NON-FORMAL-EDUCATION
Education for a fairer world – seminars, tools and projects
Learning. Act. Change.
At SCI Switzerland, we believe that education is more than just imparting knowledge – it is a tool for understanding, a means of promoting peace and a catalyst for social change. Since our foundation, we have been committed in many ways to a world without violence, discrimination and social inequality. Our educational work is an expression of this commitment – critical, intersectional, anti-racist and inclusive.
What is non‑formal education?
Non‑formal education includes structured learning processes outside the formal education system. It is based on voluntariness, participation and learners’ needs. Through methods like workshops, group work and interactive exercises we foster social skills, critical thinking and active engagement.
“We believe that education plays a fundamental role when striving for peace and development. Education is a human right. In our training courses, we use the Non Formal Education (NFE) method – meant to be participatory and accessible to everyone. Through dialogue and intercultural exchange, we can promote a critical understanding of the world and changes in our society.“
SCI Team
Our thematic focuses
Whether local or international, online or on-site: our educational interventions target people who don’t want to stand still. We work closely with partner organizations and trainers worldwide to promote intercultural exchange and global solidarity. Our programs cover a range of socially relevant topics, including:
- Climate justice & ecological sustainability
Workshops on environmental protection, veganism and sustainable living. - Peace & non violence
Education on nonviolent communication, antimilitarism and conflict resolution. - Gender & social justice
Seminars on gender equality, equity and empowerment. - Volunteering & social transformation
Projects on democratic participation and social change. - Anti racism & decolonization
Reflection spaces on racism, privilege and global justice.
We use non formal education as a tool and method in our SCI seminars and trainings, both nationally and internationally. Our events bring together participants from different countries to learn from each other and develop joint solutions to global challenges. They are open to all young adults, regardless of background, education or experience.
We value inclusion and diversity and encourage everyone to contribute actively and realise their own ideas. Many of our offers and mobility projects are funded by Movetia – the Foundation for Mobility and Exchange.
Our offers
We also organise workshops in schools and other educational institutions, offering creative and interactive formats using non formal learning tools. We have implemented seminars and education formats such as:
- 2020 – Training Course ‘Peace in Practice’ financed by Movetia and the European Youth Foundation (EYF)
- 2025 – Interactive introduction ‘De-colonise: Recognising colonial heritage – reflecting on voluntary work’ at the Parkonia Festival Bern
- 2025 – Workshop ‘Decolonising Swiss neutrality’: Critical discussion on neutrality and (neo)colonial dependencies. For the 1 May Committee Zurich
Interested in an educational offer delivered by SCI Switzerland?
Contact Loretta with a brief description of your request: loretta.scherler@scich.org
Peace training courses
“Peace is a big concept. It has many layers and levels of understanding. Throughout this year and beyond, SCI hopes to broaden young people’s understanding of and engagement with peace, as something more than just ‘absence of war’. We want to show that peace is something which can be lived on a day-to-day basis”. (SCI International)
Peace in Practice (2020)
The training course shed some light on the three levels of peace (“inner peace”, “peace with others” and “peace with nature”).
Peace for Change, Change for Peace (2022)
The project goal was to build the capacity of around 60 youth workers to gain competences essential for building a peaceful and nonviolent world.
Educators for Peace (2023 - 2024)
We organised 2 training courses (November 2023 & April 2024), where the participants learned, shared and exchanged on how to work for peace.
Environmental and climate advocacy training courses
Eco Stories: Engaging Youth in Environmentalism and Climate Advocacy (2025)
In 2025, we offer two training courses to empower youth and organizations in climate activism, fostering impactful actions for environmental preservation locally and globally.
Publications, tools & educational materials
Knowledge that works: Here you will find materials developed by SCI Switzerland and international partner organisations – for self-study, for use in educational work or for inspiration.
- Handbooks & readers
- Working materials and accompanying booklets
- Online toolkits on activism, inclusion, sustainability & co.
- Collections of methods for trainers and multipliers
- Documentation on seminars, camps and projects
Resources for self-study
Decolonize Tool
An educational tool designed to give a deeper and clearer understanding of volunteering and “volontourism”.
Recipes for Feeding Communities
The vegan, sustainable cookbook is for use during trainings and other projects.
The Power Behind Good Intentions
A toolkit for critical European volunteering organisations and Global Education practitioners
Free to be You and Me
The toolkit provides information on gender and sexuality, practical guidelines and easy-to-use tools
Dailyplate Project
A toolkit and a cookbook about how our values should and can be represented in our food consumption
Peace on the Streets
Tools, best practices, knowledge around campaigns and street actions for youth workers and peace activists
FA-SILLY-TATORS!
Exploring humour in non-formal education and youth projects
Building Bridges
Know-how on voluntary projects involving asylum seekers & refugees as well as raising awareness on forced migration
Publications from other organisations
Project "BreakFree!"
The ‘BreakFree!’ project is a joint project of the SNYC and Milchjugend in cooperation with ‘Du bist Du’ and aims to strengthen the inclusion of LGBT+ young people in youth organisations.
Follow-up ressouces
“My Peace Journal”, a guide to encourage reflection and action for peace
Peace in Practice Poster
The poster is available in different languages, colors, sizes, and symbols. We already have the versions in Albanian, Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bulgarian, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, and soon more!
We hope you can be inspired by these small inputs for your daily practice of peace!
Peace policy actions
Der SCI Schweiz unterstützt das Referendum „Zivildienst retten“
Schütze mit uns den Zivildienst und unterstütze Referendum “ZIVILDIENST RETTEN!” - Nein zu den Verschärfungen des...
Erfahrungsbericht: Besuch des Projektes Tent of Nations in Palästina (2022)
Peter, a member of SCI Switzerland, was in Palestine in 2022 and visited one of our project partners. The Tent of...
Workshop zur Zukunft des SCI Schweiz: Austausch zur Friedenspolitik und den Bedürfnissen unserer Freiwilligen
Wir laden euch ganz herzlich ein, am Samstag 30. November von 14-17 Uhr an unserem Workshop mit anschliessendem Apéro...