Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral
Ligue de l'enseignement is a French secular popular education confederation founded in 1866, operating 102 departmental federations, 21,000 local associations, and 1M+ members to deliver educational, cultural, sports, vacation, and training programs across France.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1866
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral does
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral is a French secular popular education movement founded in 1866 by Jean Macé, operating as a non-profit confederation (association loi 1901) headquartered in Paris. The organization is structured as a federative network comprising 102 departmental federations, 13 regional unions, and over 21,000 local associations, with collective governance through an elected National Board of Directors and a Bureau currently led by President Hélène Lacassagne (since July 2026). It serves more than 1 million individual members, supported by approximately 500,000 volunteers and 18,000 service civique volunteers, and delivers programs in four core fields: education and training, culture, vacation and leisure education, and sports for all.
The organization's portfolio is delivered through several branded sub-units. Ufolep (Union française des œuvres laïques d'éducation physique) is a multisports affinity federation with roughly 300,000 members. Usep (Union sport et culture pour l'école primaire) is a school sports federation for primary-school children with over 600,000 child licensees and about 34,000 volunteer adult animators. Vacances pour tous and Vacances passion operate vacation camps, holiday villages, and family stays; Vacances pour tous is identified as the first associative organizer of vacation camps in France. Infrep (Institut national de formation et de recherche pour l'éducation permanente) is the professional training institute created in 1980, supported by a network of 80 training organizations across France. Additional educational products include Les Veilleurs de l'info (media literacy), Micro-Folie (itinerant digital museum), Expédition ESS (social and solidarity economy pedagogical kit), Villag'ESS (serious game), the European EcoReactEU eco-anxiety MOOC, and a new DEJEPS state diploma in ecological transition coordination launching September 2026.
Revenue is generated through membership subscriptions (over 1 million individual members), training fees and apprenticeship programs, vacation program participation fees, sports federation license fees, government contracts (notably with the Ministry of National Education and Ministry of Culture), and European project funding (Erasmus+, EcoReactEU, MigrArts). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by local federation and activity. The confederation has no parent company and is not publicly traded; financial figures are not published. International footprint is concentrated in European project partnerships rather than direct service delivery abroad.
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral
- Legal name
- Ligue de l'enseignement
- Website
- https://laligue.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1866
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Ligue de l'enseignement is a French secular popular education confederation founded in 1866, operating 102 departmental federations, 21,000 local associations, and 1M+ members to deliver educational, cultural, sports, vacation, and training programs across France.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Popular Education and Civic Engagement
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Services (611), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)
Keywords
Where Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel
Revenue model
- Vacation and leisure services: Through Vacances pour tous and Vacances passion brands, the organization operates vacation camps and holiday centers for children and families, generating revenue from participation fees.
- Professional training services: 80 training organizations across France offer professional training in tourism, culture, healthcare, and animation sectors, generating revenue through training fees and apprenticeship programs.
- Membership subscriptions: The confederation comprises affiliated associations and individual members who pay membership fees, representing over 1 million adherents.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Ligue de l'enseignement operates a confederation of 102 departmental federations, 13 regional unions, and over 21,000 local associations across France, delivering popular (secular) education, cultural, sports, vacation, and social integration programs. Its core branded services include vacation camps and adult stays (Vacances pour tous, Vacances passion), the multisports and school sports federations (Ufolep, Usep), and professional training through Infrep. Programs target children, youth, families, educators, and vulnerable populations including exiled persons.
Product overview
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral is a secular popular education movement operating as a confederation of 102 departmental federations, 13 regional unions, and over 21,000 local associations. Rather than a unified technology product, the organization offers a broad portfolio of educational, cultural, sports, and social programs. Key branded offerings include Ufolep (multisports federation, 300,000 members) and Usep (school sports federation for primary schools, 600,000+ child licensees) as sports sub-brands; Vacances pour tous and Vacances passion as vacation program brands; Infrep as the professional training institute; and various educational resources such as Les Veilleurs de l'info (media literacy), Expédition ESS (solidarity economy kit), Micro-Folie (digital museum), EcoReactEU (eco-anxiety project with MOOC), and Villag'ESS (serious game). The organization also publishes digital media through Chroniques Associatives. The portfolio is organized around four main action fields: education and training, culture, vacation and leisure education, and sports for all.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Vacances pour tous: First associative organizer of vacation camps in France, part of Ligue de l'enseignement
- Vacances passion
- Infrep
- Ufolep
- Usep
Products and services
- Vacances pour tous
Companies that use Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EkoGreececorePartner in the European EcoReactEU project focused on addressing eco-anxiety among youth. The project, launched in 2023 for a duration of three years, aims to train and equip youth workers to understand and address eco-anxiety in young people.
- Arci (Italy)coreItalian partner in EcoReactEU and MigrArts projects. In MigrArts, partners worked on promoting cultural rights of exiled persons through arts and culture over a three-year period.
- Utrecht University (Netherlands)coreAcademic partner in the EcoReactEU project bringing research expertise on youth eco-anxiety and educational approaches.
- Center for peace studies (Croatia)minorPartner in the MigrArts project focused on promoting cultural rights of migrants and exiled persons through arts and culture.
- Community development institute (North Macedonia)minorPartner in the MigrArts project contributing to the promotion of cultural rights of exiled persons.
- Office franco-allemand pour la jeunesse (Ofaj)coreHistorical partner for Franco-German youth exchange programs. Works with Ligue de l'enseignement to facilitate European mobility and intercultural understanding.
- Solidar NetworkcoreEuropean network committed to social justice and just transition. Ligue de l'enseignement participates in General Assemblies and contributes to European advocacy alongside over 50 organizations.
- European Erasmus+ programcoreEuropean funding program supporting youth mobility, international projects, and educational initiatives. Ligue participates through various projects including Just4All for ecological transition.
- Centre national du LivreminorNational book center that supported the production of a practical guide for developing reading in leisure centers.
- Ministry of National EducationcoreGovernment ministry with which Ligue de l'enseignement maintains official partnerships for educational programs and school support activities.
- Ministry of CulturecoreGovernment ministry partnering on cultural programs including reading promotion and artistic education initiatives.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Emmaüs France: Federated French non-profit federation tackling social exclusion through housing, employment, and integration programs. Comparable federated association structure and social-action mission targeting vulnerable populations similar to Ligue's exiled-persons programs.
Broad incumbents
- Secours populaire français: Major French non-profit providing social aid, solidarity programs, and vacation/leisure access for disadvantaged families through a national network of volunteers and federations. Comparable scale, volunteer-driven social mission, and vacation program (analogous to Vacances pour tous).
- MGEN (Mutuelle Générale de l'Éducation Nationale): Major French mutual insurance organization rooted in the education sector, providing health coverage and related services to education community members. Comparable target customer base (educators, education sector) and historical roots in French secular education movement.
- Croix-Rouge française: One of France's largest non-profits, delivering humanitarian aid, social services, training, and volunteer-led programs through a national network. Comparable scale (volunteers, federated structure, training operations) and overlaps with Ligue's social services and training arms.
Direct peers
- Scouts et Guides de France: Largest French scouting association delivering youth civic education and outdoor programming through a federated network of local groups. Directly comparable target audience, volunteer-led delivery model, and secular educational positioning.
- CEMEA (Centres d'Entraînement aux Méthodes d'Éducation Active): Major French non-profit federation delivering popular education training, animation, and youth worker credentialing (BAFA, BAFD, DEJEPS). Comparable to Ligue's Infrep training arm and Ufolep/Usep educational programming.
- Fédération Française des Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture: Federation of Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture (MJC) operating local cultural and educational centers across France. Similar grassroots association model, cultural diffusion network, and secular civic-education positioning to Ligue de l'enseignement.
- Les Francas: Federation of associations focused on popular education, leisure centers, and youth civic engagement in France. Highly comparable to Ligue de l'enseignement: operates a similar federation model delivering secular extracurricular, educational, and leisure programs to children and families across departmental networks.
- Scoutisme Français: Umbrella organization for French scouting associations, similarly structured as a confederation delivering youth education, civic engagement, and outdoor activities through local groups nationwide. Comparable target audience (children and youth) and volunteer-driven federated model.
Emerging players
- France Bénévolat: French non-profit dedicated to developing and connecting volunteer engagement across associations nationwide. Comparable mission around volunteer-driven associative activity, though focused on volunteer intermediation rather than direct program delivery like Ligue.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral social profiles
Digital presenceLigue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral
What does Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral do?
The Ligue de l'enseignement operates a confederation of 102 departmental federations, 13 regional unions, and over 21,000 local associations across France, delivering popular (secular) education, cultural, sports, vacation, and social integration programs. Its core branded services include vacation camps and adult stays (Vacances pour tous, Vacances passion), the multisports and school sports federations (Ufolep, Usep), and professional training through Infrep. Programs target children, youth, families, educators, and vulnerable populations including exiled persons.
Is Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral a public or private company?
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral founded?
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral was founded in 1866. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral based?
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Vacation and leisure services are the primary driver. The others are professional training services and membership subscriptions.
Who are Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral's main competitors?
Emmaüs France is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Secours populaire français, MGEN (Mutuelle Générale de l'Éducation Nationale) and Croix-Rouge française. Direct peers are Scouts et Guides de France, CEMEA (Centres d'Entraînement aux Méthodes d'Éducation Active), Fédération Française des Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture, Les Francas and Scoutisme Français. France Bénévolat is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral.
What industry is Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral in?
Ligue de l'enseignement - centre confédéral's product category is Popular Education and Civic Engagement. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAD, Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional), with a secondary code of EDAMALAO, Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills). Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 7997.