This research explores previously unexamined archival materials, shedding light on overlooked figures in Algerian history. Drawing extensively on unpublished sources, including the Germaine Tillion Collection at the French National Library, the study reconstructs the work of the Service des centres sociaux. These centers, established by ethnologist Germaine Tillion in areas lacking local governance, were inspired by UNESCO's documents on fundamental education. Their mission extended beyond improving literacy rates, aiming to empower newly literate individuals to actively participate in societal transformation. The analysis compares the initiatives of these social centers with the charitable activities of the North African missionary Church in the suburbs of Algiers and Oran, within the bidonvilles, and in rural Kabylia. While occasional collaboration is acknowledged, the study emphasizes the centers' deliberate move away from traditional charity. Instead, they adopted a structured, scientific pedagogy that prioritized integration and addressed critical issues, such as gender equality—topics often neglected by the Church. By highlighting these contrasts, the research underscores the innovative approach of the Service des centres sociaux in fostering long-term social change.