Your contact person

Find out about the conditions of participation, costs, what SCI and partner organisations offer and how to register:

• Motivation and willingness to actively participate in work and group life, special advanced knowledge or professional qualifications are not needed
• Minimum age: generally 18 years, selected workcamps 16 years
• Basic knowledge of English or the specified workcamp language
• Participation in the preparation seminar (if possible)
• Possible application for a visa on your part
• Evaluation of the workcamp

• Work on a non-profit project, intercultural exchange, new friendships and many great experiences! Every workcamp also includes a study part: you get to know the project and deal with the topic of your workcamp.
• Simple accommodation (school, youth hostel, tent, etc.).
• Simple catering (self-cooking, camp kitchen).
• Invitation letter for visas, if needed.
• Preparation and evaluation of the assignment.
• One-year membership in SCI Switzerland (incl. members’ journal, free participation in international trainings and seminars, etc.).
• Additional insurance for accidents, illness and liability during the workcamp.

1. Read the conditions of participation (above).
2. Find your workcamp on the search engine.
3. Workcamp search engine: register directly online (1) and log in (2).Your registration for a workcamp is binding. As soon as you have been accepted into a workcamp, the registration fee is due. This means that if you withdraw your application but have already been accepted at a work camp, you will be charged the registration fee, even if you have not yet confirmed your participation in this work camp. Cancellation fees will be charged in the event of cancellation.
4. Find out about travel expenses, visa requirements and health questions.
5. Do you still have questions? Read our FAQs about workcamps.
6. Contact us if you have any questions: placement@scich.org / 031 381 46 20.

What happens next?

We will check your registration carefully and if you meet the conditions of participation, we will forward it to our local partner organization. They will decide whether you will be accepted into the project. As soon as we have an answer, we will inform you. You are now either definitely registered for the workcamp or we will look for an alternative workcamp together with you. If your placement is successful, we will send you the invoice for the workcamp, which is now due. You formally confirm your participation to SCI Switzerland by e-mail.

COVID-19 and Workcamps 2023

• Workcamp in Switzerland: CHF 190*
• Workcamp abroad: CHF 240*
• Workcamp online: CHF 190*
• Mini-Workcamp: CHF 120*
• There is a CHF 30 discount for non- and low-income earners.
• For asylum seekers or refugees, SCI Switzerland covers the costs incurred. See more information here.
• Scholarship for young people with vocational training: SCI Switzerland has a scholarship programme and we can award scholarships for young professionals. Thanks to this, young graduates and young professionals have all programme costs covered 100%, as well as travel costs.
• Some workcamps have additional program costs on site. These are listed on the workcamp search engine in the respective project description. These costs must be paid in advance or on site at the project.
• Travel costs (you have to organise and pay for your own travel).
• Visa and travel insurance (if required and at your own expense).
• If you would like to participate in one of the workcamps of Tent of Nations (Palestine), the association Zelt der Völker will cover the additional programme costs on site (CHF 150) for participants living in Switzerland. Interested? Get in touch with us!

*The membership fee of CHF 90 is included in all workcamps. If you have already paid this, you will receive a corresponding reduction – also for the second workcamp in the same calendar year (second workcamp: abroad CHF 150, in Switzerland CHF 100; second mini-workcamp: CHF 30).

*Cancellation fee in case of cancellation after placement: 60% of the participation fee up to three weeks before the start of the workcamp; 80% in case of later cancellations. Re-placement fee in case of rebooking after registration: CHF 50.

If you are unable to pay the participation fee, please contact us at any time and we will find a solution.

What is your participation fee used for?

SCI Switzerland is a certified non-profit organisation. We rely on participation fees, membership fees and donations to organise volunteer engagements, place volunteers and for the preparation and follow-up of volunteers and camp coordinators. The participation fee only covers a small part of the actual costs. SCI Switzerland is mainly supported by its long-standing members and donors as well as government subsidies. The local project partners also contribute a great deal themselves to the realisation of the projects (work camps, long-term engagements, etc.).

Make a contribution as a