SOS Children's Village Papara

The SOS Children's Village Papara is located in the town of the same name in the southwestern part of Tahiti. French Polynesia is composed of 120 islands which can be divided in five archipelagos. Tahiti (capital city Papeete) with its approx. 116,000 inhabitants is the largest of the so called Windward Islands that together with the Leeward Islands build the Society Islands' archipelago. Tahiti is part of France since the middle of the 19th century and in 1946 became a French Overseas Territory (Territoire d'outre-mer) having its own Regional Assembly and being represented in the French National Assembly. The town of Papara has approx. 8,000 inhabitants and is situated at a distance of 35 km from Papeete.

The SOS Children's Village Papara, at the foot of the Tearatapu mountain and located between a residential area and a public school, consists of twelve family houses, the house of the Village Director and a community centre for social activities. It was inaugurated on 27 September 1996 and is giving a loving home to a number of about 70 children.