Our Impact

Since over 100 years Service Civil International Switzerland (SCI) organises volunteer projects around the world with the aim of promoting peace in the broadest sense: from social justice to sustainable development, and from equality to solidarity and non-violence. Over time, we have increasingly invested in non-formal education, recognizing it as a transformative tool with lasting impact on both individual and societal levels. We also assume social responsibility by actively engaging in key peace policy debates, positioning ourselves within a tradition that is peace-oriented, anti-militaristic, and committed to international solidarity.

How it works

Our main goal is to bring people from different countries and backgrounds together so that they can learn, live and work alongside one another while collaborating with local partners, initiatives and activists. This enables participants and volunteers to:

• break down prejudices;
• learn to cooperate;
• make a direct impact on the project they are working on;
• carry these values back to their communities.

That is the essence of our work and our dedication!

Our work thus has a positive impact not only on the thousands of volunteers we have placed and supported so far, but also strengthens local communities, protects ecosystems and contributes to public debate.

Our contribution to the SDGs

 By bringing people together across borders, SCI Switzerland fosters mutual understanding and contributes to a fairer, more peaceful and more sustainable world. In this way, it supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its work focuses in particular on SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), 13 (Climate Action), 16 (Peace) and 17 (Partnerships). The SDGs are promoted through non-formal education, the empowerment of activists, environmental projects and collaboration with local and international partners.

What impact do we create?

Peace & Conflict Reduction through

• International Volunteer Camps and Trainings in Switzerland
• People from over 50 countries live and work together in Switzerland
• Swiss residents participate in an international volunteer project
• Training Series “Peace in Practice”
• A local network with activists, NGOs and sustainable producers
• Campaigning for civilian service and organising such placements
• Active involvement at a political level in issues relating to peace, demilitarisation and social engagement

Social Justice and inclusion through

• Participants with an asylum-seeking background can participate in a volunteering project for free
• For swiss residents in vocational training, we cover up to 100% of the costs of participating in international volunteering projects
• Swiss residents with limited financial resources can benefit from a reduced participation fee
• International activists, youth workers and experts can participate in our international training sessions in Switzerland free of charge

Environmental Protection through

• Muliple volunteer camps in ecological fields within Switzerland
• Supporting projects in the areas of biodiversity and habitat conservation including removing invasive vegetation, sustainable landscape and forest management and traditional alpine agriculture
• Volunteers gain hands-on knowledge in ecology, botany, and sustainable practices through direct collaboration with local experts and communities.
• International Traing Series “Eco Stories” on climate activism

Intercultural Exchange and Learning through

• Workshops and international trainings on subjects like decolonizing volunteering, international solidarity, global justice
• Participants from around 50 countries in Trainings in Switzerland
• Trainings and educational ressources on de-colonize volunteering
• A network with project partners in over 90 countries
• Event series “Living Library”, where the books are people
• 2 local intercultural projects in Bern

Our Impact in Numbers

Project areas and volunteer demographics