Orpheopolis: France's unique orphanage for police children - BBC News

Orpheopolis cares for the children of officers who have died in the line of duty or by suicide.

15 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, OrpheopolisImage caption, Orpheopolis has cared for the children of police for more than a centuryBy Chris BockmanAgde, southern FranceSqueezed between a hospital and a busy dual carriageway heading to France's Mediterranean coast is a discreet, sprawling walled compound that serves as a remarkable haven.

This is an orphanage that has a unique role - and one of a network of three, called Orpheopolis.

All the orphans have lost a mother or father who were serving police officers. Some have lost both.

Around 70 children are housed in each one of the three orphanages. But in total, Orpheopolis provides care for some 1,000 orphaned children. Many are living with a surviving parent or relatives, but still need constant psychological care or financial support.

Their parents have died from numerous different causes: illness, gun and bomb attacks, accidents related to their work, and often from taking their own lives following depression or post-traumatic stress. Between 50 and 70 officers die by suicide each year in France.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68659026

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