DOBROCAST SCI Edition

For its first international edition, Dobrocast is traveling the world with Service Civil International (SCI) — a global volunteer movement dedicated to building a culture of peace through practical action, and of which CVS Bulgaria is a proud member.

SCI is more than an organization, it is a peace movement with over a hundred years of history. And as our guests repeatedly remind us, it often feels like a global family.

Open to everyone and independent from any political or religious affiliation, SCI puts its values into practice every day. Thousands of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds take part in short- and long-term projects across the world. Together, 42 branches and a wide network of partner organizations work to promote peace, solidarity, and intercultural understanding through volunteering.

This season takes you across continents — from Bulgaria, Serbia, Germany and France to Italy, Sweden, Bangladesh, Mauritius, the United States and Australia. Along the way, you will hear stories from volunteers, activists, and not one but two SCI presidents — both women — sharing their perspectives on peace, activism, and change.

We also explore the roots of anti-militarism within SCI through the work of the No More War Collective, an integral part of the movement since its founding in 1920.

Join us on this journey. You might just discover your own way into volunteering!

Episode 1:

In the first episode of Dobrokast – SCI Edition, we speak with Antonella Di Matteo, President of Service Civil International (SCI), and Alexandra Vasileiou, member of SCI Hellas and former International President of SCI.

We talk about their personal journeys in SCI, from their first volunteer experiences to the roles they later took on at local and international level, and what continues to motivate them as activists today.

Episode 2:

In this episode, we meet Kerry and Wilbert from the No More War Collective.

We explore their roles within SCI, the three pillars that shape their work, and the origins of the collective as it exists today. We also look at what makes No More War unique within the broader movement.

The episode discusses what activists need to bring if they want to join the collective, what to expect, and what they can take away from the experience.

If you want to understand SCI’s anti-militarist work and upcoming initiatives, this episode is for you.

Episode 3:

In this episode, we meet Katarina (CVS Bulgaria) and Lea (CVS Serbia) to reflect on the resilience of their branches and the lessons learned along the way.

We talk about what it means to build impact, create safe spaces, and support people through volunteering structures that are constantly evolving.

We also explore the cycles of volunteering, how people join, leave, return, and sometimes find their way back again, stronger and more grounded than before.

Episode 4:

In this episode, we are joined by Mateo from SCI Italy and Tanja from SCI Sweden.

Together, we reflect on their personal journeys within SCI and the development of their respective branches. We explore what makes a volunteering experience truly unique, how it impacts both communities and volunteers, and what participants should expect when joining projects in Italy or Sweden.

A warm, insightful, and often joyful conversation about learning, exchange, and transformation through volunteering.

Episode 5:

This episode brings together SCI Germany and SCI France, two of the oldest branches in the movement.

We reflect on their long histories, including the roots of SCI and anti-militarist activism in Europe. The conversation also explores their work with partners in the Global South and the responsibilities that come with long-standing international engagement.

We discuss preparation, volunteering practice, and the importance of reflecting on history including colonial legacies — within international solidarity work.

A conversation about responsibility, memory, and the meaning of volunteering.

Episode 6:

In this episode, we travel — at least through stories — to Africa and Asia with Kami from SVI Mauritius and Parag from SCI Bangladesh.

Parag reflects on his first volunteering experience in Europe over 30 years ago, while Kami shares her journey and recent appointment as branch president.

We explore how both organizations were shaped by responses to natural disasters, and how climate justice has become central to their work today.

A powerful exchange on leadership, history, and climate action in volunteering.

Episode 7:

In this final episode, we speak with Sandra and Lucia from IVP Australia and SCI USA.

We reflect on volunteering as a partnership built on trust, responsibility, and community support.

Together, we ask: What do short-term volunteers really gain? What motivates people to join? And what does it take to truly support volunteers in meaningful ways?

A thoughtful closing conversation on the meaning and impact of volunteering across contexts.