Dear SCI friends around the world,

As we approach the end of this year, I would like to address all of you and ask for your support to SCI.

Approximately at the same time last year, I wrote a similar letter. SCI then was in a very uncertain financial situation with no European operation grant received for 2022, posing significant challenges to the very survival of the international SCI structure. Luckily that changed soon after and we did receive an important CERV grant that has allowed us to re-emerge from the temporary crisis and try to re-launch SCI. We have taken the opportunity to invest in improvements in SCI, such as the revamping of the Online Placement System or starting measuring impact on a regular basis every year.

We cannot count on receiving this level of funding every year. Already for 2024, the EU suddenly announced a reduction of the previously agreed budget. This led to reducing our ambition in continuing the path we initiated this year. 

The truth is that we are too dependent on this external source of funding, making SCI vulnerable and long-term planning difficult. It is also stressful for our staff and the volunteers that are putting a lot of energy and time into projects whose future is always uncertain.

Our fundraising strategy aims to diversify sources of funding. 

The most reliable source and that which would give us the highest level of independence, is YOU! 

A high level of Individual donations would make SCI stronger and more sustainable!

Therefore, this year, as we did last year, we call upon all of you to commit to a one-off or, even better, a regular donation, according to your means. No amount is too small. To do so, please use one of the following:

1. Become a SCItizen! An easy way to send us a regular (monthly or annual) donation and at the same time become part of a family of supporters to whom we will send regular updates through newsletters and the annual report. 20% of your donations will go to branches in need, while the rest to support the international level.  
2. Simply use the donation form choosing between a general donation or one of the two funds you would like to support. Again, regular newsletters along with our annual report  will be sent as well for all to see where and how your money has been spent.

I became a SCItizen since 2021 with a monthly subscription and I hope you will join this community. We will keep you updated with how we use your donation. We should enable SCI to use its resources to follow more the agenda defined by its members and be less subject to conditions set by big donors.

I thank you in advance on behalf of the whole team in the IEC.

Silvio Martinelli, SCI International Vice President