JEAN_FRANCOIS MERLE
In 1972, at the age of 16, Jean-Francois began his involvement with the Comité Jumelage, the twinning committee in Vienne which is focused on international exchanges.
The roots of these exchanges trace back to 1956 when mayors Dieter Roser of Esslingen and Lucien Hussel of Vienne decided to collaborate, marking a pivotal moment after two devastating wars. They recognized the need to connect with young people as a means of securing a peaceful future, breaking the cycle of war that had occurred every 30 years.
The city of Vienne had developed since then exchange programs with twin towns, including Essingen in Germany, Schiedam in the Netherlands, and Udine in Italy.
Jean-Francois, accompanied by friends, experienced a transformative 15-day exchange with a host family in Schiedam, marking his first venture outside of France. He vividly recalls his emotional reaction during their first time outside of Vienne, France, in Schiedam in the Netherlands in 1972. At the age of 16, he found himselve sharing a host family with a German participant.
When Jean-Francois phoned his family that the was staying with German people in the host family, his mother, grandfather, and grandmother were perplexed. The family failed to grasp that Jean-Francois was in the Netherlands, not Germany, emphasizing the comical and unexpected nature of the cross-cultural encounter. The mother reassured Jean-Francois, explaining that the pairing was a decision made by the organization in charge of the exchange program. Despite initial concerns, Jean-Francois mentions that the leader of the group from Esslingen, Germany, was very sympathetic, indicating that the experience turned out positively. This recollection reflects the mix of emotions and uncertainties that can accompany cross-cultural exchanges.
Since then, Jean-Francois has been actively involved in the International Exchange Committee in Vienne, initially as a member of the youth group and gradually assuming various roles within the committee. Over 25 years, Jean-Francois served as chairman of the training committee, gaining an in-depth knowledge of all Twin Towns and their unique characteristics. This extensive involvement has provided a deep understanding of the diverse European cultures.
Jean-Francois, having not experienced war personally, recounts the impact of the experiences his father had, when he spent a prolonged period in post-war Germany for compulsory work. The family initially received false information of their father's death, causing distress to the grandparents. After the war, he emerged unexpectedly to the surprise and schock of the family.
The father died when Jean-Francois was five years old. This personal history fuels Jean-Francois's commitment to European engagement and unity, as they find it incomprehensible to be against one another. The ongoing conflict near Ukraine and Russia is acknowledged, with Jean-Francois expressing a strong dedication to halting such movements. He highlights the significance of TownTwinning as a representation of European unity and the shared commitment to collaboration.
THE INTEGRATION OF WESTERN EUROPE AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR was driven by a broad movement aimed at peace, security and prosperity. Organized youth exchange between European cities formed an important part of that movement.
This research focuses on young people who, from the 1960s onwards, participated in international exchanges organised by twinned towns, also called jumelage. Friends in a Cold Climate asks about the interactions between young people while taking into account the organisational structures on a municipal level,
The project investigates the role of the ideology of a united West-Europe, individual desires for travel and freedom, the upcoming discourse about the Second World War and the influence of the prevalent “counterculture” of that period, thus shedding a light on the formative years of European integration.
