Clément Bargain, edited by Romain Rouillard 12:14 p.m., August 25, 2022

While one in three children in France does not have the chance to go on vacation, 3,700 of them took advantage of a day in Deauville, in Normandy, organized by the Secours populaire.

An initiative more than 40 years old and which offers many children a first contact with the sea. 

For these children, this day sounded like an enchanted parenthesis.

More than 3,700 children from the Paris region took advantage of Deauville beach on Wednesday on the occasion of the "Forgotten Holidays" day, an event organized by the Secours Populaire.

In France, one in three children does not have the chance to go on vacation.

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This is how for more than 40 years, the association has been organizing a day at the sea. On the Normandy coast, the mercury was around 30 degrees on the sand and about 20 degrees in the water.

Ideal conditions for Blanche, her eyes riveted out to sea in her fuchsia swimsuit.

Feet in the sand, she couldn't believe it because at 9 years old, it was the first time she had seen the sea: "I rushed in front and I said 'wow'. It was always my dream of seeing the beach. I am very happy today". 

"It brings me joy"

Between cries of joy, splashes and sand castles, Mohammed, who did not have the chance to go on vacation, takes advantage of this exotic day.

"It's an opportunity for me because I'm with my friends and we're on vacation. It's almost back to school, so I have to take advantage. It's really the most pleasant day of my life".  

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Like his friend Mohammed, Bilel, he too spent his summer at home, in a city of Melun.

"I see the sea, I'm happy, I want to jump in. It brings me joy".

These 3,700 children gathered on the beach of Deauville always amaze Henriette Steinberg, the general secretary of Secours populaire. 

Head full of memories

"For these children, the fact of being there will allow them, when they go to school, to tell something that the others have not known. And therefore, they will be able to be proud. And that also means that when they return to school, they return as winners,” she says. 

At the end of the day, the children bring back with them a few seashells picked up on the beach and memories full of memories that they are far from forgetting.