Orleans, France is providing academic assistance to Hurricane Katrina victims. Orleans officials have offered 60, one-year scholarships to students from New Orleans who want to attend the University of Orleans. The scholarships will pay for tuition, room and board.
Orleans Deputy Mayor Jean-Pierre Gabelle announced the assistance last week while he headed a French delegation that visited Wichita. Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans expressed gratitude for the scholarships and Wichita’s historical relationship with the City of Orleans.
"Wichita and Orleans have a long history," Mayans said. "Because of that relationship, they feel a kinship to help Americans, collectively. The people of Orleans have long been appreciative of our help. They are now seeking to assist the victims of Katrina. This is just one example of how Sister Cities relationships make a difference in the world."
Orleans, France and Wichita share a Sister Cities relationship dating back to World War II. At the end of World War II, soldiers from Kansas liberated Orleans and began a friendship with the French city. That relationship was formalized through a 1974 agreement.
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