Exchange Platform Meeting 2025
In the heart of Bonn, Germany, among giant trees, two welcoming houses became home to 49 participants from across different countries, backgrounds, and continents. Over five days, they came together for a global gathering dedicated to strengthening volunteering projects and building peace through cooperation. The event, hosted by SCI Germany and funded by the CERV and Erasmus+ programmes of the European Union, was the 2025 Exchange Platform Meeting (EPM), a space where organisations from around the world unite to reflect, share, and plan the future of peace work.
49 participants from 33 organisations took part, including a significant number of first-time attendees and representatives from across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. The group brought together youth activists, experienced coordinators, project officers, and board members, creating a diverse and intergenerational space for learning and collaboration. Participants ranged from long-time SCI activists to first-time contributors stepping into international volunteering spaces, enriching the exchange with both experience and fresh perspectives. This diversity shaped every discussion and workshop, bringing a wide range of perspectives into the sessions.
The meeting was divided into sessions spread across five days, each facilitated to bring everyone together and create a space where participants felt safe to share their thoughts openly, without fear of being judged or misunderstood. The main theme was to reflect, plan, and envision the future of SCI’s peace work. This year’s EPM focused on staying strong and creative as a movement amid today’s challenges, from budget cuts and shifting global realities to fostering meaningful dialogue on complex issues such as Palestine and global solidarity.
The sessions began with inspiring activities that encouraged interaction and teamwork. One of the icebreakers invited participants to move around the room and find others with letters to form their names, a fun start that set the tone for the following discussions and workshops.
Over the five days, the programme included more than twenty structured sessions, combining plenary discussions, working groups, and open-space forums. Participants explored key themes such as youth and intergenerational activism, network cooperation, peace and political engagement, organisational development, and climate justice. Throughout the sessions, participants explored ways to better engage younger generations by understanding their needs, challenges, and motivations. They debated SCI’s stance on Palestine, discussed the Ethics Protocol and Online Placement System, and co-developed ideas for the Climate Justice Manifesto. Building on plenary discussions, they also developed concrete proposals for project collaborations among Erasmus-accredited organisations, as well as other initiatives, ensuring every voice was heard and valued.
The variety of session formats, including interactive icebreakers and open-space discussions, allowed participants to share experiences, exchange perspectives, and create concrete proposals for future initiatives. By the end of the week, the sessions had not only strengthened cooperation across SCI’s global network but also inspired actionable steps for a more inclusive, transparent, and engaged movement.
At the end of the meeting, participants proposed creating an SCI Youth Committee to strengthen youth participation in decision-making, drafted and finalised statements such as “Stop the occupation, not the Flotilla!”, and approved key proposals like rebranding workcamps.
Finally, after a huge food buffet, nature walks, and laughter late into the night, the meeting came to an end, leaving a strong impact on the movement. It fostered exchange, discussion, and practical steps to make SCI more inclusive, transparent, and true to its values of peace and global justice. The ideas and feedback, including the creation of the SCI Youth Committee and the Flotilla statement, will guide the organizers in planning SCI’s next steps. Voices from different regions and generations shaped these decisions, giving them a truly global perspective.
