No War Anywhere!

PROJECT DURATION

January – December 2023

Engaging youth in antimilitarist education
People group picture
No War Anywhere logo

The background

2022 has seen the escalation of war in Europe and around the world. SCI Austria and GAIA Kosovo organized the project “Not Your Soldier” in order to strengthen antimilitarist education within SCI and to bring together young people affected by military conscription.
SCI, a historic peace organization, needs to take a stand against war and militarism and its effects around the world. SCI has to form alliances with other peace networks (such as War Resisters International and International Fellowship of Reconciliation). The question of how to communicate on these issues, in a coherent and efficient way, as a global and diverse movement, led to writing No War Anywhere!.
This project brought together young people from different European realities to exchange on the topic and to get active. It addressed urgent and important questions (such as antimilitarist utopias, nuclear disarmament, military-industrial complex, etc.), and offered young people the space and tools to stand up for peace.

The objectives

Explore alternatives to militarism and map possibilities for antimilitarist futures with young people

Create spaces for discussion and exchange, and organise grassroots peace campaigns

Inform a wide network of young people about the importance of Peace through a large, connected, international campaign for International Peace Day 2023

Define a clear action plan to strengthen antimilitarist education in SCI and improve cooperation with antimilitarist networks

Create an open and accessible tool for communication, advocacy, and campaigning, and harmonise a communication strategy within SCI

The activities

The project included 2 in-person activities, 1 virtual one, grassroots communication campaigns and the development of an online course.

16-22 April 2023 in Rome

The first seminar was held in Rome, Italy, welcomed 22 participants and focused on learning and brainstorming about antimilitarist futures, what actions can be taken locally, what can the networks involved contribute to. Read here Noella’s and Jac’s testimonies.

25 June – 2 July 2023 in Vienna

The second in-person activity was an advocacy and communication training, hosted by SCI Austria, in Vienna for 24 young people. It allowed participants to know more about advocacy around this particular topic and to initiate their peace campaigns, on very diverse topics. Subscribe to NWA! newsletter to be informed regularly on the campaigns’ progresses.

July-September 2023 in different countries

During the summer, participants developed communication campaigns. The aim was to advocate for change and to bring visibility to antimilitarism and its effects and consequences.

September 2023 online

A virtual exchange took place, involving all those interested in No More War. It allowed everyone to grasp the project’s current status, broaden the conversation, incorporate diverse perspectives, and initiate the development of a unified antimilitarist communication strategy. We aimed to build a sense of connection among individuals devoted to antimilitarism internally, while externally, to unite people in the pursuit of antimilitarism.

End of 2023 online

One of the final outcomes of No War Anywhere! was the online course on advocacy and communication on learning.sci.ngo. The content was created by both the team and the participants in all of the activities.

Project Updates

To receive more information about the project, about antimilitarism in and outside of SCI, you can subscribe to NWA!, the SCI Antimilitarist newsletter. Find our issues 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5.

    Partners

    SCI logo
    SCI-IS
    International Secretariat, based in Antwerp, Belgium.
    The IS overviews the No War Anywhere! project, manages logistics and communications and supports the creation of the online course.
    SCI Austria
    Austria
    SCI Austria hosted the communication and advocacy training, that happened in July in Vienna, Austria.
    SCI Italy
    Italy
    SCI Italy hosted the Utopians Against War Seminar, that happened in April in Rome, Italy.
    PVN Albania
    Albania
    CVS Bulgaria
    Bulgaria
    YEU Cyprus
    Cyprus
    Youth for Exchange and Understanding
    IVS GB
    Great Britain
    SCI Hellas
    Greece
    Change Multipliers
    Greece
    Movimente Nonviolento
    Italy
    Member of War Resisters’ International
    VSI Ireland
    Ireland
    GAIA
    Kosovo
    SCI Catalunya
    Spain
    SCI CH
    Switzerland
    FoR UK
    United Kingdom
    Fellowship of Reconciliation

    Funders

    The No War Anywhere! project is co-funded and made possible by the Council of Europe through the European Youth Foundation and the European Commission’s CERV Programme.