Stand With Ukraine spoke last week at the Camille Claudel comprehensive high school in Mantes-la-Ville, a member of the European Parliament’s network of ambassador high schools, as part of a project funded by the Île-de-France region aimed at raising awareness among young people in the Île-de-France region about the European Union, citizenship, and the issues it raises, particularly in the context of the aggression against Ukraine.

In this school, where general culture and Europe play a central role in the students’ curriculum, we had the opportunity to speak with a class in the first year of secondary school (English/Spanish) and a class in their final year of secondary school. This presentation was perfectly aligned with their educational objectives, providing students with essential keys to understanding what it means to be a European citizen today.

The students were particularly engaged and curious, asking pertinent questions:

  • What concrete contribution could Ukraine make to the European Union?
  • Why did Russia launch this war of aggression?
  • What should we make of the false rumors spread by Russian propaganda about the Ukrainian authorities?

The testimony of Mariia, a Ukrainian student and member of Stand With Ukraine, provided a direct and human perspective on the daily lives of young people in Ukraine during wartime. Her presentation also allowed the students to better understand the deep aspirations of Ukrainians to join the European project and the opportunity that European citizenship represents.

These sincere and insightful discussions demonstrate the interest and maturity of this generation, which is fully aware of the democratic, geopolitical, and human challenges facing our continent.

A huge thank you to the teaching staff at Camille Claudel High School, and in particular Cristelle Rage, a teacher at the high school, for her welcome and commitment, and congratulations to all the students for their active participation, curiosity, and the quality of their presentations.

Stand With Ukraine is proud to contribute to raising awareness and to see these young people from the Île-de-France region tackle such fundamental issues with intelligence and sensitivity.

We warmly thank the Île-de-France Region for its invaluable support, which makes it possible to bring these initiatives to young people.