About Us

Who we are, why we started, and how we serve our community.

Association Cultures et Vivre Ensemble was born from a simple but powerful idea: education transforms lives, and access to it should be free for everyone.

Founded in Redessan, France, our organization brings together educators, volunteers, and community leaders who believe that literacy is the foundation of dignity, opportunity, and social inclusion. We saw too many children struggling to read, too many adults unable to access basic study resources, and too many families cut off from educational opportunities simply because of cost or geography.

So we decided to act. What started as a small local initiative β€” a handful of volunteers sharing books and tutoring children β€” has grown into a global digital platform reaching learners in over 120 countries. Today, we provide free access to millions of books, study guides, and learning tools through partnerships with digital libraries like Open Library and a network of dedicated educators.

Our name reflects our belief: "Cultures et Vivre Ensemble" β€” Cultures and Living Together. We celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the shared human right to learn. Whether you speak French, English, Arabic, or Spanish, whether you are 5 or 75 years old, you are welcome here.

πŸ“– Our Story

In 2018, a small group of teachers and librarians in Redessan noticed a troubling pattern: families in nearby rural areas had almost no access to books or educational materials. Public libraries were hours away. Internet access was limited. And for immigrants learning French, resources were nearly nonexistent.

They started a weekend reading club in a local community center. Within months, over 100 children and adults were attending. Parents asked for help with homework. Adults asked for French lessons. Teenagers needed study guides for exams.

That grassroots energy became Association Cultures et Vivre Ensemble. Today, we operate both locally β€” with in-person tutoring and book donations β€” and globally, through our free digital library platform. We have partnered with schools, refugee support centers, and other nonprofits to reach those who need us most.

Meet Our Team

πŸ‘©β€πŸ«

Marie Delacroix

Founder & Executive Director

Former teacher with 20+ years experience in literacy education.

πŸ“š

Thomas Lefèvre

Programs Coordinator

Leads our volunteer tutoring network and community outreach.

πŸ’»

Sarah Benali

Digital Resources Manager

Curates free online study materials and manages Open Library integration.

🀝

Jean-Paul Roux

Volunteer Coordinator

Recruits and trains our network of 50+ active volunteers.

πŸ† Our Journey

2018First reading club launched in Redessan with 15 children
2019Formal association established; 100+ learners served locally
2020Moved online during pandemic β€” created free digital library access
2021Partnered with Open Library; reached 10 countries
2023Expanded to 120+ countries; 500,000+ books accessed
2025Launch of multilingual platform serving learners in 6 languages

🌱 Our Philosophy

We believe education is not a commodity β€” it is a common good. No one should have to pay for the right to learn. That is why every resource we offer is completely free, forever.

🀝 Our Commitment

We are accountable to the communities we serve. 100% of our resources go directly to programs. No hidden fees. No paywalls. Just learning.

Join Our Community

Whether you want to volunteer, partner with us, or simply start learning β€” we welcome you.

Get Involved β†’