On the afternoon of September 26, 2025, students from the advanced French course, together with three other schools – including the French Gymnasium and the Sophie Scholl School – had the special opportunity to meet the writer and musician Gaël Faye at the Institut Français Berlin.

Monsieur Faye spoke about his novel Jacaranda and his own childhood between France and Rwanda. The moments when he spoke about the genocide in Rwanda were particularly quiet and profound. His words were moving and thought-provoking – about memory, identity and the power of language.
The pupils were able to gain direct insight into the writer's experiences and perspectives, which go far beyond the pages of his book.
At the end, Mr Gaël Faye took time for personal encounters: many pupils took the opportunity to have their books signed. 

Special thanks to the French Embassy and the Institut Français for making this encounter possible.