The Rézo 2025 seminar, held in Grenada, brought together the directors of the Alliances Françaises of the English-speaking Caribbean, with the same ambition: to consolidate the links between the territories and reinforce the vitality of the French-speaking world in the region.
Having explored the institutional and strategic vision of this regional cooperation in the previous article, “The Alliances Françaises network at the heart of the Caribbean: cooperating, innovating, sharing”, Richès Karayib now turns the spotlight on those who are at its beating heart.
For several days, the participants shared their experiences, challenges and successes, revealing a common conviction: to bring culture and the French-speaking world closer to the people of the Caribbean via the Alliances Françaises.
An essential meeting for a fragmented network
Each Alliance Française operates on an island, often geographically isolated. This seminar, organized with the support of the Service de Coopération et d’Action Culturelle (SCAC) of the French Embassy in Saint Lucia, was a breath of fresh air for the Alliance Française network. The directors emphasized that these meetings are an essential step: they enable them to exchange tools, compare local realities and together find concrete solutions to shared challenges. They all emphasized the strength of the collective, the richness of exchanges in an English-speaking environment and the complementarity of approaches between territories.
These moments offer both a human and a formative dimension: they re-energize, reinforce solidarity and remind us that, despite the diversity of contexts, the Alliances Françaises move forward with the same ambition – to make the French-speaking world live and shine in the Caribbean. From an institutional point of view, Christiane Bourgeois, Cooperation and Cultural Action Advisor, reminded us that this annual seminar is the only time when all the directors can get together to discuss successes, difficulties and common perspectives.
Nine territories, nine realities, but the same conviction: these times of exchange are essential to maintain the network’s momentum and strengthen cooperation in the Caribbean. Beyond these collective exchanges, it is in the field that the vitality of the Alliances Françaises network takes on its full meaning. Each Alliance Française acts in its own way, in line with the realities of its environment and the languages and cultures of its territory.
A deep-rooted network: ten Alliances, one commitment
Although their contexts differ, the Alliances Françaises of the English-speaking Caribbean share the same vocation: to teach, connect and bring the French-speaking world to life on a daily basis. They adapt to local realities with the same conviction: culture and language are levers for social cohesion, openness and the future.
Grenade – Ilona Forte-Gilbert: teaching differently, connecting differently
The Alliance Française de Grenade operates without permanent premises, a situation that Ilona Forte-Gilbert has turned into an asset.
Courses are now offered online, helping to maintain the French language’s presence and reach new audiences. The Alliance is also involved in schools through educational and cultural activities carried out in partnership with teachers. Out-of-home screenings and workshops keep us in touch with the community.
“Our priority is to remain present and useful, even without a building. Digital technology and partnerships enable us to keep the Alliance going.”
Saint Lucia – Aurélie Gbeffa: coordinating and federating
In Saint Lucia, Aurélie Gbeffa runs the local Alliance and is responsible for regional coordination of the ten Alliances Françaises in the Eastern Caribbean. She assists managers with communication, pooling, associative governance, digital transition and cultural revitalization.
It also pilots the Rézo project, an annual seminar supported by the SCAC, which has become a key event for cohesion and collective reflection. In Castries, the Alliance Française de Sainte-Lucie combines language courses, cultural activities and Creole language promotion through exhibitions and workshops.
“Our strength lies in moving forward together while valuing the cultural diversity of our islands.”
Barbados – Océane Gaillard: promoting French in an English-speaking environment
In Barbados, the Alliance Française acts as a linguistic and cultural bridge. Under the leadership of Océane Gaillard, it has consolidated its foothold in a predominantly English-speaking environment. Educational programs have been set up for schools and adults, and the Alliance has trained members of the Regional Security System in French and Haitian Creole.
On the cultural front, it has welcomed the Guianese troupe Ôtepé, and is developing a program open to different French-speaking expressions.
“We represent a plural Francophonie: France, Africa, Canada and the Caribbean. Culture is our best lever for inspiring the desire to learn.”
Trinidad & Tobago – Anyka Batista: an open and inclusive francophonie
In Trinidad & Tobago, Anyka Batista defends an inclusive and creative Francophonie, which values local languages as much as French. Every October, Creole Heritage Month brings together screenings, conferences and concerts, reflecting a strong commitment to cultural diversity.
The Alliance Française also offers courses for children, teenagers and adults, as well as cultural evenings that encourage encounters between communities. Challenges related to visibility and funding persist, but are offset by a collaborative approach with local schools and institutions.
“We want the Francophonie to be seen as part of our culture, not something external.”
Jamaïque – Clovis Lemée: creating living spaces
In Jamaica, Clovis Lemée is revitalizing a historic Alliance Française, transforming it into a place for living and creating. The Language Exchanges, monthly multilingual evenings, bring together a varied public around cultural themes, while the French Library Sessions – mini-concerts filmed in the media library – turn language into a tool for encounters and artistic expression.
“Learning a language is about creating links. That’s what the Alliances Françaises are all about.”
This cultural dynamic is attracting a younger audience and helping to restore the French language to its rightful place in the English-speaking Caribbean.
Saint-Kitts & Nevis – Lucille Caulliez : education and ecology
The Alliance Française de Saint-Kitts & Nevis combines language learning with civic engagement. Her Naturally Learn French project, supported by a grant from the French Embassy to the Eastern Caribbean, Barbados and the OECS, offered six months of free tuition to twelve teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds, combining French language discovery, ecological workshops and cultural activities. Each month, participants explored local ecosystems, cultivated a garden, created with recycled materials or exchanged online with students from Guadeloupe – a concrete and lively way to learn the language while forging links in the Caribbean.
This project, which earned the Alliance the Green Alliance Award from the Global Environment Facility, illustrates the vitality of an open, sustainable and youth-oriented French-speaking community. She is also developing Francoscop, an audiovisual series produced by young people, dedicated to the French-speaking world.
Director Lucille Caulliez sums up the spirit of the program:
“We want to show that French is a tool for openness and creativity.”
Dominique – Cévinne M’Voula-Henderson: connecting languages and cultures
Established in 1965, the Alliance Française de la Dominique is active in the educational and cultural fields. The Creole & French Spelling Bees, bilingual spelling contests, encourage students to play with the two languages, understand their complementarity and take pride in them. Training workshops and cultural activities support the enhancement of Creole heritage while promoting the French language.
“The aim is to make French and Creole languages of pride and transmission.”
Guyana – Déborah First-Quao: rebuilding and training
In Georgetown, Déborah First-Quao, recently appointed to Guyana, is re-launching a long-standing but low-profile Alliance Française by focusing on training and educational partnerships. She has created a network of French teachers, developed bilingual workshops at the National Library and renewed ties with local institutions. Cultural and educational initiatives aim to put French back into everyday life, despite major logistical constraints.
“We want to restore French to its rightful place in schools, showing that it can be useful, lively and accessible.”
Suriname – Virginie Lemay: building institutional bridges
In Suriname, Virginie Lemay is strengthening links between the Alliance Française and local institutions. Language training is offered to the security forces, the Ministry of Education, businesses and the hotel industry. La Journée Française, organized with the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane, is a five-day event featuring exhibitions, professional meetings and concerts.
“French becomes a concrete tool for regional cooperation.
This cross-sectoral approach positions the Alliance Française as a key player in the dialogue between Suriname, Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean.
A shared vision: support, connect, promote
For Christiane Bourgeois, Regional Advisor for Cooperation and Cultural Action at the French Embassy in Saint Lucia, this seminar is an essential moment for consolidating the network’s ties. She points out that it’s “the only occasion of the year when we have the opportunity to meet the directors of the Alliances Françaises”, a privileged time to take stock, exchange practices and difficulties, and set up joint projects.
“The Alliances Françaises are an essential tool for embassies, especially in areas like the Caribbean, where there is no Institut Français. They are local organizations, rooted in the territory, with their own board of directors and their own strategy”. She also recalled the key role played by the Alliances in disseminating the French language and promoting dialogue between peoples, stressing that they promote the language, ensure its teaching and maintain the link between the cultural and the educational, between France and the countries of the region.
Aware of the economic fragility of the associative model, Christiane Bourgeois stresses the importance of the support provided by the Service de Coopération et d’Action Culturelle (SCAC) and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Last but not least, it pays tribute to Granada, the seminar’s host, and its people:
“It’s an absolutely authentic island, with extremely friendly people. I encourage all French and Caribbean people to come to Grenada, a country that deserves to be known and appreciated.”
Where the French language comes alive
Over and above balance sheets and figures, these meetings are a reminder that the French-speaking world lives and breathes through the people who make it happen. On every island, the Alliances Françaises gather, transmit and inspire. Anchored in their reality, they build bridges between languages, cultures and generations – a living, inclusive and deeply Caribbean Francophonie.
The Alliances Françaises play a central role in French language teaching, cultural dissemination and dialogue between Caribbean territories. Anchored locally, they adapt their actions to the social, linguistic and cultural realities of each island.
The Rézo seminar is the only annual gathering of all the directors of the Alliances Françaises in the Caribbean. It enables them to share practices, strengthen regional cooperation and maintain a collective dynamic in a geographically dispersed network.
The Alliances Françaises develop tailor-made projects: online or face-to-face courses, actions in schools, ecological projects, cultural events, professional training or institutional cooperation. This adaptability is their strength in a predominantly English-speaking environment.
