Report by Ms. Lorena Schlicht, Mayors for Peace France (AFCDRP)
As part of the Mayors for Peace initiative, a delegation from the City of Varennes-Vauzelles in France traveled to the City of Rheurdt, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, to launch a partnership focused on promoting the culture of peace (both cities are members of Mayors for Peace).
This historic step for both communities began a few months ago with virtual meetings with Mr. Dirk Ketelaers, Mayor of Rheurdt, where they had the chance to get to know each other and define the framework for future projects. From October 27 to 30, 2024, Ms. Céline Lalet, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Citizenship, and Mr. Florian Guillon, Municipal Councilor for Communication, Information Technology, and Culture of Peace, accompanied by Ms. Sona Simonyan, who kindly assisted by translating from French to German, had the opportunity to discover the charming city of Rheurdt and further discuss the first concrete actions to be taken for the youth of both cities. July 2025 promises to be filled with great emotions and French-German stories in Varennes-Vauzelles, as the first group of young people aged 11 to 15 is expected to visit France to share sporting, cultural, and friendly moments.
Photo: courtesy of Mayors for Peace France