SCI Re-granting Scheme to EU members in 2024

Background and aims

The International Secretariat (IS) of Service Civil International (SCI) invited proposals from its member organisations based in European Union (EU) member states, for projects planned to take place in the 2024 year. This was possible in the scope of SCI’s Operating Grant under the EU’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV), Partnership on Peace 2024 (101140494). The aim of the Re-granting Scheme is to financially support network branches to carry out activities which promote the core values of SCI and the values of the European Union (EU).

Selected projects

We received 6 applications for the regranting scheme, and after following an agreed-upon process, the following 6 projects were selected:

Peace Education Centre

Organised by Stowarzyszenie Jeden Świat – SCI Poland with an awarded grant of 17,000€.

SCI Poland, an NGO based in Poland, organised a 7-month project called Peace Education Centre, with activities related to peace, education, social justice, anti-discrimination and inclusiveness.

The project consisted of a conference, an open day, two trainings and a school initiative featuring 15 challenges promoting teamwork and the principles of peace.

Events and activities

SCI Poland celebrated its 30th anniversary by inaugurating the Peace Education Centre on September 20th with a conference on “How to Educate on Peace in Times of War.” The event brought together experts, stakeholders, and former members to discuss peace education.

The celebrations continued with an Open Day, featuring interactive workshops, games, and quizzes on nonviolent communication, offering visitors a hands-on introduction to SCI Poland’s mission.

Capacity building was a key focus, with two specialized training sessions. A two-day workshop equipped peace educators and students with conflict resolution tools like the “onion method” and nonviolent communication. A second training on December 12th engaged nine volunteers in creative crafts, fostering collaboration and cultural awareness.

The project concluded with “+1000 Aura Points if You Act for Peace,” a school initiative with 15 challenges promoting teamwork and peace-building. Students managed small-scale projects, receiving highly positive feedback.

Impact and Key Results

Beyond welcoming new participants, the project significantly expanded SCI Poland’s network of contacts among local and international youth, as well as generated new collaborations with schools, broadening its impact to a more diverse student and teacher population. Feedback from the participants indicates increased knowledge and confidence in conflict resolution and the ability to prevent potential disagreements.

The Centre itself became a vital hub, seamlessly connecting and integrating all of their educational initiatives. It serves as a central point for promoting peace education, offering a dynamic space where educators, students, and partners can come together to exchange ideas, share resources, and collaborate on best practices.

The project also highlighted SCI’s presence in the third sector within the Polish community and additionally helped reflect on the future of their operations.

Reviving Community Building Through Quality Volunteering

Organised by Zavod Voluntariat with an awarded grant of 19.298€.

Zavod Voluntariat, an NGO based in Slovenia, organised a 8-month project called Reviving Community Building Through Quality Volunteering.

The project consisted of digital transformation of internal processes and external communication, a new TikTok channel to reach youth, a volunteer activity booklet, outreach events (both online and in-person).

Events and Activities
Through this project, Zavod organised seven in-person events and a range of online campaigns, reaching over 2,200 people with information on international volunteering. They launched a TikTok channel to connect with younger audiences, created a digital booklet showcasing Club of Volunteers activities, and developed key internal documents to support digital transformation.

Impact and Key Results
The project refreshed the organisation’s internal systems, improved outreach, and strengthened ties with local partners and SCI branches. It fostered a stronger sense of community among volunteers and opened space for future collaboration. It laid the foundation for a more efficient, visible, and inclusive organisation, while identifying clear next steps to build a sustainable digital infrastructure that can prevent burnout and support long-term growth.

Learning from history II – working for world peace and raising democratic awareness

Organised by SCI Germany with an awarded grant of 16.000€.

SCI Germany implemented a multi-month project focusing on historical learning, remembrance culture, and anti-fascism through international volunteering. The project included six international work and study camps at memorial sites, a dissemination seminar, and cooperation with partners from the Global South. Activities combined hands-on preservation work, historical education, and creative outputs, fostering intercultural dialogue and critical reflection on peace and democracy.

Events and Activities
SCI Germany successfully organised six international work and study camps and one dissemination seminar. The camps took place at historically significant locations, including former concentration camps, a forced labour camp, a prisoner of war camp, and an anti-fascist recreation centre. Each camp combined hands-on volunteer work with in-depth historical and political education, focusing on themes such as peace, memory, and democracy. Participants engaged in archaeological work, improved infrastructure, and created public artistic outputs. They also explored the history of National Socialism and reflected on current global political challenges.

Impact and Key Results
The camps had tangible benefits for the sites, the public, and the international volunteers. Local infrastructure was improved, and historical awareness was deepened—especially in regions with strong right-wing sentiments. For volunteers, the camps offered transformative learning experiences on peace, memory, and democracy. The dissemination seminar further amplified the outcomes, leading to long-term commitments such as including awareness practices in all SCI events and future assemblies.

A Path Forward – Together for Climate Justice

Organised by KVT Finland with an awarded grant of 17,000€.

KVT Finland carried out the project A Path Forward – Together for Climate Justice to explore how international volunteering can promote climate and environmental justice. The core activity was a weekend seminar in Hämeenlinna, to discuss sustainable volunteering, ethical travel, climate anxiety, and inclusive activism. A follow-up documentary screening and discussion further deepened the reflection.

Events and Activities
In October, KVT Finland organized a weekend seminar on climate justice and sustainable volunteering, bringing together 38 participants for workshops, discussions, and creative sessions. Topics included ethical volunteer travel, climate anxiety, peace in voluntary work, and inclusive climate action. The event also featured nature walks, music, and a sauna evening. A follow-up documentary screening and discussion on water justice was held in November.

Impact and Key Results
The project energized KVT’s volunteer network, inspired new board members, and produced ethical travel guidelines now integrated into training. It strengthened inclusion, sparked collaboration, and deepened KVT’s commitment to climate justice in international volunteering.

No More War in 2024

Organized by VIA Netherlands in cooperation with the No More War (NMW) collective with an awarded grant of 16.702€.

The project aimed to challenge militarism and explore non-violent alternatives to war through a rich programme of events, digital campaigns, and community-building efforts. Running from April to December 2024, the project revitalised SCI’s anti-war spirit and strengthened connections with other peace movements.

Events and Activities

The project included a diverse range of online and in-person actions focused on peace and antimilitarism. Three anti-war film festivals were organised in Amsterdam, Brussels, and Berlin, bringing people together for screenings, discussions, and exchanges on the human cost of war. Five online “Talks Against War” explored themes such as climate justice and militarism, conscientious objection, queer resistance, and the role of youth in peacebuilding. The “Wikipedia for Peace” online camp involved young activists in researching, writing, and translating articles about antimilitarist figures and movements. Two “Peace Messenger” trainings equipped participants with tools for storytelling, non-violent communication, and digital peace activism. A collective assembly strengthened coordination and shared vision within the No More War network, while three digital campaigns spread messages of resistance and hope across Europe.

Impact and Key Results

The project revitalized SCI’s pacifist identity and gave new energy to the No More War working group. It engaged new activists and partner organizations, amplified feminist, queer, and ecological perspectives on peace, and fostered collaboration with international networks l broadening the movement’s reach and relevance.

WE ARE IN(clusive): Social and Youth Empowerment

Organised by SCI Catalunya with an awarded grant of 14,000€.

SCI Catalunya implemented the project WE ARE IN(clusive): Social and Youth Empowerment to promote inclusion and youth engagement in volunteering. The project focused on creating accessible paths into volunteering for underrepresented groups and strengthening local connections between people and grassroots initiatives.

Events and Activities
The project included three main actions: an inclusion grant that enabled participation in international workcamps, three miniworkcamps offering short, hands-on local volunteering experiences, and the successful translation and dissemination of SCI’s Inclusion Protocol. Volunteers were actively involved in outreach, communication, and implementation.

Impact and Key Results
The project strengthened long-term engagement with local organizations and helped break down barriers to international volunteering. The translated protocol has already inspired other SCI branches, such as SCI Belgium, to create or adapt their own inclusive guidelines, expanding the project’s impact beyond Catalonia.

Direct beneficiaries

77

SCI POLAND

FEMALE81.82%

MALE18.18%

OTHER0%

82

SCI SLOVENIA

FEMALE50%

MALE20.73%

OTHER29.27%

115

SCI GERMANY

FEMALE64.35%

MALE33.04%

OTHER2.61%

37

KVT FINLAND

FEMALE62.16%

MALE35.14%

OTHER2.7%

266

VIA NETHERLANDS

FEMALE45.11%

MALE39.85%

OTHER15.04%

22

SCI CATALUNYA

FEMALE72.73%

MALE22.73%

OTHER4.55%

599

DIRECT BENEFICIARIES

8875

INDIRECT BENEFICIARIES

ACTIVITIES

EVENTS & TRAININGS36%

DISSEMINATION & COMMUNICATION32%

AWARENESS-RAISING32%

Our donor

SCI’s Re-granting Scheme (FSTP) is funded by the European Union’s CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values) Programme. Grants are available for CSOs in EU countries.

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