After an intensive three‑day training session for the local team at the end of February, the urban sessions officially began with students on March  9 at the Citadel of Marseille. In total, 150 students from Marseille’s middle schools Joséphine Baker, Stéphane Mallarmé, Ariane Ascaride, Privé Belsunce, Adolphe Thiers, and the Cité Scolaire Internationale Jacques Chirac, will take part in this unique project through March  27.

Long closed to the public, this former military fortress, built in the 17th century by order of Louis XIV, has gradually been reopened and transformed into a heritage‑focused community hub for living, creation, and culture. It is managed by the association La  Citadelle de Marseille (part of Groupe SOS), whose mission is to restore the site in partnership with the social integration organization Acta Vista, open its spaces to the public, and turn it into an inclusive place dedicated to learning, art, and collaboration.

True to the spirit of the project, the sessions invite students to explore urban sites of memory, decode historical traces, and engage in discussions around contemporary issues such as discrimination, inequality, and cultural diversity.

The students will continue the project in partnership with Aix‑Marseille University, where they’ll edit the audiovisual materials for their films and later present their work during a final showcase on April 30.