From June 28 to July 1, the children's rights team from the Janusz Korczak Comprehensive School embarked on a special educational trip to Lyon together with the children's rights organization Terre des Hommes . The occasion was the team's 25th anniversary – and the birthday of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the famous author of the world-famous children's book "The Little Prince," who was born in Lyon 125 years ago and later became the namesake of Terre des Hommes due to his commitment to children's rights.
The trip to Lyon started with 16 participants in their luggage - a city that offered the framework for intensive encounters, learning together and exciting insights into history and children's rights.
A highlight was the visit to the Center D'Histoire de la Résistance et de la déportation, a museum that is devoted to the French resistance movement during the Nazi occupation. In an impressive way, the exhibition conveyed the fate of people who were persecuted, deported or murdered - including many children. The visit visibly moved the participants and encouraged conversations about courage, responsibility and the protection of children's rights.
On Sunday, June 29th-Saint-Exupéry's birthday-the group laid 16 red roses at the author's monument on the Place Bellecour. "One for each of us," said one participant. The silent gesture was a sign of connection with the humanistic heritage of the writer, whose work has been inspired by young people worldwide to date.
Another special item on the program followed on Monday: a visit to the town hall of Lyon. There the children and their accompanying persons were welcomed by the mayor's team and were able to receive insights into the municipal work. The Neuss students' commitment was also presented.
In addition to the official program, there was enough time to explore Lyon - with his eventful history, the impressive architecture and French way of life. The trip was not only an appreciation of the past 25 years of child law, but also an outlook on what remains: the common commitment to a child -friendly future - in Neuss, in Europe and beyond.
Report by Aleksandra Konpa, member of the Terre des Hommes Neuss/Düsseldorf group.
Contact: Terre des Hommes Neuss/Düsseldorf group, Udo Hentrich , u.hentrich@remove-this.tdh-verein.de