Citizenship Defense Day, is it really a useful day? What young people say

On the Place d’Armes, with the flag flying and the Marseillaise sung, the day begins in a solemn setting. “The goal is to immerse young people in a collective experience, to help them understand concretely the role of each person and to make them actors of their day,” explains Mr. Meli, deputy to the head of the National Service and Youth Center of Marseille, on Avenue de la Corse. Divided into several groups, the 115 participants then move on to workshops and situational exercises, including laser shooting, role-playing games, and French tests.

Since 2025, the Day of Defense and Citizenship has evolved. More immersive, more participatory, it aims to “strengthen the willingness to defend and transmit republican values”, in a context judged more unstable on the international level. In concrete terms, young people are no longer just spectators; they must think, decide, and cooperate.

“I didn’t think I would learn so much,” is what struck Emma, 18 years old. “Honestly, I didn’t think I would learn so much. The role-playing games allowed me to understand things that I didn’t know at all, especially about crisis situations and what some actions really serve for,” she confides.