SCI news

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.

CVS Bulgaria is organising a Volunteering Projects Management seminar and is looking for participants! Read the call and apply by 30 June.

For European Youth Week (EYW) 2021, VSI Ireland organised an online photography competition, with the theme: Health and Recovery. Discover the winners!

SCI Catalunya organises the peaceweek “Strengthening the youth response against LGBTIQphobia” in Barcelona from the 16th to the 23rd of July. SCI youth workers from Germany, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, Belgium, Ukraine and Albania can apply before the 1st of July.

The MIDI working group of SCI condemns the use of military force and violence in Palestine and stands in strong support to Palestinian people and to all people who support their struggle.

Service Civil International, and particularly branches in the Asia Pacific region, register their concerns over the ongoing, escalating violence in Myanmar.

One World Association – SCI Poland is calling for participants for the camp “Volunteering vs. Violence – let’s turn theory practice”!

Antonella, Cristina, and Sandra share their experience in creating an online study camp!

Service Civil International is currently working on making impact measurement our standard practice. We are now looking for an online volunteer to support us with reviewing and creating several data collection tools (mostly surveys) which will be later incorporated into the SCI routines. Deadline to apply: 20.06.2021

SCI Malaysia organised an event to get people to appreciate the wonderful flowers they have around on this year’s Earth Day. To take photos of them, to get to know them by name, and share some personal feelings with these floral friends of theirs.

Report on SCI KL Malaysia’s Earth Day online event on the Theme ‘Rebirth the Earth’.

This project will join groups and SCI branches across Europe to build a collective understanding and strategy of how to tackle propaganda and the far right that has exploded across the world in the last decade.

Change Makers is an event based on the Living Library concept, where you will get in touch with stories about social and environmental justice, migration, empowerment, and disability.

Our Italian branch joins the collective appeal to the international community to stop the escalation of violence that the Palestinian territory is experiencing and expresses its solidarity with the Palestinian people.

A report on the online theater workshop organized by SCI Hellas volunteers in collaboration with the drama instructor Konstantinos Marougkas. The project was part of “Peace in Practice: Supporting young people to become peace envoys”, funded by the Council of Europe’s Youth Foundation. 

This March CVS – Bulgaria decided that “it’s peace o-clock” and initiated a Photo Hackathon on the topic, as part of the SCI’s Peace in Practice project supported by the European Youth Foundation of Council of Europe.

A report on the event that SCI India organised for the International Women’s Day celebration.

On the 15th of March, The Youth Gathering “Acts of Solidarity in times of (in)Differences” started in the city of Mitrovica. Implemented by GAIA’s team there and supported by the European Youth Foundation, the project brought together nine participants from all around Kosovo for training on media literacy and journalism.

The report on the physical workcamp organised by IVP Australia in preparation for the Goulburn Show.

Paula and Martin from SCI Catalunya share their experience preparing and facilitating an online study camp.

A report on the online project “Traces of Colonialism” organized by SCI Germany in cooperation with its partners in Kenya. Additionally, as a result of the project, a digital exhibition was created.

Have a look at the winners of the merchandise design contest in celebration of our extended 100 years celebration!

IVP Australia in the frame of a Plants for Peace project delivered approximately 300 plants to Lake Conjola on 5th Feb 2021 to assist with environmental recovery but also to help with the mental health of traumatised residents that had been in the path of the fires.

A report on the placement officer training which was held online this year.

Jonathan Healy, a volunteer at SCI Hellas shares his perspective about their street football project Bala Patissia in partnership with the municipality of Athens (Co Athens, Curing the Limbo) and the Umoja/Enosi football team.

Some initiatives that Open Doors working group from Útilapu SCI Hungary realised during a quarantine and social restrictions periods in 2020-2021.

Hasna, the new project volunteer at the International Secretariat introduces herself and shares her thoughts and expectations on her project.

The silent online exhibition by SCI Austria traces the history of National Socialism in Austria, remembering its crimes, persecution, and resistance, with a special attention to non-violent forms of resistance.

The Social Space for Deconstruction invited children and teenagers of Mitrovica to take part in a poetry project, asking them to write poems centered around the topic of dreams.

SCI Catalunya has created the Global Justice Capsules which provides a space for online training to anyone who wants to acquire a deeper knowledge on topics of global justice!

Lili who was a camp leader in the “Contemporary Witnesses of Police Brutality and Forced Labour in WW II” online camp, shares her experience with organising the online camp. We get to read the feedback from the participants as well!

Útilapu Hálózat, SCI’s Hungarian branch has been organising a solidarity project called ‘Open Pots’ where they gather and cook dishes from different cuisines of the world. It is a great opportunity to get a taste of new cultures and to exchange knowledge. Not to mention the leftover food is donated to people in need!

ICM 2020 has just ended! It was an intensive week with discussions, voting, and learning from each other and for the first time ever, the international committee meeting took place online.

In their autumn meeting, Útilapu Hungary set their goals for the future and celebrated the 100 years anniversary of SCI!