Associations and activism
In Marseille, there are associations (non-profit organisations) everywhere. Whether you’re a feminist, environmentalist, or LGBTQIA+, or you just want to lend a hand, you’re sure to find somewhere you can get involved. The city is buzzing with new ideas, causes, and a desire to make a difference.
Feminist activism
If feminism speaks to you, you could start by dropping by the Le Planning Familial, the Maison des Femmes, or the CIDFF. These are welcoming spaces where you’ll find support, a listening ear, and a wealth of useful information.
If you want to take it a step further, there are many collectives ready and waiting for you! C-PAM and ARCAF 13 offer self-defence workshops. The collective rEGALons-Nous blends popular education with the feminist cause. Les Déchaînées is a feminist cycling collective which organises activist bike rides.
You can also visit the feminist bike workshop Ecrew-vis, read the Panthère Première newspaper, or connect with Cœur de Cagoles, an ecofeminist group. Collages Féministes put up feminist collages with powerful messages in the streets, to protest about violence against women. And if you feel like reading up on the subject, head to L’Hydre aux mille têtes, a politically and socially engaged bookshop and a good spot for meeting new people.
LGBTQIA+ activism
If you’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community or if you want to be a good ally, there are plenty of safe spaces in Marseille. Le Refuge can help if you need urgent accommodation. Le Spot Longchamp offers testing and discussion sessions. Another useful address is the CeGGID, which provides information and testing services, and has two centres in Marseille.
Want to get active? MUST is an inclusive sports club for those identifying as LGBTQIA+ and their friends. The Drama Queer Football Club offers matches complete with glitter! T-Time and Transat fight against transphobia and intersexphobia. You could also get involved at Dar Lamifa, a grassroots social centre with lots of events.
And if you just want to relax or go out without any fuss, you can check out bars like Aux 3G, Le Snack, Le Pulse or Le New Cancan. Sing or Die organises karaoke parties and drag evenings which are very popular.
Environmental activism
In Marseille, environmental issues are important. If you want to get involved, you can join Zéro Waste Marseille, which helps people reduce their environmental impact. The collective space, La Base, houses several environmental associations, including Extinction Rebellion.
The association Clean my Calanques organises litter collection in the calanques, always with a good atmosphere. They also collaborate with other organisations which find ways to reuse the rubbish collected.
There are also educational farms in the city, such as Collet des Comtes, Roy d’Espagne or Tour des Pins. There’s also Le Talus, a great outdoor space with a garden, recycled goods shop, growing field, and a cafe with eco-friendly food at fair prices. For an immersive experience, you could visit Longo Maï, a self-managed agricultural cooperative in the Luberon, just an hour-and-a-half away.
If you’re into local distribution networks and avoiding big supermarket chains, head to Super Cafoutch, a cooperative supermarket with local, organic products. You can find out more about it on our page ‘Low-cost, ethical tips’. You could also check out Terre de Mars, a local organic farm with a well-developed veg box scheme.
Anti-racist activism
Marseille is a multicultural and cosmopolitan city. If you’re interested in the anti-racist cause, you’ll find associations you can get involved with. For example, MRAP Marseille is an association located on the Cours Julien which offers legal assistance for victims of racism, exhibitions, workshops for the general public to raise awareness of racism, meeting rooms, and a regularly updated library.
There’s also CRAN, the Representative Council of Black Associations, which brings together several anti-racist associations and fights for equality for Black associations in France. It works to assess racial discrimination in the country, and makes a point of highlighting the history of Black communities in order to better understand the roots of racist discrimination.
This list is obviously not exhaustive and we encourage you to get researching yourself to find the associations that are right for you!
Another useful association
To round off our introduction to associations in Marseille, we recommend you check out ASMAJ, which is focused on mediation and legal aid. You can get involved as a volunteer or simply call on them for your own needs. They can assist you in legal matters related to family, problems with an employer, landlord, etc. They offer guidance and can inform you about your rights. It’s a useful address to have!
Header photo : Léa PRADEL
