ZUPdeCO

Since 2005, ZUPdeCO has been committed to advancing equal opportunities by offering free tutoring and homework assistance to students from underprivileged backgrounds. The organization has a clear mission: to prevent school dropouts and support students in achieving their educational potential.

Many students from modest backgrounds face significant barriers to academic success due to a lack of accessible support, which often hampers their school performance. To address this, ZUPdeCO created a unique, solidarity-driven tutoring program. Volunteer university students dedicate two hours per week to mentoring one or more struggling students, either in person or online, fostering measurable improvements in their academic performance.

These volunteers receive dedicated guidance from a ZUPdeCO coordinator and a civic service volunteer, ensuring each child benefits from structured and compassionate support tailored to their individual needs.

Every year, 100,000 young people leave the education system in France without any qualifications, with youth from modest backgrounds being three times more likely to drop out.
€230,000 The cost to society of a single dropout over 40 years.*

*Source: BCG Study 2012, calculations by the Centre d’Observation de la Société based on data from the French Ministry of Education.

Education is a powerful tool to reduce social inequality, yet every year, tens of thousands of young people leave school without qualifications. The impact is profound, shaping their futures and creating significant social and economic costs.
At ZUPdeCO, our mission is to reconnect these students with education, help them rebuild their confidence, and open the door to opportunities they can seize to succeed.

Francois-Afif Benthanane - Founder and President, ZUPdeCO

Equal opportunity in education is at the heart of everything we do at ZUPdeCO. We believe that the education a young person receives shapes their entire life, and our goal is to make this education as equitable as possible, especially for children from underprivileged families.

Cindy Essoh-Schenk - General Manager, ZUPdeCO

Actions levers for solidarity-based tutoring

1. Supporting Students in 98 Schools

ZUPdeCO provides tutoring in 98 schools across Île-de-France, Paris, Lyon, and Blois. This local presence, closely tied to teaching staff, enables ZUPdeCO to effectively address educational inequalities and prevent school dropouts. Engaging workshops and cultural outings complement this support.

2. Personalized and flexible online tutoring

Remote tutoring is available in 78 departments, reaching students in rural areas outside priority education zones, where educational resources are more limited.

3. Supporting young football players

ZUPdeCO works with football club members aged 10 to 18, combining sports and academic success.

4. Advocacy Initiatives

ZUPdeCO piloted the after-school tutoring program for nearly a decade. Its advocacy efforts contributed to the launch of the government-led "Devoirs faits" initiative in 2017. The organization continues to advocate for access to tutoring for all students, whether at school or home, and to promote student volunteer engagement.

10 113

students from modest backgrounds supported during the 2023-2024 school year

195 441

hours of tutoring delivered

Resources provided
by Foundation Altitudes

Supporting ZUPdeCO's growth strategy

Offering specialized expertise to help ZUPdeCO achieve its goal of directly supporting 50,000 students annually by 2030 and expanding access to tutoring nationwide through advocacy and strategic partnerships