Our story

  1. Fair trade shop and café in La Talaudière

    Opening of a new A4CM fair trade shop in La Talaudière (42).

    A4CM launches its own coffee brand with direct imports of Peruvian coffee, roasted in Saint-Étienne. Enjoy it on site or buy it in bags, as beans or ground.

  2. Quai Branly Museum, Mexica exhibition

    In 2023, partnership with the Musée du Quai Branly for the « Mexica » exhibition. Consignment of small items and Shipibo pottery in the Museum shop.

  3. Community life and development

    2021: in September, a general meeting in person after two online AGMs! Planting in memory of Nicole in front of A4CM’s premises.

    Launch of the « Chango » programme in Bolivia (see the « Development programmes » section).

    Fair trade activity continues in the association’s shops.

    Paris pop-ups in 2022 and 2023: craft sales in Paris for Christmas.

  4. Tribute to Nicole Vitel

    Passing of Nicole Vitel, the charismatic president and founder of AUX 4 COINS DU MONDE. Her daughter, Delphine Durantel, takes the lead.

    A4CM shops close. During the uncertainty of the Covid crisis, the Nicole Vitel endowment fund is created to safeguard the « development programmes » strand. It succeeds: funding for these programmes is secured.

  5. Website and stock management

    Complete overhaul of A4CM’s website and its IT tools for stock management.

    Photos: Gambetta street shop in Saint-Étienne; Valberg exhibition; Salon Tatou Juste; Qosko Maki bakery in Cusco (Peru).

  6. Shop in Vence

    Opening of a shop in Vence (Alpes-Maritimes), until July 2015.

  7. Stock management with barcodes
    • Barcode labelling enables detailed tracking of stock and transfers between the La Talaudière warehouse and the shops.
  8. A4CM’s first websites

    Launch of the first website (a4cmonde.org).

    The second, in 2010, adds online sales.

  9. Rue de Sèze shop, Lyon

    Opening of the Rue de Sèze shop in Lyon (closed March 2015).

  10. Gambetta street headquarters

    Official opening of the Gambetta street shop, which becomes the association’s registered office (in 2024 A4CM’s registered office moves to the technical and administrative premises at 10 rue du Montcel, La Talaudière).

  11. Gambetta shop

    October 2001: the Gambetta street shop opens in Saint-Étienne.

    The Rue Mi-Carême shop stays open until 31 December 2001.

  12. Lyon Croix-Rousse shop

    Opening after extension and renovation of the Lyon-Croix-Rousse shop.

  13. Tax framework for associations

    1 January 2000: new tax status for associations.

  14. Premises in La Talaudière

    A4CM launches a major investment programme in La Talaudière (42), building a 160 m² facility with a 4 m-high warehouse, a workshop for preparing crafts, and a meeting room.

  15. Articles of association

    New articles of association adopted in two stages (February and July).

  16. Institutional recognition

    A4CM is recognised as a charitable association and may benefit from the tax provisions of French law (article 238 bis of the tax code, as amended by the 23 July 1987 patronage law) regarding deductions for donations.

  17. Roanne shop

    Opening of the Roanne shop (closed December 1998).

  18. Project in Bolivia

    Launch of the « Sicaya dikes » project (Bolivia).

  19. Fifth centenary and socios members
    • Celebrations for the fifth centenary of Latin America.
    • Creation of A4CM « socios » members (monthly donation by direct debit) especially involved in the association’s development programmes.
  20. Lyon Croix-Rousse shop

    Opening of the Lyon Croix-Rousse shop.

  21. Valberg exhibition

    Valberg exhibition (Alpes-Maritimes), renewed every year until 2012.

  22. Fair trade

    A4CM commits to fair trade, with the Rue Mi-Carême shop in Saint-Étienne fully refurbished in February 1992.

  23. Rue Mi-Carême in Saint-Étienne

    The future Rue Mi-Carême headquarters in Saint-Étienne opens with a permanent Latin American craft fair. In spring 1986, A4CM holds its first major exhibition in France: the Jimenez family altarpieces.

  24. Short film Letter from Bolivia

    Filming of « Letter from Bolivia », a short film about the Lekepampa school and its pupils. It wins the first Agena Trophy for best short film at the Agen international forum on voluntary cooperation.

  25. Founding of AUX 4 COINS DU MONDE

    Creation of the association AUX 4 COINS DU MONDE by amending the articles of AUX 4 COINS (founders: Nicole Vitel, Marc Lainé and François Durantel).

  26. Lekepampa school

    Laying of the foundation stone for the Lekepampa school in the Aymara community of Huarichulpala (Bolivia).

  27. The Forgotten of the Altiplano

    In co-production with Antenne 2, Nicole Vitel and François Durantel film « The Forgotten of the Altiplano » on the Bolivian Altiplano and in high-altitude mining areas. This long shoot paves the way for founding AUX 4 COINS DU MONDE.

  28. Origins of the association

    Founding of AUX 4 COINS, whose purpose is « knowledge and understanding of civilisations and cultures worldwide ». This original aim is still stated in the current articles of AUX 4 COINS DU MONDE.

A few shop picks