Exchange Trip

Liberation from Normandy to Paris

The exchange program taking place in France (Normandy and Paris) offers young history enthusiasts the opportunity to delve deep into the historical events that shaped our modern world.

Participants will engage in a variety of creative projects, including video production, podcast creation, and historical storytelling, enabling them to explore and express the human stories behind the conflict.

As the exchange traverses the landscapes where pivotal battles were fought, participants will gain invaluable insights into the war’s legacy. This program isn’t just about learning history; it’s about bringing it to life through modern media. As a participant, you’ll work collaboratively with fellow participants, sharing perspectives and improving your skills in storytelling and digital media.

Whether you’re interviewing locals with personal stories to tell, capturing the essence of historical sites on film, or recording narratives and interviewing people for a podcast, you’ll contribute to preserving these vital memories for future generations. Join us in this educational adventure, and be a part of a living history that continues to resonate today.

On The Agenda

highlights

Arromanches Museum

The D-Day Museum in Arromanches, created in the aftermath of the Second World War, was the first museum to commemorate the Landings. As early as 1945, local councils in the area of the Landings were meeting regularly to coordinate the necessary reconstruction: the Prefect of Normandy was presented with their proposals for urban and regional planning and development, signal monuments and commemorat

Airborne Museum

In the heart of Sainte-Mère-Église, in front of the bell tower on which the parachutist John Steele was hung, the Airborne Museum will make you understand the events of the D-Day since the preparation in England, until the conquest of the freedom!

The Juno Beach Centre

The Juno Beach Centre is Canada’s Second World War museum and cultural centre located in Normandy, France. The Centre pays homage to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the War, of which 5,500 were killed during the Battle of Normandy and 381 on D-Day. Opened in 2003 by veterans and volunteers with a vision to create a permanent memorial to all Canadians who served during the Second W

Liberation Museum in Paris

An essential link in the museum chain, it is designed for research workers and historians, as well as for students, families of veterans, documentarians and others who are interested in this period and looking for archives and information.

Detailed Program

The day begins in Sainte-Mère-Église with a visit to the Airborne Museum, a museum dedicated to the American paratroopers of D-Day. After this experience, the participants will have a work session to start their content production and talk with the museum guide.

In the afternoon, the group heads to the German Cemetery of La Cambe. After visiting the museum, they will walk through the cemetery, where 21,222 German soldiers who died in the Battle of Normandy between June and August 1944 are buried.

On the second day, the group visits the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, a symbolic place of remembrance. This site honors the 9,387 American soldiers who died in the Battle of Normandy and also includes a memorial, a chapel, and a garden of remembrance.

In the afternoon, the participants visit the D-Day Museum in Arromanches, where they learn about the history of the artificial harbor used on D-Day. A work session then allows the group to continue their podcast and deepen their discussions.

On the third day, the group visits the British Normandy Memorial, a commemorative site honoring the 22,442 British and Commonwealth soldiers who fell during the Battle of Normandy. This memorial offers a poignant tribute, with stone columns engraved with their names.

In the afternoon, participants go to the Juno Beach Centre, a museum dedicated to the Canadian forces’ role on June 6, 1944, and the liberation of Normandy. A work session then allows them to continue their content creation and share their thoughts on the day.

On the fourth and final day, the group travels to Paris to visit the Museum of the Liberation, an immersive site retracing the history of the Resistance and the liberation of the capital in 1944. A final work session allows them to complete their content creation, the culmination of their reflections and discoveries throughout the program.

After this enriching visit, the participants share a final meal in a Parisian brasserie, a special moment to reflect on their experience and the highlights of the trip.