The educational initiative Route to Exile is set to celebrate its fourth edition this summer, continuing its mission to provide an immersive educational journey through significant historical sites to young individuals aged 16 and 17. This year’s route will traverse Navarre, Catalonia, and the South of France from July 15 to July 27, and will count with the participation of 30 youngters from all over Spain.
Organised by Spains’ Youth Institute (INJUVE) in collaboration with the Navarre Youth Institute (INJ), the Navarre Institute of Memory, and the European Observatory on Memories of the University of Barcelona’s Solidarity Foundation, the expedition Route to Exile offers a two-week journey through key locations tied to the Spanish Republican exile. The program includes training workshops designed to help participants develop creative projects focusing on three main themes: exile, memory, and national/migrant identity.
The project aims to create expansive spaces for reflection, creativity, research, and learning about exile, while simultaneously promoting civic engagement, active participation, and respect for diversity among the youth.
This year’s theme, Archaeology of a Pocket, centers on everyday objects such as suitcases, coins, or pencils, which during the war and in exile, held significant symbolic meanings beyond their practical uses. These small items, imbued with personal memories, often marked pivotal moments in their owners’ lives.
Free Participation for Up to 30 Young People
‘Route to Exile 2024’ is open to young people from across the country, with participation being completely free for the selected candidates. Participants must be fully available for the program dates. The registration period closed on June 2, 2024, and the list of selected participants is available online.
To apply, candidates submited a two-minute presentation video and a creative project proposal focused on the materiality of memory. The selection process assessed applicants’ motivation and the originality of their proposals, aiming to foster a diverse environment with varied contexts, knowledge, and perspectives.
