The first class of the School of Active Citizenship has gathered in the small village of Le Mas, near Saint-Auban in the Alpes-Maritimes. Until August 12, with the support of the European Commission, the New Ideas Europe association organized a unique educational experience for 12 European teenagers (four Spaniards, four Bulgarians, and four French). An example for the Union of peoples in Europe with an exchange of civic values: “We tackle complex concepts such as human rights and equal opportunities through the study of reference texts like the Charter of Fundamental Rights. We also explore the geopolitical history of the continent and the challenges of European construction,” confides Fabrice Lachenmaier, director of this School of Active Citizenship and Research Engineer at the National Education.
Courses on European Institutions are offered but also history lessons to remind that European countries have a common past.
But nothing boring. The young people, aged 12 to 17, are volunteers. They discover themselves, learn to communicate in English, French, and Spanish. They visit the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, a perfumery in Grasse, the village of Brianรงonnet and spice up their stay with sports activities.
Sunday evening, with the good spirits of these young Europeans, a drink that was supposed to be simple and quick, turned into a big celebration throughout the small village of Le Mas. Pissaladiรจre versus Bulgarian and Spanish specialties, sharing customs: Le Mas became, for one evening, a European capital with discussions certainly less austere than in Brussels.
This school is part of a large project titled “Yes Europa”, coordinated by the Spanish organization Progestia with the Euro Info Centre from Turnovo in Bulgaria and the participation of various organizations like the French Popular Relief of the Alpes-Maritimes, the Scout section of France of Cannet-Rocheville, and the European Movement of the Alpes-Maritimes. It includes, in addition to the creation of the school, the setting up of didactic tools, the organization of various contests, and a symposium in Valladolid to confirm the possible sustainability of the school and the recognition of its training module by the European institutions. An experiment that proves Europe is possible through common education. An example that could perhaps be replicated more frequently in French colleges and high schools with programs focused on European history and student exchanges.
