The publication of a new album gives Editions Albert René the opportunity to turn the limelight on a good cause more easily. Asterix already had this idea in the back of his head as we got ready to bring out "The Class Act". We had already made a surreptitious foray into the world of education or, more precisely, into the field of reading (egged on by Dogmatix of course) when the "Asterix and the actress" album came out in 2000/2001. We believe that the success of Asterix should, at least in part, be associated with the education of our children.
Following a brilliant operation with Lire et Faire Lire which, thanks to schools working with the Alexandre Jardin Association, helped put comic books on the school shelves alongside literature, we have decided to forge ahead this year and join forces with the United Nations High Committee for Refugees, whose mission is to ensure the welfare of refugees throughout the world.

War, natural catastrophes and other disasters tear people away from their homes and leave them physically, emotionally and intellectually destitute. In its humble way, the Village of our indomitable heroes hopes to play a small part with regard to this last category.The notion of refugees automatically calls up pictures of children who often live for more than five years in refugee camps. The United Nations Association (UNHCR), which administers these camps, has offered to fund a full year of schooling for all children currently in refugee camps in Guinea. The modest sum of 60 euro actually covers the cost of a full school year for one child! Albert Uderzo has therefore decided for the first time to present the association with a triptych composed of an original drawing to be auctioned on the eBay.fr website and its international counterparts. Given the importance of the cause and the enormous amount of work it represents, Dogmatix has invited celebrities from the world of the arts and media to take up their pencils and contribute their impressions of the Asterix universe.



Some forty well-known personalities have answered the challenge in spite of the holiday period, the heat wave, the constraints of their little businesses etc. And they have spared no effort; their sketches have touched the hearts of the people at the UNHCR and Editions Albert René who have dedicated their time and energy to see the project through. A tremendous thank you on behalf of all the children who will benefit from your efforts. Just one thing remains to be done: Race to the eBay site to bid on the sketches and autographs you most fancy!