SCI news

Are you curious to know what SCI Malaysia did for the International Day of Peace this year? As the restrictions were lifted, they were able to hold in-person activities. Find out more about what they did from Interfaith Peace Dialogue to Peace Promenade.

Noëlla is our new office volunteer, she’s 21 years old and comes from France. She will work on statistics, on the preparation of our big event International Committee Meeting, on the fundraising and donor management and on some events on Gathertown.

Are you an educator, a (to-be) trainer, willing to discover how to organise high-quality and more inclusive learning activities in both in-person and online environments? Apply for this training course! ? 27 October – 3 November 2022 ? Poznań, Poland ⏰ Apply by 2 October

Discover all the activities by SCI-India, Maharashtra State Group, in observance of the International Day of Peace. Their SCI Volunteers spread all over Maharashtra, in different cities, took a lead role in the activities, from mediation sessions, to drawing competitions, webinars and discussions. Get inspired!

SCI India, West Bengal State Group, organised a seminar on peace to observe the peace day, with many speakers, singing, dancing, poetry and an oath to peace.

From 24th August to 7th September 2022, 15 participants took part in a workcamp in organized by SCI Italy at “La Città dell’Utopia”. Throughout the camp they collected and discussed different stories about local, historical and current fascism.

Pauline, our new Project and Tech volunteer comes from France and joined the SCI International Secretariat in Antwerp. As she begins her journey with the SCI movement, she shares her thoughts, hopes and ideas for her long term volunteering project in Belgium.

Decolonise IVS project, initiated BY CCIVS together with ICYE, aims to build a new framework for decolonial thinking in International Voluntary Service Organizations making them reflect on diversity, equality and environmental sustainability from an intersectional perspective. With Decolonise IVS, workcamp organizations seek for the first time to go to the heart of the debate around decolonisation and to understand more about continuing forms of neo-colonialism including climate colonialism. If you are interested in the topic you can apply for their online dialogues.

Are you interested to know what is it like to volunteer in a summer workcamp in Sri Lanka? In this article one of our volunteers tells us more about their experience, the activities they did, the delicious Sri Lankan food and the kind people they met.

Gender equality in volunteering? This is the new project that SCI Madrid are organizing together with Greek NGO Genderhood. This project aims at promoting and encouraging non-profit organizations to incorporate the gender perspective in all their volunteering activities, through the development of an action plan that contributes to gender equality in a sustainable way.

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges that humanity has faced in the last centuries.The Youth Green Deal (YGD) project, putting climate justice at the center of the cooperation in the Mediterranean area, organized an eco-camp in Palestine to build an eco-village. To make sure that there is hope for future generations it is important to raise the voice of young people on important platforms on matters such as climate change, oppression and non-violence.

SCI Malaysia Penang Chapter wants to build an International Peace Park (IPP) that would become a place of peace and friendship for various cultural organizations to come together and have interactive sessions. They send a proposal to the state’s Chief Minister about this park and how it can promote peace and understanding.

SCI Sri Lanka held a 10-days summer workcamp in Kudagama fishing village focused on educational activities for the children and the youth of the village in order to teach them English and motivate them to attend school every day. The purpose of volunteers was to bring much needed outside recognition and acceptance to the village community.

SCI India West Bengal Group held a short-term camp focused on Environment, Health and Human Rights. They planted 600 Sonajhuri trees and also distributed 54 Mud apple trees. In addition they held awareness meetings, discussions with local youth, a drawing competition for the kids and cleaned a school campus.

In 2021-2022, SCI Hong Kong China works on the Global Development Education Project with three secondary schools to create a platform for students to work together across countries despite the limitations on international travel, to acquire knowledge, develop attitudes and skills as well as allow them to take actions towards creating an inclusive and just world. Read about the project!

What is the formula behind quality non-formal education? Is it possible in a digital environment? 28 people from 9 different countries gathered to find this out from 7 to 14 July 2022 in the village of Emen, Bulgaria. The Learning Lab(oratory) Training Course was part of the project “Learning Lab(oratory): quality non-formal education in the digital world”.

The Youth Green Deal project has been initiated by the MIDI working group together with partners from the South Mediterranean area and aims to mobilize young people to act against climate change through eco-volunteering. Hugo from SCI France tells us about their visual storytelling training course.

Become a volunteer for BASIDA, an NGO that provides medical and psychosocial support to HIV-positive, drugs addicted people and others with special needs. The volunteer will participate in the everyday life of the Centre, socializing with its community. From 8 to 21 August 2022 in Aranjuez, Spain. Apply soon!

In July, SCI Poland began their workcamp season, welcoming international volunteers to three camps: Trzcianka, Wydminy, and Lublin. Read more to know what they were about!

The European training “Grassroots Change: Volunteering, leadership and emancipation through hands-on work and mentoring” took place in Rome in June 2022. For one week, 17 participants from 8 different countries, through non-formal education, discussed how to create change by reflecting, with a global perspective, on how organizations and local communities can benefit from volunteering experiences with a focus on climate change.

SCI France is organising many workcamps this summer, go renovate the chapel of Saint-Jean with them!

In June, SCI Poland completed two long-term educational initiatives: the School of Solutions Journalism and the School of Climate Justice. Both of them consisted of a series of workshops organised for people who want to work for social justice — either through journalism or climate activism.

SCI Madrid hosted a DETOX YOUR PROJECT seminar about Reacting to Toxic Masculinity in Youth & Volunteering Projects that took place at the end of May in Madrid, Spain.

SCI Madrid joined Fevocam, the largest platform of volunteer entities in the Community of Madrid.

Here a few workcamps GAIA Kosovo is organising this summer.

Due to the massive economic crisis in Sri Lanka, some people don’t have enough money to feed themselves properly. Thanks to SCI India – Karnataka group relief fund donations, we were able to organise food distributions and hope to continue them in the months to come!

Each Sunday from 12 June to 10 July 2022, 10:00 – 12:00 CEST, you can meet online on Zoom to learn about peace and peace education. ⏰ Apply by 9 June.

Thriving teams are built on healthy collaboration, clear and common purpose, trust and equal voice. Their members talk easily, listen to and learn from each other; they foster diversity, respect and shared accountability. Please consider joining the Peace Education and Conflict Transformation team.

Are you interested in raising awareness for global injustices and how this is related to colonial history? Would you like to participate in the creation of campaigns with young people against neocolonialism? Join SCI Austria in this training course!
? 3 July and 17-23 July 2022 ? Online on Zoom, and in Austria or hybrid ⏰ Apply by 6 June!

Volunteers’ Centre of Vojvodina (VCV), our Serbian branch, needs your help to survive! They have been organising peace projects for many years and they need to continue their valuable activities. Donate! Their goal is at least EUR 4.510…we can do it together!

In April this year, IVP Australia held their second event under the banner of Raising Peace, dedicated to the topic of First Nations people. Watch the recordings if you missed it.

Are you interested in environment awareness, educational support or local communities empowerment? Apply now and discover the beautiful country of Sri Lanka!
? July and August 2022 ? Sri Lanka ⏰ Apply by 10 June!

Project café is looking for participants! Join from 30 June to 05 July 2022 in Bankya, Bulgaria to learn more about project management. Read the call and apply by 3 June 2022

From May 4th to 13th, young people from Austria, Greece, Hungary, Spain and Italy participated in the Youth Exchange Living Library Week organized by SCI Italy in Rome at La Città dell’Utopia.

On 10th May 2022 SCI Madrid and NGO Médicos del Mundo organized a workshop about the topic of Derecho a la Salud (Right to Health). The aim of the seminar was to explain how to achieve respect for the fundamental right to health and a life in dignity for every human being.

Our second International Volunteering Fair took place on Gathertown on Europe Day, 9 May, to welcome potential volunteers and answer all their questions about SCI’s projects. Read more to know how it went.

The International Secretariat of SCI is looking for a Project and Office Volunteer to join the team in Antwerp (Belgium) from 20 June, for one year. The volunteer is supported by the European Solidarity Corps programme of the European Union. Check the call and apply by 18 May 2022!

The International Secretariat of SCI is looking for a Communication Volunteer to join the team in Antwerp (Belgium) from 20 June, for one year. The volunteer is supported by the European Solidarity Corps programme of the European Union. Check the call and apply by 18 May 2022!

This international seminar on antimilitarist education and protest is looking for participants! 1-6 June 2022 in Kosovo. If you are interested in the topic, read the call and apply before 6 May!

Are you interested in projects in Africa? Join our infosession to learn about the possibilities!
? online on ZOOM ? on May 4th at 15:00 (CEST). Read more to register.

we are so happy to invite you to the second edition of our Online International Volunteering Fair on 9 May 2022, online on Gathertown – free entrance! Meet our organisations, discover all projects, and launch your volunteering experience with SCI!

The Gender Effect is a training of trainers on gender education. During one week, 27 young professionals from all over Europe and beyond came together to explore, learn from and develop skills within the various aspects related to the topic of gender.

Can trees leave a mark on humans’ lives? Read how to participate in this project from a volunteer in GAIA Kosovo that aims to bring awareness to deforestation problem through art and poetry rather than scientific facts.

SCI MIDI working group together with SCI partners from Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine and Jordan is implementing the Youth Green Deal project. The project aims to bring together young activists from Mediterranean countries around environmental issues and promote environmental workcamps among young people.

SCI Poland shines a light on the situation of Ukrainian refugees in Poland, plans and activities planned in their support.

Rangabali is one of the most remote disadvantage rural areas of Bangladesh and due to its geographical location no primary medical services are available. 

SCI Bangladesh in collaboration with SCI Japan build a Mother and Child Care Center in Rangabali Patuakhali in 2017. In response to the continues request from local community and considering the need of the peoples of Rangabali SCI BD organized the 1st free medical camp. Read more.

On 31 March, the film ‘Jiyan: la vie’ was screened at Ethnokino Bern. The movie is inspired by a true story of a 17 year old Syrian Kurd who arrived in Switzerland without his parents.

Refugees fleeing from war in Ukraine to Poland need our long-term aid. Please, support us in helping them adapt and integrate into the new community.

From March 12th to 21st, young people from Poland, Greece, Slovenia, France and Italy participated in the Youth Exchange Rhythm And Power organized by SCI Italy in Rome at La Città dell’Utopia. Read more about this project.

Raising Peace festival will continue in 2022! Learn more about this event, which will take place not only in Australia (Surry Hills) in person but also online!

Thirty two volunteers and youth workers met in Mutters near Innsbruck on March 6th, 2022 and embarked on a very intense week organised by SCI Germany and SCI Austria. They discussed ecological ways of travelling and sustainability. Read more about the project.

Living Library was a local event organised by SAVWA, that took place on 5th of March 2022.
In this unusual library people were the books, conversations replaced reading and difficult questions were expected, appreciated and encouraged. The ‘books’ represented social groups which face prejudice, discrimination or which have to deal with experiences that are difficult to talk about. Read more about this event.

We express our solidarity with the people of Ukraine. In particular, we express our solidarity with and support for peace movements and peace activists in Ukraine, Russia and internationally, as they resist the war. 
Peace is a choice that all parties in the conflict must commit to now! Diplomacy is the only real method for conflict resolution! No to war in Ukraine!

In January 2022, a Camp Coordinator Training took place in Harare, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Workcamps Association (ZWA) hosted 27 current and future camp coordinators and group leaders from across Africa. It was the kick-off of the project Grassroots change: Volunteering, leadership and emancipation through hands-on work and mentoring, coordinated by SCI Catalunya. Read more about this training.

« Chapter – Challenging propaganda through remembrance », is a project aiming at casting a light on propaganda before and during WWII, focusing on its role to enforce the concept of “enemy” – from national and ethnic groups to political opponents and social groups. Read about the implementation of the project and its phases.

Torrential rains caused massive flooding in several areas in Malaysia. SCI Malaysia managed to provide 138 pairs of new shoes for children affected by the flood. Read about their project in this story.

The Youth Green Deal project is delving into the theme of climate change. Organisations from both sides of the Mediterranean area wanted to put all their expertise together to improve and promote environmental workcamps as a tool to support climate change mitigation and regenerate biodiversity. Together they want to develop an eco-volunteering model that can inspire other organisations and build the organisations skills of all involved. Read more about this project.

How to navigate this increasingly polarizing and political world of communication? What does it mean that silence is violence? We want to invite you to an online seminar: “This House is on Fire: Seminar on political communication in SCI”. It will take place online, between 15-20 February. Let’s discuss and develop new ideas!

To commemorate International Human Rights Day SCI India organised a workshop for students. They discussed the meaning of human rights, the responsiblities and priviliges that they offer and ways in which these rights are violated. They shared the words about the evolution of our understanding of human rights and provided some insights on the situation in India and the actions that need to be taken to ensure our common safety and wellbeing. Read more about this event.

SCI KL, Malaysia celebrated this year’s UN Volunteer Day with a special event. They presented a 8 feet custom made Peace Pole engraved with 8 different languages reflecting the diversity in Malaysia to Alfred and Projek Nasi Ahad volunteers. See the effects of their work and read more about the projects.

We are looking for applications and participants for the second activity of the project MOVE, the “Landing and Spreading” seminar near to Innsbruck on March 6 – 13, 2022. The Project MOVE makes mobility a peace issue and considers the acute need to raise awareness and to promote critical reflection of current mobility choices in international volunteer projects and peace activities. Read the call and apply by 16 January 2022.

Every year we award SCI branches’ projects that deserve special mention because of their innovative nature or the impact they achieved. Discover the Pierre Cérésole awards of 2021!

We are very happy to invite you to SCI International Volunteering Fair on December 5th! This online fair will round up our 100th anniversary celebration, give you a glimpse of the global work done by SCI everyday and present you with many volunteering opportunities and inspirations.

Read SCI Italy’s statement with which they join the feminist and transfeminist tide that connects the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Robert Unwin, our long-standing volunteer and workcamper, participated in the events surrounding the 26th global United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). He shared with us three reports in which he details his experience.

International participants took part in a RutAlternativa Training Course, organised between 4-11 October in Novi Sad. Its aim was to explain the methodology of educational walking tours and to provide those who took part in it with knowledge and tools neccessary to teach others in their communities.

On the 7th of September SCI Catalunya, with the collaboration of SCI International Secretariat, VWAN Nigeria, ZWA Zimbabwe, SCI Italy, SAVWA South...

In conjunction with International Day of Peace that takes place on 21st September annually, this year SCI Malaysia has organized a virtual Human Library with the aim of promoting conversations on volunteerism to better our understanding of diversity to help create more inclusive communities across cultural, religious, social, ethnic differences. The topics for this Human Library is Volunteering for Peace.

On September 12th, young volunteers from across Europe arrived in Nuremberg to embark on a new adventure and learn about the sustainable options of travels and flying alternatives.

Erilda, our new Project and Campaign volunteer comes from Albania and joined the SCI International Secretariat in Antwerp. As she begins her journey with the SCI movement, she shares her thoughts, hopes and ideas for her long term volunteering project in Belgium.

Anaïck, our new Office volunteer comes from France and joined the SCI International Secretariat in Antwerp. As she begins her journey with the SCI movement, she shares her thoughts, hopes and ideas for her long term volunteering project in Belgium.

Kasia, a new communication volunteer from Poland, joined the SCI International Secretariat in Antwerp. As she begins her journey with the SCI movement, she shares her thoughts, hopes and ideas for her long term volunteering project in Belgium.

This July, thirty-one youth workers, volunteers and activists from ten European countries participated in a “Volunteering Project Management” seminar organised by CVS-Bulgaria, the Bulgarian branch of SCI. They met in Dryanovo to promote the philosophy and values of volunteering and deepen their knowledge of the volunteer project management.

IVP Australia, together with partner organisation, is organising the Raising Peace festival with the aims to celebrate and raise the profile of peace, to create opportunities for collaboration between peace organisations and to inspire young people to take action for peace. The festival will take place over 10 days: 16-26 September 2021 in Australia.

GAIA Kosovo’s volunteers created a community garden in an urban space that was left unattended for a long time, bringing a new energy and bright natural colors to the whole area. The work on the garden generated interactions, conversations, new encounters and a lot of smiles between people from different generations, grandparents and young children, teenagers and adults.

Volunteers at GAIA Kosovo organised a special Sunday fully dedicated to art, in the social and cultural place “Social Space for Deconstruction”. When people live their day to day life in a divided city, they sometimes need to rethink about what we, as humans, have in common, and the universal language of art can help us do that.

Youth centre CK13 from Novi Sad, where Volunteers’ Centre of Vojvodina (SCI Serbian branch) is based since 2018, is launching a crowdfunding campaign with the aim of raising funds for the purchase of new audio equipment for the Black House 13.

In July, SCI Malaysia held its Annual General Meeting, online for the second year, and launched its Heart in Action project.

IVP Australia wrote a report on their project called ‘Plants for Peace’ with the aim of environmental recovery after the catastrophic fires but also to help with mental health of traumatised residents.

From 25th of June to 4th of July OWA Poland organised Remembrance Week in Poland. The project was called “CHAPTER. Challenging Propaganda Through Remembrance” and it aimed to cast a light on propaganda before and during WWII, focusing on its role to enforce the concept of “enemy” – from national and ethnic groups to political opponents and social groups.