France : "Let these kids grow up here!"

Watch the video : http://www.educationsansfrontieres.org/spip.php?article4638
French with English subtitles.

or (hispanic) : "¡ DEJENLOS CRECER AQUI !"
http://www.educationsansfrontieres.org/spip.php?article4694


In primary, secondary and high schools, a large solidarity movement is growing to give support to the children of men and women who are illegal residents and as such are threatened with expulsion.

This movement is primordial for French society : the children in French schools are the nation’s own children, they are the children of the Republic.

Whether in a personal capacity or through associative action, film-makers have been committing themselves to sponsoring and protecting these families who are in precarious situations and even in danger.

The decision to make a collective film rapidly became essential.

To make this film, we turned to the Réseau Education Sans Frontières (RESF) [The Education without Borders Network] and to certain teachers, who introduced us to some of the children of illegal immigrants, known in France as "Sans Papiers” (Illegal immigrants).

With the agreement of their parents, we worked closely with the children in writing workshops. The children described their lives, and compared their experiences. These dialogues produced a text which then became a film. Their film. A simple format using their words and their stories. A story recounting fear and pain.

The children brought all their passion and hopes to the creation of this work.

The hope of seeing an end to this arbitrary situation by which they are labeled as children of Illegal immigrants, children of "sans-papiers" (in french).

The hope of being able to live without the daily fear of being expelled.

The passionate need to learn and grow up in a country which is their country, just as much as it is our country.

These children must be allowed to live amongst us.
Today we must proclaim in all urgency :

Let these kids grow up here !