SCI Regranting Scheme to EU members in 202525

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 2025 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 2025 (101194475). 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

SCI received 9 applications for the regranting scheme in 2025, and after following an agreed-upon assessment process, 8 projects were selected:

A Step Forward: Upskilling of SCI Italy

Organised by Servizio Civile Internazionale Italia (SCI Italy) with an awarded grant of 10 000 €.

SCI Italy, based in Rome, Italy, organised a 9-month project called “A step forward, upskilling of SCI Italy”. The project worked on building capacity of volunteer camp coordinators and trainers by transmitting vital knowledge on the SCI movement, international volunteering and solidarity and peace work.

They organised a coordinator training, a training of trainers, an international assembly and a meeting of the international council reaching a total of 165 participants.

Activities included the following: 

  1. Coordinators training: Bologna, 23rd-25th of March, 26 participants, training and preparing participants as coordinators for volunteer camps by sharing knowledge about international volunteering, peace work and the involvement of volunteers
  2. Training of trainers: Berzano, 19th-21st of September, 13 participants, training activists to gain skills as trainers that they were able to tailor to their own needs with a tailored programme based on non-formal education
  3. National Assembly: 7th-9th of November, strategic discussions and decision-making for the organisation, election of the National Council
  4. First Meeting of the National Council: 12-14th of December, 5 elected members and 1 member of National Secretariat

Key Results and Impacts

The project enabled SCI Italy to maintain and foster partnerships with current and former partner organisations including Camere d’Aria, Comunita di Berzano and Artemista, which provided space for realising SCI Italy’s projects. This close contact allowed for networking, successful exchange of best practices and inspired some partner organisations to host new volunteer camps in 2026.

The number of participants for the coordinator training increased significantly from previous years which resulted in sufficient coordinator capacity for all current Italian volunteer camps. Moreover the trainings led to increased understanding of SCIs internal structures which prompted many participants to step up to coordination roles like positions as board members or in working groups.

The project also led to the creation of a toolkit that was written in cooperation with activists, SCI staff members, volunteers and the board and includes knowledge gained as well as reflections on the organised activities.

Learning from History III: 80 years after WWII, where are we now?

Organised by Service Civil International-Deutscher Zweig e.V. (SCI Germany) with an awarded grant of 17 000€.

SCI Germany, based in Bonn, Germany organised a 9-month project called “Learning from History III: 80 years after WWII, where are we now?”.

The project aimed to preserve, improve and promote the work of memorial sites in Germany through volunteer camps. The camps educated participants on forced labour, concentration camps and persecution of marginalised groups in the context of WWII and promote peace and human rights. It involved 131 participants.

The project locations included the following:

  • Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Ravensbrück Fürstenberg: Carrying out of archeological excavations
  • Gedenkstätte Buchenwald/ Weimar: Creation of memorial stones commemorating young victims 
  • Gedenkstätte Augustaschacht/ Osnabrück: Carrying out of archaeological excavations and documentation of findings
  • KZ-Gedenkstätte Hamburg-Neuengamme/ Hamburg: Gardening, restoration and refurbishment work, archive work, creation of print and online media
  • Gedenkstätte KZ-Lichtenburg/ Prettin: Creation of Wikipedia articles, redesigning of art installation, maintenance of outdoor area
  • Dokumentationszentrum NS-Zwangsarbeit/ Berlin-Schöneweide: Creation of texts for an online photo exhibition
  • Antifaschistisches Freizeit- und Erholungsheim Heideruh/ Buchholz in der Nordheide: Building and reparation work on the centre’s outdoor area
  • Dissemination seminar: workshops on peace, nonviolence, the future of memorial camps and today’s unstable international political system, creation of a Padlet for outcomes dissemination

Key impact and results

The project helped significantly to improve the infrastructure at the memorial camps. Multiple measures were taken, including gardening, establishment of footpaths, art installations, terraces, and the refurbishment of old furniture that can now be used to build a seminar house. Moreover, learning opportunities were improved through the creation of Wikipedia articles on the persecution of marginalized groups under national socialism, social media and newspaper content on the camps, the creation of an online exhibition and the excavation, cleaning and recording of archaeological finds for the exhibition.

Through the study camps and the practical work at the memorial sites, volunteers expanded their knowledge on German National Socialism, ranging from the history of the specific sites and different forms of forced labor, to the persecution of marginalized groups. They also drew connections between these past events and the present by discussing contemporary forms of forced labour and exploitation, the vulnerability of democratic systems to authoritarian transformation. Volunteers reflected on the roles of different actors in WWII, including the role of international organizations after 1945, thereby deepening their understanding of European values.

Publications made my the volunteers in newspaper and online, as well as interactions with visitors and the local community, additionally helped to promote the memorial sites and their causes.

The Creation of a Padlet enabled the dissemination and future consultation of the outcomes of the project.

Shaping the future: Sustainable and inclusive volunteering

Organised by Servei Civil Internacional de Catalunya (SCI Catalunya) with an awarded grant of 18 000€.

SCI Catalunya, based in Barcelona, Spain, organized a 10-month project called “Shaping the future: sustainable and inclusive volunteering”.

The project aimed to increase inclusion, sustainability and accessibility of volunteering through green travel grants, inclusion grants and mini volunteer camps. Overall participant numbers counted 72 direct participants and 50 indirect participants.

The project included the following activities:

  • Three mini volunteer camps (Elna, FESC, Vidalia)
  • Green travel grants
  • Communication campaign for green travel
  • Inclusion grants
  • Communication campaign for inclusion grant
Key impact and results

The inclusion grants successfully revitalized the interest in volunteering and improve relations with young people in the neighbourhood and the communication campaign achieved that the grants were able to extend their reach beyond Barcelona this year.

The grants also helped to establish connections with other inclusion organizations and merged talks with El Avets contributed to deepening and improving the relations with SCI.

No More War in 2025

Organised by No More War Group/Stichting Vrijwillige Internationale Aktie (VIA Netherlands), with an awarded grant of 17 000€.

VIA Netherlands, based in the Netherlands organised a 9-month project called “No More War in 2025” in cooperation with SCI’s No More War working group.

The project aimed to raise awareness on and educate about antimilitarist principles, and take action against war and further militarisation in a world marred with ongoing wars and genocides. The project included film festivals, online talks, a volunteer camp and an assembly of the No More War team. Including the impact through dissemination, it reached almost 31000 participants, of which 5204 participated directly in the project.

The activities were as follows:

  • Counter NATO-Camp: The Hague, June 2025
  • 5 Talks against War: April-November 2025 on topics from different contexts including Armenia, Sudan, DRC, Kashmir, and internal peer-to-peer dialogue
  • 3 Film Festivals against War: in Amsterdam, Berlin and Athens
  • Closed No More War Assembly: The Hague, November 2025
  • Online campaigns and dissemination

Key impact and results

The project succeeded in raising awareness on the importance of antimilitarist action. The film festivals and online talks helped to educate the public and SCI activists on wars and genocides in specific contexts, while drawing links to the international context with discussion and dialogue, using different educational formats and with expert speakers.

Both the Counter-NATO camp and the No More War assembly enabled participants, VIA Netherlands, and No More War to strengthen their work and positions, to network, and to bring forward new proposals. Additionally the Counter NATO-Summit helped VIA Netherlands to clearly position itself in the peace map of the Netherlands, and a representation of VIA’s sister organization “Vredensbeweging Pais” attended a council meeting and conference of War Resisters International in Barcelona which further helped to solidify this position.

They/Them: A series of discussions on LGBTQIA+ matters

Organised by Kinisi Ethelonton Service Civil International Ellas, (SCI Hellas) with an awarded grant of 9 000€.

SCI Hellas, based in Athens, Greece organised a 4-month project called “They/Them (a series of discussions on LGBTQIA+ matters”.

The project aimed to explore gender identity and queerness, challenge social narratives around the topic and foster a safe, inclusive and respecting community of LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies. It included 4 workshops with group discussions, guest sessions with LGBTQIA+ activists and visual storytelling and performances. In total 50 participants got involved.

The activities organised were a series of 4 workshops with:

  • Group discussion
  • Visual storytelling activities
  • Performance activities
  • Guest sessions with LGBTQIA+ activists
  • Sharing of personal experiences and backgrounds
  • Challenging stereotypes
  • Fostering meaningful connections and community-building

Key impact and results

The project succeeded in building an inclusive environment for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies. It fostered meaningful connections between individuals, and allowed participants to hear new perspectives and experiences from a diverse group of people. Participants had space to explore their own identities, challenge social narratives, and reflect on their own and others’ experiences through the creation of visual storytelling pieces and performances.

160 Years of Peace Volunteering and Activism

Organised by Voluntary Service International (VSI Ireland) with an awarded grant of 9 000€.

VSI Ireland, based in Dublin, Ireland, organised a 7-month project called “160 years of peace volunteering and activism”.

The project included a 160 Year Anniversary Celebration and gathering, celebrating VSI Ireland’s and its partner organization’s joint anniversary thereby aiming to raise awareness on the work of VSI and SCI. It also promoted peace, solidarity and intercultural dialogue, regional cooperation within civil society, and citizens’ awareness of EU rights and values. In total, 210 participants directly participated in the project, with another 600 reached through dissemination.

The activities organised were the following:

  •  160 years of Solidarity Anniversary Celebration, 5th of December 2025: Event celebrating VSI Ireland and its partner organizations Comhlamh and Afri’s joint 160-year anniversary. The event reflected on and spoke about the organizations’ histories and achievements through exhibitions, collective tapestry featuring words, symbols and photos, poetry and spoken word performances and a time capsule video with messages for the future.
  • Dissemination and communication: Promotion of the event via email, social media, websites and Eventbrite.

Key impact and results

The project strengthened the relationship between VSI Ireland, Afri and Comhlamh. Contact with other attending organizations and individuals helped to promote peace and intercultural dialogue. Moreover, the project successfully increased SCI’s visibility by spreading knowledge on SCI ‘s values and work and by promoting value-based volunteering. Together, these actions are hoped to increase the number of volunteer opportunities and participation. Moreover, the project fostered a culture of peace, by prompting participants to engage with these ideas.

DOBRO Project

Organised by Cooperation for Voluntary Service Bulgaria (CVS Bulgaria) with an awarded grant of 10 000€.

CVS Bulgaria, based in Sofia, Bulgaria organised a 7-month project called “DOBRO Project”.

It consisted of two activities, the DOBROfest and the DOBROcast. The aim of the project was to raise awareness on and promote active citizenship and volunteering, and amplify the voices of volunteers and activists to counteract the trend of shrinking civic space and NGOS being labeled as threats in Bulgaria. 139 participants were directly involved in the project, with indirect impact through online promotion and dissemination spreading to up to 8453 participants.

The activities organised were the following:

  • DOBROcast: 7-episode podcast with 14 guest speakers on the importance of NGOs, volunteering, antimilitarism and intercultural exchange
  • 10th of December 2025, Sofia, Bulgaria, DOBROfest: information stalls giving 30 local and international NGOs the chance to promote their causes, poster workshops, write for rights action, human library, human rights talks.

Key impact and results

The project successfully provided a platform to unite civil society by challenging stigmas around migration and minority inclusion, discrediting nationalist narratives, promoting the importance of NGOs in society, and thereby amplifying the voices of activists and volunteers. This was especially meaningful for young people who are particularly vulnerable to the influence of divisive narratives, and helped to inspire a new generation of active citizens. Additionally the project contributed to strengthening bonds between the participating organizations, in particular, deeping relations with Amnesty International Bulgaria who assisted CVS Bulgaria in the organization of the DOBROfest.

Circular Lab

Organised by Stowarzyszenie Jeden Światnternational (SCI Poland) with an awarded grant of 10 000€.

SCI Poland, based in Poznań, Poland, organised a 9-month project called “Circular Lab”.

The project aimed to promote sustainable lifestyles, responsible consumption and community engagement. Activities included a two-day training course, two culinary workshops, four upcycling workshops and three thematic webinars.

The project included 178 direct participants with distribution of online and print media succeeding in reaching approximately 30 000.

The workcamps organised were the following:

  • 2-day training course “Conscious Consumption and Local Ecosystems in the Practice of Circular Economy”: giving participants the opportunity to learn more about sustainable consumption patterns, circular economy models and how to apply them in practice.
  • 2 “Cook like Grandma” workshops, July and September: promoted sustainable food practices like plant-based diets, and low-waste cooking.
  • 4 “Do it like Grandma” upcycling workshops, September – December: promoted waste reduction through reusing and creative use of material.
  • 3 online webinars, November – December: deepening the understanding of systemic sustainability challenges.
  • Dissemination: Creation and dissemination of 9 educational materials through online posts and educational posters

Key impact and results

The project increased participants’ motivation to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle by increasing their knowledge and awareness on the impact of consumer choices, responsible consumption, alternative consumption models and circular economy principles. It also increased competences of educators and strengthened SCI Poland’s positions within the local sustainability ecosystem. The project helped to establish new connections with educators, strengthened collaboration with external moderators, reinforced local networks, strengthened community cohesion and social inclusion and facilitated exchange. The creation of 9 high quality and engaging educational materials on sustainable and circular lifestyles, available on SCI Poland’s website, spread information about the project to the public and served as inspiration for future activities.

Direct beneficiaries

70

SCI ITALY

FEMALE64.28%
MALE35.7%
OTHER0%

72

SCI CATALUNYA

FEMALE44.44%
MALE26.39%
OTHER29.17%

124

CVS Bulgaria

FEMALE84.68%
MALE12.9%
OTHER2.42%

131

SCI GERMANY

FEMALE64.12%
MALE33.59%
OTHER2.29%

50

SCI HELLAS

FEMALE26%
MALE42%
OTHER32%

210

VSI IRELAND

FEMALE60%
MALE38%
OTHER2%

178

SCI POLAND

FEMALE30.9%
MALE11.24%
OTHER57.78%

204

VIA NETHERLANDS

FEMALE46.75%
MALE36%
OTHER16.89%
6 039

DIRECT BENEFICIARIES

64 658

INDIRECT BENEFICIARIES

35

ACTIVITIES

EVENTS & TRAININGS45%
AWARENESS-RAISING17.5%
DISSEMINATION & COMMUNICATION37.5%

Our donor

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

co-funded by the EU