. Pierre Pascal: "Thank you for having enriched the City of Persan with this heritage of solidarity, with this heritage of humanity. We are proud on having provided the right conditions! Thank you!"