On the occasion of the Cartooning for peace exhibition visible in the CDi of the Dhuoda high school from this Friday 6 January, the cartoonist of the press Na! shared with more than 200 students on the fundamental values of freedom of the press and freedom of expression, more and more threatened every day, even in France.
“What better tribute than to host this exhibition in our high school on the eve of the commemoration of the Charlie Hebdo massacre 8 years ago? I was in college at the time. And then over the years I find that, sadly, we tend to forget. So this kind of exhibition is great to remember the importance of freedom of expression and freedom of the press!” , assures Alaïs, a student in BTS at the Dhuoda high school in Nîmes, where she is also the vice-president of the Council of Delegates for the life of the institute. From this Friday January 6, the CDI of the high school of Nîmes takes care of colorful panels that challenge on which many drawings are exhibited. And not just any. Press cartoons that convey strong and sometimes moving messages. From the Cartooning for Peace exhibition (or drawings for peace) and which do not leave high school students indifferent. “The comic already speaks to us more than a 200-page novel!” nods Grégory, a final year student. “It deals with sometimes violent topics very eloquently. We understand right away and while it can be shocking at times, it makes you think straight.”
Do not forget
Same enthusiasm from François Martinez, principal of the Dhuoda. “We are delighted to finally be able to host this exhibition which has been very successful (it has already toured 18 schools in the Gard, ed). (15 days) with the different classes” Cartooning for Peace, in fact, raises awareness with a smile on the great problems of society using the strong educational value of press cartoons. The educational mission has thus been at the center of the association’s activities since its creation A value that the MGEN, co-financer of the project, plebiscites “These exhibitions are as appreciated by the students as by the teachers, who ask us for them from year to year”, rejoices Carole Thérond, the president.
With a smile on his face and irrepressible humor, Na!, cartoonist for the press of BFM TV and Le Monde des adolescents for ten years, is delighted with this day in contact with high school students. On the menu? “I want to explain to them how we make a comic for print. How we imagine it. How we design it and how we stage it. Then they take turns drawing.”
