Capital: Luxembourg
Area: 2,586 km²
Population: 426,000 (December 2000 est.)
Ethnic groups: Luxembourgish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Belgian and German
Official language(s): French, German, and Luxembourgish
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (95%), Protestant (1%)
Currency: 1 euro = 100 cents
SOS Children's Villages' activities in the country
After he had familiarized himself with the SOS Children's Village idea in 1961 and had been invited to the first international Pedagogical Congress of SOS Children's Villages in Hinterbrühl in 1962, Mr. Marcel Nilles established the SOS Children's Village Association "Fondation Lëtzebuerger Kannerduerf" in Luxembourg on 10 July 1963. As a member of the Vinzenz Conference of the Rodingen Parish he was very concerned about the welfare of children in need and was hence familiar with the situation of the orphanages in Luxembourg. In 1965, the SOS Association acquired a property in Mersch, where soon afterwards the SOS Children's Village was constructed. In 1968 the first houses were completed and the first families could move in.
In 1974, Mr. Nilles founded the Promoting Association "SOS-Interfonds A.S.B.L." (now "SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde asbl. Luxembourg") in order to provide worldwide financial support to SOS Children's Village projects. In the 80's the first SOS Youth Facilities were opened in Luxembourg and a programme to support former SOS youths was created. In order to increase the youths' chances for professional integration, training workshops were established.
At the moment there is one SOS Children's Village, one SOS Youth Facility, one SOS Vocational Training Centre and two SOS Social Centres in Luxembourg.
SOS Children's Village websites: