BEHIND THE WALL

IES DOMINGO MIRAL AT THE 1st RED MEMORIA SCHOOL GATHERING 

Six first-year Bachillerato students from IES Domingo Miral took part last week in the 1st Red Memoria School Gathering, held at the Fort of Ezkaba (Pamplona). The event brought together over 150 young people from different parts of the country with a shared goal: to keep historical memory alive and learn from the past to build a fairer and more democratic future. Our school’s participation was part of the European project Behind the Wall, through which the centre has been working for years on historical memory and the values of freedom and coexistence in border areas.During the activity, the group followed the first stage of the GR-225 Trail, retracing the steps of the prisoners who carried out the great escape from Fort Ezkaba in 1938. Along the route, students learned in detail about these historical events and took part in a tribute to those who lost their lives in the search for freedom. The gathering also featured a moving musical performance by Enrique Villarreal from the rock band Barricada, as well as the presence of institutional representatives, who highlighted the importance of memory as an educational tool against forgetting and misinformation. For our students, it was an unforgettable experience: a day of learning, reflection, and shared moments with young people from across the country, in a place that encourages us to remember—so we do not repeat.

PARTNERSHIP WITH KISUMU, KENYA, AND CHARITY RUN

As part of the same project, we organized a charity run at our school to collect school supplies. Students, teachers, and families participated with great enthusiasm. All the materials gathered were sent to our sister community in Kisumu, Kenya.The goal was to support children’s education and promote values like solidarity and cooperation. It was a very positive experience that brought the school community together. 

MEETING WITH SUB-SAHARAN MIGRANTS

In spring, we met with Sub-Saharan refugees at school, along with 4th-year secondary students. They shared their difficult journeys, facing dangers and hardships along the way. They also spoke about their experiences adapting to life in Spain. Their stories helped us understand the reality of migration and resilience. 

VISIT TO THE GURS CAMP: MEMORY AND RESPONSIBILITY

Last week, the students of 1st Year of Bachillerato visited the Gurs camp in Oloron, accompanied by the Tierras de Memoria y Lucha Association. In front of the tomb commemorating the Republicans interned there, we held an emotional tribute ceremony: a student placed a bouquet of flowers while a classmate read a manifesto in defense of democratic memory.In a context like the current one, marked by discourses that trivialize the past, these kinds of acts are more necessary than ever. As the text that was read reminded us:
"Because memory is not looking at the past with nostalgia, but with responsibility. Because forgetting is allowing injustices to be repeated. Never again let it happen. Never again let it be silenced."

CINEFORUM WITH DAHA BULAHI

On February 28th, 2025, we had the privilege of welcoming Daha Bulahi, president of the Association for the Victims of Anti-Personnel Mines and Sahrawi activist, to our center. In the morning, students participating in the Behind the Wall project had the opportunity to engage in a meaningful meeting with him, ask questions, and learn firsthand about the reality of Western Sahara. In the afternoon, we opened the doors of the auditorium to the entire educational community for a screening of the documentary El Muro, followed by a discussion with Daha. It was an intense, emotional, and deeply inspiring day.