Explained: What is an amicale laïque in France

Many towns have an amicale laïque, although it’s not immediately clear to non-natives what this is all about. 

While amicale usually means a club or association, laïque (pronounced ‘lah-eek’) is an unusual French word that does not translate directly; it essentially means secular, not connected with any particular religion. 

Sometimes you see this word in local elections, when a group wants to be clear that its policies or missions are purely political and not religious in any way. 

Generally, an amicale laïque will offer a programme of social events that includes regular learning activities such as art classes, foreign-language classes, music or sports, and they are often responsible for annual events and festivals, alongside a local comité des fêtes.

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With a heavy reliance on volunteers, their work is typically funded by a small membership fee, and many clubs organise fundraising drives such as collecting plastic bottle tops or unsold newspapers, all with the aim of offering activities to the local community. 

Depending on the club, they might focus more on schoolchildren or retirees, or offer a balanced range of activities covering all age groups.

History of amicales laïques 

A law known as la loi Jules Ferry was passed in March 1882, making education compulsory in France but also, importantly, free to access and secular in nature – unconnected to any particular religion. 

The history of amicales laïques also dates from the late 1800s and runs in parallel, growing as the education system flourished.

Initially, these clubs made it possible to get financing that could be used to buy equipment, organise outings, and offer cultural and sports activities. In other words, they went beyond the scope of traditional, academic education, offering team exercises and social events to offer a more rounded experience of learning. 

This meant that when children had completed their education, both in school and in the amicale laïque, they had a broad set of skills that would be more useful and practical for their life in society.

Read more: Explained: What is a Maison des Jeunes in France?

Why should they be supported?

These clubs have a noble goal, and in a society that still places a disproportionate value on purely academic results, the amicale laïque can help to redress the balance. 

Over recent decades, many local authorities have taken over the responsibility of offering sports or leisure activities to schoolchildren, but these are often organised at a broader geographical level across several schools. While this makes sense financially, some feel that it comes at the cost of the direct, personalised contact that was previously available. 

Aïmen Moueffek, professional footballer with Saint-Etienne, recalls that he first started kicking a ball around in his local amicale laïque, a club that supported and encouraged his talent so that it eventually led to a dream career.

How can I get involved?

Check with your mairie to find your local amicale laïque – they often work closely with public schools. Whether you are looking to contribute as a volunteer or benefit from the activities they offer, you will probably get more from it than you expected.