Volunteer work for schools with SCI Switzerland

We began our collaboration with schools in 2022. Since then, we’ve sent more than 180 students to projects in different parts of Switzerland.

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We're committed to a culture of peace

The students spend between 2 – 3 days (one week including return travel) supporting a local community project. The projects support social change, social justice or environmental protection.

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We train on peace

During the project, we offer a workshop on interculturality, social justice, sustainable development and non-violent conflict resolution.

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We have a network

We work with local projects in all of Switzerland’s language regions. The projects are related to the environment, social work and culture.

TESTIMONIALS

What the participants say

“As teachers, through volunteering, you get to know the pupils from a completely different angle, which is very valuable. The breathtaking natural scenery and the pleasant feeling of having done something meaningful were great motivators for me.”

Davina L., teacher at the Campus Muristalden (Berne)

“I found this week and especially the working days exciting because we were able to see life from a different perspective and find out what life in the countryside is like, for example.”

Victoria D., student at the Campus Muristalden (Berne)

“The trip to Parc Ela was a great success. The students and we teachers were delighted with the way SCI and Parc Ela organised the event. As we only had two days of work, the student’s motivation was not a problem. The students worked very hard over the two days. I enjoyed doing some ‘clean-up’ work with the project and my class. I’d like to thank SCI once again for your commitment. We were able to get the most out of this effort and the whole week.”

Kathrin D. B., teacher at the Reussbühl Cantonal School in Lucerne

“The work was hard, but at the same time I found it meaningful because we were able to help farmers who didn’t have the time to do everything. The feeling after work was quite positive because you know that tiredness comes from work and that you’ve done something.”

Vivienne T., student at the Campus Muristalden (Berne)

“I think it was great to help the people there, even though the work was hard. It was definitely a meaningful activity and it also motivated me. The farmers’ work was really impressive, as these tasks are part of their daily routine. But they also showed us respect, which was reflected in their gestures during the shared meals.”

Alina R., student at the Campus Muristalden (Berne)

“I liked this work because it was something new for me. I didn’t know anything about managing pastures for cows.”

Laurin S., student at the Campus Muristalden (Berne)

More testimonials

What is a school volunteer program?

School volunteer programs are short-term voluntary activities lasting 2 to 3 days. Students from different Swiss schools work together to support a social, ecological or cultural project in another language region of Switzerland. Together, they learn about mutual respect and understanding through collaboration.

School volunteer programs’ goals:

Volunteering in a social, environmental or cultural project
Acquiring a range of skills and competencies
Informal learning
Cultural exchange in another language region
Strengthen teamwork skills

Projects

We work with local projects in the Grisons, Ticino and the French-speaking Switzerland. The projects are mainly in the environmental field. For more information, please contact us: nathalia.zimmermann@scich.org

What does SCI Switzerland and its partner organisations offer?

SCI Switzerland:

Preparation and follow-up of the mission
Camp visit by an SCI staff member or a local volunteer
Workshop: During the project, a workshop on various topics, such as social justice, sustainable development, equal rights, non-violent conflict resolution, and much more, will be held so that the young participants can discuss the topic in depth. Through dialogue and intercultural exchange, we can promote a critical understanding of the world and change in our society.

Partner organisations:

Simple accommodation (scout hostel, school, youth hostel, tent, etc.)
Simple catering (self-cooking, camp kitchen)
Study part: This is where you learn about the project and the theme of your workcamp.

What do the participants need to organise?

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Travel

Travel to the project

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Equipment

Good shoes, sleeping bag, suitable work clothes etc. (detailed information will follow after registration on the information sheet)

Conditions of participation:

Motivation and willingness to actively participate in work and group activities, no prior knowledge or professional qualifications are required
Minimum age: High school or above (ideally from 15 years)
Evaluation of the workcamp after return

Costs for participants:

Participation fee CHF 100 per participant
Travel costs (you have to organise and pay for the trip yourself)

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.).

More information

Do you have any questions?

Contact us if you have any questions or for personal advice on 031 381 46 20 or nathalia.zimmermann@scich.org

Group study trips to Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan

If you would like to experience a cultural exchange abroad with your class, we also organise trips to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. We have local projects in both countries that are willing to host you.

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Who are we?

SCI Switzerland is part of the international network Service Civil International (SCI). For over 100 years, SCI Switzerland has been committed to global peace in a broad sense through volunteer work at national and international level, for social justice, sustainable development, equality, solidarity and non-violent conflict resolution. Under the slogan “Volunteering for Peace”, it enables volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds to work on non-profit projects. By working together, they experience mutual respect and understanding – without prejudice. Volunteering thus becomes a symbol of a peaceful and co-operative world. SCI Switzerland is politically and denominationally independent.

Our program includes workcamps, long-term volunteer placements, eastward projects, seminars and local projects.