WEEKEND EXCHANGE

What is a weekend-exchange?

What is a Weekend Exchange?
Get involved – in a short amount of time, in a meaningful way together with other people!

Would you like to get involved in the environment, community and solidarity – but only have a weekend to spare? Our weekend exchanges are short, eventful volunteering projects (2-3 days) where you work together with others on community-based projects. In nature, with commitment and open for everyone.

The camps are open to people with and without a refugee background aged 16 or more (sometimes 18+) and are often family-friendly – so kids are welcome too! Together we create encounters, break down prejudices and actively work towards a sustainable future.

💡 An ideal place to get a first idea of volunteering. Here you can get a taste of what it’s like to volunteer in an SCI project, meet new people and experience the spirit and values of SCI Switzerland first-hand.

As a volunteer, I was given a fantastic opportunity to be introduced to a vegan and sustainable farm through explanation about its running and by assisting in the carrying out of several tasks such as building fences and clearing up grass for land maintenance. Spending time with the family while working, cooking, chatting or playing boardgame was also very valuable because it contributed to the forging of a favourable feeling towards their lifestyle, which is to some extend different from mine.
Bruno, volunteer in a weekend-exchange about “Veganism and Sustainability”

What you can expect

 

  • Duration: 2-3 days, mostly over the weekend

  • Location: Various regions of Switzerland

  • Topics: Mainly ecological projects (e.g. permaculture, biodiversity, sustainable lifestyle), as well as occasional cultural and social assignments

  • Target group: People living in Switzerland with and without a refugee background aged 16 / 18 and over

  • Costs: CHF 60 registration fee, possibly small additional contribution towards expenses for food and accommodation

The next camps will take place in summer and autumn 2026 and will be published here in spring. We look forward to your participation!

Why take part?

Get out & experience nature

Get out of the daily grind and into nature – switch off, get to work and take a deep breath. Get involved in ecological projects in Switzerland and help to maintain and preserve valuable cultural landscapes.

Get to know new people

Meet at eye level – in a diverse, open group. You meet people from different backgrounds on an equal footing and set an example of respectful cooperation and solidarity.

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Try out volunteering

Try out volunteering without obligation and find out whether it suits you. Once you have gained experience, longer projects such as workcamps and long-term volunteering are open to you.

Solidarity in action

Get active together for the environment, community and integration. Whether permaculture, biodiversity or sustainable agriculture – you are in the thick of it instead of just being there.

Experience the SCI spirit

Discover the values of SCI Switzerland: peace, sustainability & international friendship. Our mini-workcamps are characterised by openness, equality and the conviction that small deeds can make a big difference.

News

Other volunteering projects

Workcamp

Workcamp

Together with volunteers from various countries, you support a social, ecological or cultural project abroad or in Switzerland

1 – 3 weeks

Long Term Volunteering

Long-Term-Volunteering

Make a substantial impact in a charitable project in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe or North America

1 – 12 months

European Voluntary Service

European Voluntary Service

Work with non-profit organizations and companies in Europe. All costs are covered by the Movetia Foundation

6 – 12 months

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