Thionville. La Milliaire schoolchildren made aware of freedom of expression thanks to press cartoons

The association Draw Create Freedom was born the day after the 2015 attacks. It was founded by Charlie Hebdo and SOS Racisme and has given itself the mission of offering education in the media, press cartoons and citizenship. The action of this association was born from the need to introduce young people to satire and caricature but also to offer educational tools to teachers, educators, youth leaders in order to open the debate and dare to approach topical themes, without taboos.

Invited as part of the Politéïa festival of ideas, which will be held in Thionville from March 16 to 19, Séverine Teillot and Mathieu Dumur were at La Milliaire college on March 2 and 3. Students of 4^e were able, thanks to them, to learn more about caricatures, press cartoons but also to become aware of the importance of freedom of expression. According to the projected images, they were able to express themselves on terrorism, religion, but also secularism. The slogan I am Charlie was also explained to them.

I am Charlie

“Remember this gathering eight years ago: four million people were in the streets and carried signs on which was written I am Charlie “said Mathieu Dumur. The two-hour pictorial intervention aimed to demonstrate the importance of freedom of expression but also that unity is strength. “Violence is useless. We have the right not to like or to agree, we can discuss it without resorting to arms. The principal of La Milliaire college said she was delighted with the initiative. “The messages transmitted awaken the consciences of young people. They sensitize them. We regularly try to do this in class, but with outside speakers, the impact is always stronger, ”says Christiane Debellis. For the organizers of Politéïa, it was essential that the festival also reach young people, “because the notion of freedom concerns everyone”, repeated Pascal Didier.