Service Civil International is an international volunteer movement that has been working for peace and international solidarity since 1920 through the organization of
international long-term volunteer workcamps, seminars and international awareness and information campaigns.
Mission and vision of SCI
SCI’s vision is a world of peace; social justice and sustainable development, where all people live together in mutual respect and without resorting to any form of violence
to solve conflict. SCI’s mission is to promote a culture of peace by organizing international volunteering projects with local and global impact.
SCI Hellas was founded in 1983 and deals with volunteer work in workcamps and a number of programmes related to peace, youth work, the environment, human
rights and social inclusion.
Values of SCI
Apart from its mission and vision SCI is being guided in all its activities by some core values. Our work is based on the following principles and values: Volunteering,
selfless contribution to social interest in collaboration with local communities Peaceful coexistence Respect for Human Rights International Solidarity Respect for the environment Social integration Empowering / Supporting people to improve their living conditions Collaborate with local communities as well as with local,
national and international stakeholders.
Every voluntary project, meeting, exchange or training has to be in line with these
values:
Volunteering - in the sense of acting out of self-initiative, without seeking material reward and for the benefit of civil society, as a method and a statement for social
change, whilst never competing with paid labour nor seeking to contribute to strike- breaking.
Non-Violence - as a principle and a method.
Human Rights – respect for individuals as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Solidarity - international solidarity for a more just world and solidarity between human beings on all levels.
Respect for the Environment – and the ecosystem of which we are part and on which we are dependent.
Inclusion - to be open and inclusive to all individuals who share the aims and objectives of the movement, regardless of gender, colour, religion, nationality, social
status or political views and any other possible grounds for discrimination.
Empowerment - providing people with means (knowledge, tools) to understand and act in order to transform the social, cultural and economic structures that affect
their lives at all levels.
Cooperation - with local communities as well as other local, national and international actors to strengthen the positive potential within civil society as a whole.
SCI has a consultative role with UNESCO and the Council of Europe and is a member of the Coordination Committee for International Voluntary Organizations (CCIVS) and the European Youth Council (YFJ). The Greek section of SCI is called SCI Hellas Volunteer Movement" and has been in operation since 1983 exclusively thanks to the voluntary contributions of its members and friends. It organizes volunteer work programs in Greece and helps Greek volunteers participate in similar programmes abroad. Its main action is Workcamps.
WHAT IS A WORKCAMP? A place where people from different cultures, ideologies, nationalities and ages live and work together to implement a local programme. It is
initiated and implemented upon the initiative of local groups and designed to bring concrete benefits to the local community. It supports local initiatives and does not replace paid work
FOR HOW LONG: 10 - 20 days
WHERE: Europe, North America, Latin America, Middle East, Australia, Asia, Africa
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: People from different countries, cultures and starting points. You must be at least 16 years old to participate in a workcamp in the US / Canada, 18 to participate in a workcamp in the North and 21 in the South. There is no ceiling, unless a particular workcamp sets an exception.
LANGUAGE: English is the most common language of workcamps. If any other language is needed, this is stated in the description of the particular workcamp.
WHEN: The majority of the programmes are from May to October.
COST: Accommodation and meals are provided, and the volunteer covers travel expenses and application forms.
WHY WOULD I BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER?
Experience of other cultures
Exposure to new ideas
Knowledge of new skills, e.g. practical skills, language
Getting to know and forge friendships with people from different countries and cultures
Being satisfied that you are working on a useful program
Each year more than 5,000 volunteers participate in 2-3 week workcamps around the world. Living and working together in an international group of people from
different backgrounds and nationalities helps to break down the boundaries and prejudices between nations. You pay for the trip, we provide food, a place to stay
and the most amazing experience of your life.
Workcamp directory
Workcamps are categorized according to the country where they are implemented and / or their topic.
Indicatively you can:
Assist in organizing music festivals around the world in Belgium
Get involved in organizing a festival of European citizens in Finland
Assist in the construction of an open-air theatre in Hungary
Do organic farming in India
Get involved in the construction of a solar water heater in the UK
Teach English at a tribal school in Zambia
Offer Iceland coastal clean-up aid
…take advantage of hundreds of other opportunities in over 60 countries!
