Service Civil International (SCI) is a volunteer organisation dedicated to promoting a culture of peace by organising international voluntary projects for people of all ages and backgrounds. The organisation consists of 43 branches and an ever-growing number of partner organisations.

SCI offers a variety of volunteer opportunities to people, such as short, mid- and long term projects, but also the possibility to become active for a local branch or participate in a seminar or training.

  

Short term voluntary projects, commonly known as workcamps, are organised in cooperation with SCI branches and partner organisations, who in their turn cooperate with local communities. 

 

What is it

A short term voluntary project is a unique form of volunteering, bringing together people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds to live and work together with local communities for a period of two to three weeks.

Fees

Everyone who joins a workcamp needs to pay a membership fee to his/ her SCI branch (the sending organisation). SCI is a non-profit organisation and therefore able to keep participation fees low. This makes the workcamps accessible to people with fewer resources.

In some countries, SCI has special programmes for young people with fewer opportunities that facilitate their participation in short term projects.

The project hosts will provide volunteers with food and accommodation during the project but not during their travels to and from the project. Volunteers will have access to drinkable water.

Diversity of workcamps

Every year thousands of short term voluntary projects are organised in different fields and with different types of voluntary work, for example:

– organise an open-air cinema with the Roma community in Kosovo;

– experience life in an eco-village in Finland;

– run activities for refugees in Kenya;

and more.

 

How to apply

Projects are regularly listed on an on-line workcamp database. 

To apply you must register online on your country branch and create your account. Once you have registered you can log in and complete an application form that will be submitted online to your SCI branch (member organisation). Some SCI branches may ask you to pay the placement fee before processing your application.

In case your country does not currently have a branch, please contact SCI International for further support.

 

Read more here.