International Secretariat (IS)

Sint Jacobsmarkt 82

2000 Antwerp Belgium

Tel. 32.3.2265727

E-mail: info@sciint.org

www.sciint.org

Antwerp, Belgium – May 2013

servicecivilinternational sciint sciint

sciint sciinternational

11.. AACCKKNNOOWWLLEEDDGGEEMMEENNTTSS

We are grateful for the support received in 2010 from (in alphabetical order):

� Council of Europe – European Youth Foundation � European Commission � Private Donors � SCI Branches

We would also, and most of all, like to acknowledge the valuable support received from numerous volunteers and staff persons from all the branches of our international organisation.

Council of Europe – European Youth Foundation

This publication has been funded with support from the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme’ of the

European Commission. It reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held

responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

22.. TTAABBLLEE OOFF CCOONNTTEENNTTSS

1. Acknowledgements

2

2. Table of Contents

3

3. Foreword from the International President

4

4. Introduction

5

5. Structures of SCI

7

6. International Voluntary Projects 2012 9

i. Short Term Projects 9

ii. Long Term Projects

13

7. Where did SCI work in 2012 15

i. Europe 15

ii. Asia-Pacific Region 20

iii. North and South America 22

iv. Middle East and Mediterranean (MIDI) 23

v. Sub-Sahara Africa

25

8. Thematic Focus in 2012 28

i. Peace Education 28

ii. Social Inclusion 30

iii. Intercultural Understanding and Dialogue 31

iv. Sustainability and Climate Change 34

9. International Coordination in 2012 37

i. International Secretariat 37

ii. International Executive Committee 38

iii. International Archives 39

iv. Strategic Planning 40

v. International Meetings 40

vi. Creation of New Partnership Regulations 43

vii. Communication and External Representation

43

10. Annual Accounts 2012 47

11. SCI Branches and Groups in 2012 48

12. SCI Partner and Contact organisations in 2012 49

13. International Coordination in 2012 51

33.. FFOORREEWWOORRDD FFRROOMM TTHHEE IINNTTEERRNNAATTIIOONNAALL PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT

No rest for SCI volunteers in 2012…

2012 has been year full of activities for SCI worldwide: thousands of volunteers joined the SCI international voluntary projects in all corners of the globe, supported by all 44 member organisations. It is incredible, how SCI still finds new ways of interpreting its role in society as an international voluntary movement that promotes a culture of peace and social justice. In 2012 this became visible though the development of new and innovative ideas, such as the Peace Caravan and the Branch Coordinators Meeting. The Peace Caravan has been the largest initiative in the network since many years. It became a success thanks to the stubborn effort of many SCI activists and branches of SCI. SCI activists travelled from Finland to Spain and crossed many other countries along their way, while visiting various voluntary projects, where they inspired the volunteers to see the connection between the local aspects of their activities and its impact on global challenges. At a more internal level, SCI has seen new levels of cooperation between the various member organisations. For the first time the Branch Coordinators Meeting took place: a practical and operative platform where ´people-who-know-how-to-do-things´ met and discussed future plans and directions of SCI. The meeting was able to bring a new perspective to SCI that has been especially helpful in understanding the diversity of situations in which SCI member organisations are operating worldwide. Apart from the member organisations, there has also been a lot of attention to the way by which SCI establishes and maintains cooperation with partner organisations. In 2012 the SCI partnership regulations have been reviewed and reformulated. The new regulations are an important tool in maintaining and assuring quality standards of our volunteer exchanges and workcamps worldwide. The new regulations are also developed to make SCI a more open network that reflects the enormous diversity of our world. In the promotion of international voluntary projects, SCI has been the first amongst all international volunteer networks to create the concept of an Online (Live) Talk Show, aiming at informing people – through audiovisual material and live interviews - about existing opportunities to volunteer. This event has enhanced new positive energies among SCI activist who were able to share their experience, while at the same time, the event produced lots of interesting audiovisual material about SCI projects. In this framework the Live Talk Show, can become a tangible opportunity for the collection and dissemination of the SCI volunteer experience annually. In short, 2012 was a year full of new experiments that brought new energies and new tools to our movement. I hope you will enjoy reading this report, and especially the personal stories of our volunteers who all dream of building a world of peace and social justice. Paolo Pagano

SCI International President

44.. IINNTTRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN

Service Civil International (SCI) is one of the world's largest international volunteering organisations with more than ninety years of experience in coordinating international voluntary projects. Through these projects SCI helps break down barriers and prejudices between people of different social, cultural and national backgrounds and promote a culture of peace. SCI’s vision is a world of peace; social justice and sustainable development, where all people live together with mutual respect and without recourse to any form of violence to solve conflict. SCI’s mission is to promote a culture of peace by organising international volunteering projects with local and global impact. SCI was founded by Pierre Cérésole, a Swiss engineer who established a peace and humanitarian movement in the aftermath of the 1st World War and laid down the foundations of SCI in 1920. From the modest size in the 1920s, SCI has developed into an international peace movement and international volunteering organisation with 44 member

organisations in countries all over the world. SCI has established an even greater number of partnerships with like-minded organisations from all continents. SCI is open to all. It was one of the first organisations to divest itself of all political or religious affiliations in its work of promoting peace and intercultural understanding through practical action. Every year, SCI enables thousands of volunteers to participate in its work. Living and working together in an international group gives the volunteers a chance to create a network of international contacts. The voluntary work is designed to introduce volunteers to the range of problems that communities face in the struggle for peace and social justice. The work aspect, as much as the social contact with local people, is a unique way of acquiring a deeper understanding of problems that people are facing in one’s own country and abroad.

Workcamp, Senegal (2009)

There is a great diversity in SCI’s approach to voluntary work. Apart from short term international voluntary projects (usually 2 -3 weeks) there is also a medium and long-term programme under which volunteers can be actively employed for several months up to a year. While international voluntary projects remain SCI’s main activity, other work is being developed in a broader socio-economic context through various projects and campaigns. Trainings and seminars in the field of non formal education are also becoming an important aspect of SCI’s work. To ensure the unity of and cohesion within the organisation and in order to pursue a coherent policy, SCI has set up national and international coordination structures. However, the emphasis is placed on the grassroots base of our organisation: the volunteers and their practical work initiatives.

Basida workcamp, Spain (2011) - © Anne Medley

55.. SSTTRRUUCCTTUURREESS OOFF SSCCII

The highest decision making body in SCI is the International Committee Meeting (ICM), which meets once a year. All the branches of SCI are members of the organisation and they all have voting rights in the ICM. SCI branches can send one delegate and one or more observers. The International Executive Committee (IEC) and the International Secretariat (IS) are responsible for preparing the ICM. In December 2012, this important meeting was held in Malaysia and hosted by SCI Malaysia. The members of the International Executive Committee, including the president, vice-president and treasurer, are elected at the ICM. The IEC is responsible for implementing the decisions made at each ICM and it has a mandate to make in-between policy and management decisions. In 2012 the IEC consisted of the following persons:

Mihai Crisan International President and Acting International Treasurer

Paolo Pagano Vice President Grazyna Pulawska Member Klaudia Bencze Member Matteo Testino Member Kata Somlai Co-opted IEC Member in 2012 At the ICM 2012 in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Mihai Crisan ended his third term as IEC member and his second term as International President, while Grazyna Pulawska and Klaudia Bencze ended respectively their second and first terms as IEC members. Kata Somlai was elected an official IEC member by ICM delegates, while Mihaela Dobroiu, Živa Cernec and Katja Löfgren were all elected as new IEC members. Paolo Pagano was elected International President. Organisations that want to become a member of SCI can apply for SCI Group status. SCI Groups may apply for SCI Branch status if they have been active for at least 2 years, have evidence of administrative stability, are officially registered with the authorities in their own country and undertake moral and financial obligations in support of the movement. The ICM grants branch status upon recommendation of the IEC. In 2012 one organisation was accepted as new SCI group: GAIA Kosovo. In countries where SCI has no branches SCI cooperates with partner organisations. Partners are like-minded organisations that are selected according to a fixed procedure and furthermore evaluated on their annual activities. Most of the partners are based in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa. In 2012 the ICM voted for VYA Taiwan as new partner organisation of SCI, while two other partners’ organisations –

IPYL Palestine and ACJ Morocco – were removed from the list of partners after continuous negative evaluations. Apart from groups, branches and partners, several international working groups are active within SCI. When a group starts its activities it can apply for working group status in SCI. Once received the official working group status, it needs to present an activity report, financial results, budget for the coming year, and an action plan at each ICM. The ICM votes whether the working group status can be maintained. The following international working groups were recognised and active in 2012:

• LTEG (Long-Term Exchanges Group)

• SAVA WG (Balkans)

• YUWG

• Abya Yala WG (Latin America) (no official status after 2012)

• Africa WG

• Asia International WG

• Midi WG (Mediterranean region)

• GAIA – sustainable development and climate change

All branches can choose which international working groups they want to support and join. A branch that joins an international working group as a member carries a financial responsibility for a possible deficit of that working group. Besides the officially recognised working groups other informal structures were active in 2012:

• Peace Messengers Network

• No More War Initiative Other bodies in the SCI international structures are the Financial Advisory & Consultancy

Team (FACT) and the International Insurance Commission (IIC). Both meet once a year and advise the international treasurer and/ or the IEC, the ICM, separate branches and international working groups on respectively finances and insurance matters.

IEC members and branch delegates during the ICM 2012, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia (2012)

66.. IINNTTEERRNNAATTIIOONNAALL VVOOLLUUNNTTAARRYY PPRROOJJEECCTTSS IINN

22001122

I. SHORT TERM PROJECTS

SCI organises short term international voluntary projects, commonly known within SCI as ‘workcamps’. These projects are organised in cooperation with SCI’s network of branches and partner organisations which in turn cooperate with local organisations and communities. A short term international voluntary project is a unique form of volunteering, bringing together people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds to live and work together with local communities for a period of 2 -4 weeks. The projects aim to break down barriers between people and to develop international understanding, cooperation and solidarity. There is always a study element to the projects and a strong emphasis on intercultural learning.

Volunteer at Kiburanga Project, Kenya (2012)

Every year thousands of short term voluntary projects are organised in different fields and with different types of voluntary work. There is always something that will interest you!

For example, did it ever occur to you that you could go abroad to…

…participate in art projects aiming at awareness raising of human rights with Roma communities in Kosovo?

…organise games and other activities for asylum seeker children in Belgium?

…work in a permaculture project in the Swiss mountains?

…support activities aiming at women´s empowerment in Kenya?

…renovate a Budhist temple in Sri Lanka?

…support the daily work in a Wildlife park in Mexico?

Find out more on www.sciint.org for

search for a workcamp on

www.workcamps.info

Karolina Rymer (campleader), workcamp Ter Dennen- Belgium (2012)

Workcamp in asylum seekers centre Belgium - by Karolina Rymer

…together with volunteers we are sitting in a crowded and noisy canteen having our meal.

Something is different and everybody can feel it. All of a sudden, completely unexpected,

kids approach us, and surprise us with chocolates and handmade drawings with words of

gratitude for our work. This is the moment when we actually realise, that this is THE

END….our workcamp in a Belgian center for asylum seekers is over.

For two weeks we were living, sleeping, eating, working and having fun together. When I say we, I mean a group of eleven volunteers, coming from different countries and with different backgrounds, varied personalities, experiences, expectations and motivations to work. I am not sure if there is a better way to get to know and become close to other people in such a short time, than by doing what we did. There were people interested in refugee policy in Belgium and those who simply wanted to improve their English and make new friends. However, we had one thing in common: if there was anything we could do to make those two weeks brighter for kids and inhabitants of the centre, we were ready to do that!

People in the centre come here for different reasons, but what they all have in common is that their own countries failed to ensure their basic human rights. The moment we started to understand the hard situation of the people in the centre, is when we heard their personal stories: sad stories, stories of hardship and real human suffering. Living with those people in one centre, eating together everyday in one canteen, taking care of their kids, playing cards with them, listening to their stories and in spite of their suffering still seeing many with a smile on their faces...is an extraordinary and unique experience.

We are glad and satisfied with what we have done. Seeing children smiling and happy is something we will never forget and it is a true reward for our work. In the end of the workcamp we talked about if and how it changed the way we see many things. By living and working together we broke some stereotypes that we did not even realised we had. We learned a lot about ourselves, and we now realise how lucky we are ourselves. What is more, we managed to create something really valuable: a team with a positive spirit which is also a beginning of a few really good friendships.

Workcamps , Tanzani (top), Switzerland (middle), Austria (bottom) (2012)

SUPPORTING TOOLS AND SYSTEMS Online Placement System (www.workcamps.info)

During 2012 a team of international volunteers continued to work on the development of the SCI international database of workcamps. This system, hosted on www.workcamps.info has the nickname OPS in SCI (standing for Online Placement System) and has acquired a strategic place in SCI over the last years. In fact this system allows the 100+ members and partners of SCI to smoothly advertise and share international voluntary projects worldwide. In 2012 serious challenges regarding the development of the system as well as the needs of international organisations, have grown together with the extreme digitalisation of our work. To date, the SCI system integrates all the communications needed to perform a reliable and serious placement in the interest of volunteers travelling worldwide to for their service and also includes a feature to collect statistics, needed to assess the role and the impact of volunteers.

Tech Team

The tech team is a group of volunteers that was established in 2011 with the idea to improve the IT infrastructure of SCI at international level and give support to branches in this area. After a first year of creating the team and setting a plan of action, the tech team became really active in the implementation of different projects throughout 2012, such as the live Talkshow 2012 (for more information look under ´International Coordination´), the creation of an electronic newsletter and the creation of international style guidelines for SCI international websites. At branch level there was support in organising an ICT (internet communication tools) seminar organized in Ukraine, hosted by SCI branch SVIT Ukraine. The idea of the seminar was to improve the knowledge of available internet tools in the area of communication and project management. The seminar had a lot of participation requests and good feedbacks. The idea is to make this seminar an annual event. The tech team also installed an new survey system for SCI: http://surveys.sciint.org and it has already been put to use for a survey about the work of Placement Officers.

Tech Team members 2012

David Tavani Hilko Kolbeek Mehdi Mahmadov Uris Kalatchoff Mike Vasiljevs Paolo Pagano

II. LONG TERM PROJECTS SCI's Long Term Volunteering (LTV) programme provides volunteers with the opportunity to stay abroad from 2 to 12 months and support a variety of projects and activities, such as working with disabled people, disadvantaged youth or ethnic minorities, to working in an office or run daily activities in an eco-village. Long Term Volunteering is more than just work. The long lasting commitment that LTV’s make to the projects enables sustained work for peace, both on a concrete level for the branches and partner organisations and on a personal level for the volunteer and the members of the local communities. It is the experience of living abroad and learning from different cultures and people, while getting deeply involved with a concrete project that is for the benefit of the local community. All LTV's that work in SCI are provided with food and accommodation, some pocket money and a basic SCI health insurance. Travel costs to the project are generally covered by the volunteer him/herself. In 2012 various LTV projects in SCI were financed by the European Commission through the European Voluntary Service (EVS), which is part of the Youth in Action programme and aims to support young people's participation in various forms of voluntary activities, both within and outside the European Union. Under this Action, young people take part individually or in groups in non-profit, unpaid activities.

My EVS in Catalonia – by Emilie

You know when something happens in your life or you meet someone very special that will change the direction of your live? Well that happened to me… At 26 years old you start getting nicely settled in a lovely life; with family, close friends and material stuff such as: a car, a television, furniture, and a bank account that slowly builds up in savings. That was exactly what was happening to me. I settled down in Brussels with my job in my apartment. I was not unhappy, I was not sad, or depressed… I just felt that something was missing. One day, someone told me about European Service volunteer and recounted to me his experience. It changed my live… I got started applying for projects in Spain and after going through the necessary paperwork, I got accepted in May 2012 and started as a long term EVS volunteer with SCI Catalonia in Barcelona. Up to now I can say that my tasks and activities are much diversified. I have a very wide liberty of action; I can propose projects, activities, workshops, animations, and so on. The goals that I wanted to achieve are developing day by day. For example, my Spanish is getting better (and I am learning a little of Catalan at the same time). Moreover, living abroad is opening my mind because of many aspects of live that are so different from Belgium such as: the schedule of the day, the food habits, the weather, the activities, the social networks, and more. My feeling of volunteering is enriched and the association can benefit from my motivation, my will of participation, new propositions and of my volunteer position.

LONG TERM EXCHANGE GROUP (LTEG)

LTEG is an international SCI working group that contributes to SCI’s mission by promoting, strengthening and improving the Long Term Volunteer (LTV) activities in SCI, involving more branches and partners in LTV exchange and seeking recognition of the importance of LTV exchange for the organisations, communities and volunteers involved in it.

All activities implemented by LTEG in 2012 aimed at strengthening and improving the LTV exchange within SCI. Some of the highlights of LTEG´s activities in 2012:

� Training ´Peace rEvolUNTEER´ (Poland, February 29th to March 4th): This was a training for placement officers, focusing on teambuilding and networking, practical procedures for volunteer placements and the usage of the Online Placement System. The training was made possible with financial support of the Youth in Action Programme of the European Commission.

� Training ´Opening Windows to Intercultural Communication in Youth Projects´ (Slovenia, 6 – 10 November 2012): This was a training for LTV project coordinators, with a special focus on discussing available tools to support long term volunteer exchanges, intercultural communication and further needs of coordinators. The training was made possible with financial support of the Youth in Action Programme of the European Commission.

� Database for long term projects (www.longterm.lteg.info) The database for long term volunteering vacancies has been maintained by LTEG and some enhancements according to LTEG's plan of action 2011/2012 were performed.

LTEG Steering Group 2012

LTEG activists at the NSPM, Germany (2012)

Magdalena Kaj Marta Sykut Sarah Gerster Maria Kankkunen

77.. WWHHEERREE DDIIDD SSCCII WWOORRKK IINN 22001122??

I. EUROPE

In 2012 SCI organised both short and long term volunteering projects all over Europe, as well as trainings, seminars and several international meetings. Projects were organised and implemented by 30 European member - and 30 partner organisations. The International Secretariat of SCI, located in Antwerp, Belgium, facilitated and co-ordinated several activities and projects. Branches were active at local, national and international levels and several working groups such as LTEG and GAIA (both described elsewhere in this report) and SAVA: the working group called after the river that flows through the Balkan, were organising voluntary activities in 2012.

SCI ITALY: ´NOTAV: A COMMUNITY THAT RESISTS´

Among the volunteering camps organised during the summer of 2012 in Italy, it is essential to mention the camp in Val Susa Valley. SCI Italy has been very committed in supporting the movement that was growing in this valley, situated in the North-West of Italy, which is opposing the construction of a useless high-speed train line that will deliver detrimental consequences to the valley, from social, economical and environmental points of views.

The camp was an experimental one, from different points of view, but yet it was extremely successful in terms of relationships with the implementing partners, its impact on the volunteers and on the community. SCI Italy will organise it again in the 2013 and hopes to involve more SCI volunteers from outside Italy.

Demonstrations by No TAV, Suza Valley, Italy (2012)

Susa Valley – by Sara Brivio

This workcamp was my first opportunity to take a view of the valley. I was curious to observe

closely the situation of the valley and of the movement "No High-Speed Train" (NO TAV)

beyond the daily rhetoric of the media.(..)

In Susa Valley you can breathe a strong feeling of union and community: it's a struggle that

has been going on for decades, joining together inhabitants of the valley coming from very

different political views and beliefs. This aspects provides a flavor of rebellion and resistance

to what is happening in the valley and in particular against a construction site, settled in the

middle of the forest, where hectares of nature, that had also an important historic value, were

destroyed. (..)

In the night of fireworks (15th of August) the whole valley, families, old people, children,

ordinary citizens, met around the barbed wire and in front of gates started to hit the fences in

a peaceful way with stones and sticks: a human pacific and varied crowd, joint by a common

target.It was really depressing to realize, the following day how newspapers had totally

deformed the symbolic meaning and the events of the previous night: the pacific crowd who

had surrounded the construction site had become a group of violent radicals who had tried to

attack the military base and the soldiers.

Do we still live in a democracy where the freedom of speech and thought represent one of

the fundamental rights or are we in a regime where it is only possible to do, to say, to think

what the power has already decided? What is happening in Susa Valley remind us of this

universal question.

VSI IRELAND

Get Outdoors and Have Fun -group, Ireland, 2012

Get Outdoors and Have Fun" - VSI Ireland hosting an international

training seminar for youth leaders.

In September 2012, the SCI branch from Ireland, Voluntary Service International, hosted a week-long international training seminar for youth leaders in the beautiful countryside setting of Co. Wicklow. “Get Outdoors and Have Fun” brought together 24 youth leaders from six countries across Europe and the South Caucasus (Abkhazia, Armenia, Georgia, Ireland, Poland and Russia).The focus of the training was to develop the skills of youth leaders in promoting outdoor education among young people in their local communities. Read more: The participants had the chance to take part in workshops, discussions and activities all focused on outdoor education. They also met an outdoor expert from Eco-Unesco and went on a study visit to an Outdoor Education Centre in the Wicklow mountains. It’s not often that Ireland has the chance to host young people from the Caucasus, so it was a great occasion for intercultural exchange and for building links with youth organisations from that region. Incredibly for Ireland, there wasn’t a drop of rain the whole week, so the participants had plenty of opportunity to get out and have fun in the outdoors! The project was funded through the European Commission’s Youth in Action programme. The photograph shows the group of participants of the international training seminar "Get Outdoors and Have Fun" during a study visit to the Outdoor Education Centre at Glendalough in the Wicklow mountains, Ireland, in September 2012.

SAVA is an international SCI working group that coordinates volunteering activities in South-Eastern Europe, mainly in the Balkan region. It was formed in 1992 during the wars and conflicts that took place in this area. SAVA’s mission is to promote peace values, intercultural understanding, acceptance and environmental awareness, through promoting volunteering and empowerment of individuals and communities of the Balkans. In 2012 SAVA was active with the organisation of three SAVA workcamps. A SAVA workcamp is a workcamp in the Balkan region with at least 70% of participants from the same region, and with a special study part dedicated to peace education and Balkan languages, as well as English when needed. Apart from these camps there was the organization of the fourth ´Living Together´ project in Kosovo. A video was also created on this project and can be watched on YouTube: http://youtu.be/vzPC8a6xg6g

Living Together 4, Kosovo (2012) A grant application was also prepared and submitted to the European Youth Foundation, regarding a study visit to the Shopska region with the aim of getting to know organisations of Roma youth in this area and find new ways of cooperation with these. The grant application that was submitted through the International Secretariat has been approved and the study visit will take place in April 2013.

SAVA Steering Group 2012

Helena Poucki Milica Milovic Katerina Stoyanova Stefan Manevski Lukas Kreinbuehl

SAVA WORKING GROUP

NORTH SOUTH INCOMING PROGRAMME IN EUROPE The SCI Incoming Programme is a North South solidarity exchange that takes place every year in Europe. Volunteers from SCI partner organisations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East are invited to participate on an exchange programme which lasts eight to ten weeks throughout August, September, and October. The volunteers join a four-week programme in different hosting countries in Europe – usually including Belgium and Germany – which consists of a seminar with an introduction to SCI and the invited countries, participation on a workcamp organised by a branch of SCI, and an evaluation of the project. The programme also includes participation at the SCI North South Platform Meeting in October. The objectives of the SCI Incoming Volunteers Programme are to deepen mutual knowledge

for a better collaboration, exchange information to improve the quality of preparation

trainings for SCI volunteers, to learn about the daily work of SCI branches and partner

organisations, offer opportunities for South partner organisations to encounter and

collaborate, facilitate contacts and collaborations with other European organisations;

exchange with European volunteers (for example in workcamps) and learn about European

reality.

In 2012 the following volunteers participated in the Incoming Programme: Ismat Tuffaha

from Palestine, Luciano Troyes Rivera from Peru, Monica Makeya Dzonzi from Malawi,

Sibongile Gondwe from Zambia, Shubash Daime from India, Sophat Sorn from Cambodia,

Takudzwa Machirori from Zimbabwe and Yuvani Lievano Reyes from Mexico. Theme for the

Incoming Programme in 2012 was ´Hunger amidst abundance´ and the participants learned

about Food Sovereignty, Hunger in the World and Land Grabbing in trainings organized by

SCI Germany. They also organised workshops about these themes themselves in German

schools.

´The North South Incoming Programme was an eye opener to me as l learnt real issues that are surrounding us. It plays a very important role in bringing different international volunteers to work towards one goal. It was quite exciting to be staying and eating with people that you have never met before. I would like to thank SCI Germany for bringing together people from different corners of life to share experiences, knowledge and cultures. I am so thankful for the experience that l gained from my fellow participants. In addition to that l would like to thank SCI management for your successful work before and during my time in Germany´. – Monika Makeya Dzonzi

II. ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

In 2012, the Asia-Pacific region saw many activities organised under the Asia International Working Group (AIWG), the Asian Development Committee (ADC), the Asian Development Programme (ADP), and the Asian Platform Meeting (APM). Here you can read about some of the activities that took place in the Asian region with SCI.

ASIA INTERNATIONAL WORKING GROUP (AIWG) Established in 2006, the Asia International Working Group (AIWG) is the SCI platform for activists and branches working in and for the Asian region. Its aims are to achieve a better cooperation and development of exchanges between Asia and the rest of the world through common projects and exchange and to reinforce the links between Asian branches and branches in the rest of the world, to deal with issues surrounding new Asian groups, partners, and contact organisations, and to facilitate the evaluation process of North South exchanges. In 2012 AIWG organised the Asia Europe Exchange Program (AEEP) 2012 and was active in facilitating communication between branches and partners involved with voluntary exchanges in and to Asia. The AIWG participated at the North South Platform Meeting 2012 where it held also its annual meeting.

AIWG Steering Group 2012

Sooriya Bandara Katja Löfgren Prasant Shestra

Asia International Working Group at NSPM, Germany (2012)

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (ADC)

SCI has its own platform for the Asian region, the Asian Development Committee. It exists of representatives of all Asian branches and groups, and aims at building capacities of the organisations and their (common) programmes. The ADC met – as usual - twice in 2012. The first meeting was in Nepal in September and was combined with a 1,5 day peace-education seminar, focusing on ‘No-more-war’ themes (Asian Pacific Peace Education Seminar-APPES). Conflicts in Asia were discussed and the (possible) role of SCI as peace-organization in these conflicts was analysed. The second meeting took place shortly before the International Committee Meeting of SCI in December 2013 in Malaysia. More important than the meetings were the activities implemented by the ADC. In 2012 two regional workcamps were organised: a trilateral project between SCI Korea, SCI Hong Kong and SCI Japan and another one that was hosted by SCI India with participation of volunteers from SCI Sri Lanka and SCI Nepal. ADC is running several bigger transnational projects as well, such as the Peace Center in Mutur (Sri Lanka) and the Cyclone Shelter project in Bangladesh. Besides, several Asian branches participated in a Climate Change project, which ended in 2012. The ADC also issues it’s own magazine: Asian Voices. In 2012 it was published twice. The issues of Asian Voices can be downloaded here: http://www.sciint.org/learn-about-sci/newsletters

Participants of APPES-workshop presenting 'war', Nepal (2012)

III. NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA

In 2012 SCI organised exchange activities in USA and Canada through the SCI branch SCI-IVS USA and with the partner organisations Nocono Canada and Volunteers for Peace USA. In Latin America SCI worked in close cooperation with the SCI branches and partners in Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile and Ecuador.

ABYA YALA WORKING GROUP

Abya Yala is the working group of SCI that promotes and encourages political awareness, short term voluntary projects and exchanges regarding Latin American issues. Abya Yala supports SCI branches and groups that work in different ways to develop exchanges, international solidarity campaigns, international, national and regional seminars and informative material related to the social and political situation in Latin America.

In 2012 Abya Yala was active mainly in placing volunteers on short term projects, while there were also, Long Term Volunteer placements in Ecuador, with Fundación Chiriboga, initiated by SCI Germany. It was the first time LTVs were placed with this organisation and the experience was really positive, meaning that more LTVs will be placed here in the future as well. A new contact was initiated with the organisation Nataté Mexico, and one active volunteer from Nataté was selected on the North South Incoming programme of SCI to visit European SCI branches, and participate in the North South Platform meeting 2012. Throughout 2013 this new contact with Nataté will be further developed and evaluated. Unfortunately, Abya Yala has been lacking active volunteers to take up responsibilities in the Abya Yala steering group. Therefore a decision was made for Abya Yala to become an informal working group with the aim of reforming the group within one or two years. The International Secretariat of SCI and SCI Belgium are taking over the core tasks of Abya Yala for time being.

Abya Yala informal group at the North South Platform Meeting, Germany (2012)

Abya Yala Steering Group 2012

Luhana Madeira Emmanuelle Bricq

IV. MIDDLE EAST AND MEDITERRANEAN REGION

MIDI WORKING GROUP

As an official international working group of SCI, the Mediterranean Working Group (MIDI) is responsible for ensuring a smooth exchange of volunteers between the Mediterranean region and the rest of the SCI movement, in an effort to propose a just peace as an alternative to violence and oppression. It seeks to communicate and strengthen the broader SCI movement’s solidarity with its partners and their communities in times of need. Currently, MIDI is responsible for exchanges with Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco. It remains open to take the responsibility for countries geographically and culturally linked to those mentioned when the need or opportunity arises. Midi also gathers the evaluations from international voluntary projects and exchanges and evaluates the partner organisations. Midi aims at promoting a common strategy and at coordinating the exchange of information about this region. The working group shares ideas about projects and prepares common tools for pre-departure trainings. In 2012 Midi working group organised the following activities:

� a study visit (via Midi supporting branch SCI Belgium) to Morocco, where both existing and potential new partners were visited and relations strengthened. A new project in Morocco has been prepared and will be implemented in 2013.

� The first bilateral workcamp with the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC) in Palestine took place, as the result of a two year long cooperation with SCI Italy. In 2013 the project will be opened for experienced volunteers from active Midi supporting branches in SCI.

� a bilateral project between SCI Catalunya and YDA took place. � a study visit to Palestine by SCI Belgium that resulted in a cooperation with the Circus

School in Ramallah. An EVS project started here in 2012 and an international workcamp is foreseen for summer 2013.

Besides the above described activities, Midi working group, as in the previous years, provided assistance to branches and volunteers regarding all issues related to exchange with the Midi region. MIDI Steering Group

MIDI does not have an official steering group. It is a self-organised working group in which everyone takes responsibility and works together as a team on an equal basis.

SCI ITALY ACTIVITIES IN PALESTINE The commitment of SCI Italy in Palestine increased and improved during 2012. SCI Italy developed several activities to support the civil society involved in non-violent grassroots actions aimed at changing the reality, ending the occupation and guaranteeing human rights and freedom for everybody. SCI Italy enhanced its support to the Palestinian Popular Committees, who in several villages of the West Bank are carrying on Grassroots Joint Struggle against the construction of the separation wall, against the settlements and the occupation. This is a joint struggle precisely for its character: it includes not only Palestinians from villages and surrounding areas but also several Israeli activists who participate weekly in demonstrations, actions and joint initiatives. It is also a joint struggle because international activists are welcomed in the villages and they join marches, activities, and other events organized by the village people. The Joint Resistance in the West Bank opened an extraordinary international space for participation, relationship, creativity. Despite of the depressive situation, and the ongoing occupation that made people passive and disillusioned, the joint resistance was able to activate citizens at grassroots level, women and men, youth and elderly, who rejected to delegate the struggle to someone else, and who are willing to participate and rise up for the ideals of freedom, justice, solidarity, global unity, rights. When participating, as Europeans, we can easily reflect on our own struggles for rights and freedom in Europe, on our own capacity to be active and go beyond the walls of prejudice, racism and separation that are built everyday also within the borders of the European Union. Therefore it is essential for SCI Italy to send Italian volunteers to participate in this outstanding space for activism. Once returned to Europe the activists will have the capacity to promote the Palestinian struggle and work locally for peace and justice in Palestine, and in general, for the global human rights cause, freedom and dignity. SCI Italy´s work in Palestine/ Israel 2013 focused on several actions:

� Participation in the Bil'in Conference for Popular Struggle in April 2012 � Sending of 4 long term volunteers, for 6 months each of them, within the framework

of the project “Multiplying Solidarity”. They fostered the campaigns led by Popular Committees, disseminated their work, participated in the opening of the cultural center of Al Masara, South Bethlehem, and strengthened relationships between European organisations and the Popular Committees.

� Organisation of three bilateral workcamps in the area of Al Masara. The volunteers, prepared within specific trainings, contributed to the activities of the local communities and had several opportunities to learn more about the political situation of the West Bank

� Ensuring the presence of 18 Italian volunteers during the season of the olive harvest to accompany Palestinian farmers in high risk labor due to aggressions from settlers and soldiers. The volunteers witnessed the situation in the West Bank during the Israeli Military Operation “Pillar of Defense” in Gaza.

� Preparation of the project “Beyond Walls” that will be running for three years, a

comprehensive action aimed at supporting human right defenders in the West Bank and Israel, having as local partners the Palestinian and Israeli groups involved in the Popular Joint Struggle.

The international context is not favorable for a just solution of the Palestinian issue. Negotiations have been frozen for several years and the international community is not carrying on any meaningful effort to change the situation on the ground. Indifference is growing also among European civil society (partly) due to the economic crisis which makes people focus more on what is happening on the inside of the national and European borders. Yet SCI Italy believes that Palestinian and Israeli civil society have opportunities to make real changes in the West Bank/Israel from the grassroots, and for this reason they deserve SCI´s support. What happens in the villages of the West Bank is the creation of human connections based on justice, equality and common goals such as the end of the occupation. What is happening in the villages involved in the popular struggle is not a shallow co-existence, but it is a meaningful co-resistance. SCI Italy will continue this work in 2013, with the hope and the goal of involving more SCI branches in these efforts and projects.

SCI Italy volunteers , Palestine (2012) Logo of Popular Struggle Coordination Committee

V. SUB-SAHARA AFRICA

AFRICA WORKING GROUP

The Africa working group aims at promoting dialogue, cooperation and solidarity between SCI and sub-Saharan Partner organisations of SCI. It wants to develop, build and continue on SCI’s current and previous work in the region by maintaining relations and developing cooperation between African partners and SCI, conducting annual evaluation of SCI´s work in and related to the region, sharing resources and knowledge with partners, and by maintaining standards of preparation and evaluation of international voluntary projects/ exchanges and through good and open communication.

In 2012 Africa working group was active in the following fields:

� SCI Germany started to offer Midterm projects to the volunteers, complying with a growing demand by volunteers. In 2012 volunteers were placed on an MTV program in ASTOVOT Togo and UVIKIUTA Tanzania.

� IVS GB and VSI Ireland cooperated with partner organisations in Uganda respectively Ghana running bilateral group exchange projects.

� In general also in the last year the sending organisations have encountered a decreasing number of volunteers sent to workcamps in sub-Sahara Africa, which concerns the AWG, as most of the hosting organisations depend to a large extent on incoming volunteers.

� LTV programs from ASTOVOT Togo were successfully placed onto the Long Term Database of SCI, as well as the programmes of our SCI group VWAN Nigeria. UVIKIUTA Tanzania and UPA Uganda weren’t placed online, referring to technical obstacles. This coincides with the increasing amount of LTVs sent to Sub- Saharan African countries (mainly by SCI Germany and SCI Belgium).

� A new contact was initiated with Kiburanga in Kenya. Three volunteers were sent by SCI Belgium and SCI Italy and returned with positive feedback. Therefore cooperation will continue throughout 2013.

� African volunteers also came to Europe. The Africa working group invited volunteers from three partners: VWASL Sierra Leone, UVIKIUTA Tanzania and UPA Uganda. Besides, SCI Belgium and SCI Germany invited one experienced African camp coordinator from KVDA Kenya for the camp coordinator exchange programme and volunteers from three partner organisations: AYISE Malawi, YAZ Zambia and ZWA Zimbabwe were invited to participate in the North South Incoming Programme 2012. These volunteers also participated in the working group´s annual meeting 2012.

Africa working group - Steering Group 2012

Matteo Testino Emmi Ruohonen Pascal Duterme Alexandra Strebel Noemi García

A workcamp with Kiburanga in Kenya – by José "This experience has been a unique opportunity to explore different areas and aspects of the country and the culture which usually are not accessible to foreigners, and to see life from a wholly different perspective. Now I feel they gave me more than I did"

For José being a volunteer in Kiburanga Women Self Help Group was a life changing experience. He was one of the several volunteers that helped in this local development project that aims at generating conditions and opportunities for women, people living with HIV, children and the community as a whole. ´My trip to Kenya was great! I spent the first day in Nairobi. The people from Kiburanga gave us information about a new culture and a place that none of us had seen before. The project is located in Nyabohanse, in the south west, next to the border with Tanzania. During the trip there I already noticed two of the things that make Africa different: bright colours and permanent smiles everywhere. At our arrival dozens of people were waiting for us, and they were even more touched than us. We were accommodated in a house of local people and lived according to their living standards, with no running water or electricity, but it is amazing how short the time is that you need to get used to these “extreme” living conditions and go on with your life.

Our daily routine consisted of supporting the construction of a new school (making bricks, etc.). The unrushed way of working could drive some people crazy, but it’s just the way the people do it there. In the afternoons we made home visits, discussing topics like HIV/AIDS education, feminine genital mutilation and polygamy (we contrasted different points of view about this), and in the evenings we would meet up with people in the village and enjoy cultural nights around a fire. Local women used to support us to cook meals, which included cutting firewood and making a fire. It was truly good. My mouth waters when I recall the Mandazi and other delicious local dishes. At the weekend we spent some time travelling around, always accompanied by local volunteers.

This experience has been a unique opportunity to explore different areas and aspects of the country and the culture which usually are not accessible to foreigners, and to see life from a wholly different perspective. Now I feel they gave me more than I did. My sincere gratitude to Mike, Dennis, Julius, Crisantus, “African Simba” and the rest of Kurians. But above all, thanks to the women, discreet but essential in this society. I really admire them.

I’d like to encourage everyone to join this project!

88.. TTHHEEMMAATTIICC FFOOCCUUSS IINN 22001122

I. PEACE EDUCATION

During 2012 the Peace Messengers network and the No More War Team were the main actors in SCI on the topic of Peace and Peace Education, through the organisation of trainings, workshops, seminars, street action and workcamps.

The Peace Messengers are a network composed of SCI volunteers who organise peace education workshops - mainly during short term international voluntary projects - to raise awareness about SCI’s values of peace. The Peace Messengers place emphasis on linking the values of peace to the international voluntary project experience. The No More War Team is an informal SCI working group. In 2010, the year of SCI´s 90th anniversary the group was established and initiated a world wide campaign to highlight SCI's values of anti-militarism and non-violence. Core-activities are the No More War-workcamps, but the team also organises trainings and seminars.

THE PEACE CARAVAN In 2012 the main activity of No More War and the Peace Messengers was a joined campaign: the Peace Caravan. In the summer of 2012 groups of trained international “peace messengers” travelled across thirteen European countries from Helsinki to Barcelona, in order to spread SCI´s vision of promoting a culture of peace. They stopped in many cities, towns and villages, in order to run peace workshops and other (street) actions together with local peace activists. They engaged local citizens in debates about the best ways to achieve peace and what each and everyone can do themselves to promote this goal. The showed their solidarity and support with refugees and discriminated minorities and collected signatures for an international Peace Manifest that was handed over to politicians in Brussels and elsewhere.

Every group of volunteers started with a thorough training and ended with an evaluation. The training covered peace education, methods to organise workshops and/or street actions, as well as team-building games and exercises. After three weeks of travelling, visiting workcamps, and meetings with people involved in peace work, the group of volunteers passed their tasks over to the next group. The first group started in Finland, while the last group ended in Germany. Other countries covered were Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, Romania, Austria, Hungary, United Kingdom and Belgium. A full report written by the volunteers themselves can be found here: http://caravan.no-more-war.net/

Peace Caravan Volunteers (2012)

My time in the Peace Caravan – By Tomek

I was a participant in three routes of the SCI Peace Caravan, and it has been one of the best experiences in my life. It is hard to describe such intensive 2 months of my life but I will do it the best as I can. First of all it was my first project with SCI. I was sure it would be the perfect project for me. I applied and when I was accepted I resigned from my job. I do not regret that decision at all. Secondly, I did not know anything about SCI when I started the Peace Caravan in Finland, but I think that doing the Peace Caravan was simply the best way to get to know this great organisation. In connect very much to the values of SCI so it was easy to get deeper into the topics. The Peace Caravan taught me a lot of things about SCI and gave me the opportunity to meet many great people on the way. Such as project organisers, staff from branches, activists of the No More War team, members from the SCI international board, and more. Of course I also met many workcamp volunteers, because I visited a lot of workcamps. It is hard to say how the Peace Caravan influenced or changed me personally. Very often, things that happen in your life influence you and only after a while you realise how important the particular experience has actually changed your life. For sure I can say that I now have more confidence to give workshops and to talk to people about difficult topics. I am also aware of how to put ideas about peace into practice, and how I can help others, even with simple things. In general I can say that the Peace Caravan is a great project and I think that It should be continued! Travelling around Europe to spread information about peace, promote SCI and make people from all over the world closer to each other is worth it! I would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to all for this experience: for your time, your support and good will, and for showing me SCI!

II. SOCIAL INCLUSION

YUWG

YUWG is a platform for activists working with and for the social inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities. The group was established in 1985. The purpose of YUWG activities is to support young people in overcoming obstacles that may prevent them from being an international volunteer. These young people include: young offenders; young asylum seekers separated from their families; young people in state care; young people with a history of homelessness, drug or alcohol abuse; young people who experience economic, geographical or physical exclusion.

2012 was another year of vibrant activity for YUWG in the area of social inclusion and youth. The core activities of Youth Exchanges and EVS Short-term continued, with approximately 200 young people taking part in projects around Europe and beyond, exciting local activities and a number of trainings and seminars allowing volunteers and staff to share the learning and outcomes, and gain the skills to organise safe and successful projects for young people with fewer opportunities. Eight youth exchanges were organised within the framework of YUWG covering themes such as community resilience, identity, migration, inclusion, environment and sustainable living, diversity and intercultural awareness. VSI Ireland was again very active this year hosting the Spring Meeting of YUWG and the Mind the Gap Training Course, for leaders of Youth Exchanges with Fewer Opportunities. The Spring Meeting was an opportunity for staff and key volunteers to develop best practice policies and documents for the summer activities and many steps were taken to improve the quality of Youth Exchanges organised within YUWG, and it once again took place in Glebe House in Northern Ireland. The Mind the Gap Training Course was attended by 32 participants from a number of organisations in each of the 9 member countries and for the first time ever included participants from CID Macedonia, VCV Serbia, KVT Finland and “Added Value” Foundation Latvia. YUWG was very happy to further expand its cooperation with CID Macedonia and VCV Serbia in this regard, who also increased their activity with participation in a number of YUWG Youth Exchanges. Individual member organisations continued to initiate local inclusion activities including working with local youth centres, youth initiative projects with young asylum seekers, English classes in residential children’s homes, and much more. YUWG Highlights

One of the Youth Exchange projects which took place in 2012 included the Wave Rider’s Youth Exchange, in Ireland from July 6th – 16th. The project, which included 21 young people from Ireland, Bulgaria and France, explored the topic of personal and community resilience, and community responses to global challenges such as climate change and peak oil. The

Youth Exchange took place in Ireland’s only eco-village, where the young people volunteered on the community farm, learning about food security and organic farming, and took part in series of non-formal education workshops on the challenges young people face, and how they build their own resilience and that of the communities they live in. The young people also had the chance to immerse themselves in the daily life of the eco-village community, joining weekly community dinners, and sharing their own experiences and cultural presentations with local residents.

Peer Education, Ireland (2012)

YUWG Steering Group 2012

Grace Walsh Nacho Gonzalez Vera Nikolova Urban Presker

III. INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND DIALOGUE Through international voluntary exchanges with people of different social, economic, national and cultural backgrounds SCI creates an intercultural setting in all its projects, meetings, trainings and seminars. At the same time there are activities that have intercultural dialogue and exchange as its main theme and method, for example this was the case with the Intercultural Youth Exchange in Potsdam, Germany in April 2012.

WHERE ELSE CAN THEY FLEE?´ - YOUTH EXCHANGE, POTSDAM-GERMANY From 2-12th April 2012 an international youth exchange in Potsdam, Germany, brought together 25 participants from six different SCI branches to work on the issue of escape and migration of refugees. The project was supported financially by the Youth in Action programme of the EU. Here you can read a little about the personal experience of three participants: ´For me coming to this Youth Exchange was like a dream coming true. (..) I liked the whole concept of the youth exchange camp. It was wonderful to share information, knowledge and life stories with such a fantastic group. I was amazed that our group spoke 16 different languages and studied so closely to our subject. I learned a great deal about the rights of refugees in other EU countries and new ways to share the information about their situation.(…)´- Venla, Finland

´Initially I was very interested in the theme because last summer I volunteered in a refugee centre and ever since, I have felt a need for learning more about the situation of refugees. (…) The group I worked with was called "street action", where we created a performance with the help of a professional director, and after three days of work we performed it several times on the main square of Potsdam. I have never done any such thing before so I was very excited about it. It proved to be an amazing experience and in my opinion has achieved the desired effect. All in all, I have to say that I am very happy to have had the chance to work with so many enthusiastic people. I feel I have benefited vastly from this experience and I am planning to continue working in on this theme in the future. (..)`- Eszter,

Hungary

´(..) non-formal tools are not exactly my preferred way of education. So I could undoubtedly say that the SCI Youth Camp was quite a challenge for me. (..) But I must say I have never learned so many new things and revisited old information in such a short time and with so much fun and relaxation. It seemed unimaginable to me that games and role play could bring so much. (..) I am very happy and grateful to have participated in this training for this reason; and for meeting 24 other interesting people, each of them special in her or his way (..), with a level of knowledge on the topic and so strong opinions that exceeded my expectations. I have no words for the way this training changed me both personally and professionally. ´ - Lucia, Romania

MULTIKULTI YOUTH RADIO - YOUTH VOICE HAS A CHOICE! Intercultural exchange is the first step to initiate intercultural dialogue. And through dialogue people learn to understand and respect each other. In SCI intercultural exchange is viewed as a way to promote a culture of peace. Many organisations in the SCI network take this a step further, as is the case for the Centre for Intercultural Dialogue (CID) in Macedonia. In 2012 CID continued to work through the implementation of community-based activities in youth centres with the aim of increasing active participation of young people in community life.

The Center for Intercultural Dialogue (CID) in Kumanovo, Macedonia, is running a bilingual youth radio that is created by a multicultural group of youngsters. It is called MultiКулти Youth Radio. It is the first bilingual youth radio in Macedonia and one of a kind in Kumanovo. The idea to set up the MultiКулти Youth Radio is actually not so new. It was proposed before but there have always been judgments about it. People thought it would never work because young people aren’t motivated enough to do it. But MultiКулти Youth Radio proved that they were wrong!

CID aims at working on issues of intercultural, on bringing together young people from diverse religious, ethnic and national backgrounds. The youth radio is an effective way to achieve this, while giving young people a voice through a media channel of their own. MultiКулти Youth Radio provides youngsters with an opportunity to to share their problems and ideas with others. The project emphasizes and addresses intercultural issues, but in an energetic and engaging way, through music.

After a few try-outs, the radio officially started its 24/7 programme on 16th January 2012. The content is always fresh - with updates every couple of hours, 24hours a day, 7 days a week – and provides listeners with something new every time they tune in. The main aim of the programme is to make the voice of youth heard and to promote their opinions regarding everyday happenings in society. Multi-ethnic teams are working on every programme and present it to the public in many languages: Macedonian, Albanian, English and other.

Connect and enjoy!

MultiКулти Youth Radio is improving its programme permanently by adding new shows and interesting subjects all the time. With the new workshop season new E-Radio and Music workshops have started. Hopefully new activists will join the radio team, because the voice of young people makes a difference! So tune in yourself to MutiКулти Youth Radio at http://multikulti.mk/radio/

Logo of Multi-Kulti Youth Radio, CID Macedonia (2012)

V. SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

For SCI it is becoming more and more important to respond to the problematic of Climate Change in all its projects and activities. Of course for SCI, as for any organisation that is working for intercultural understanding through international voluntary projects and exchanges, it is a challenge to organise international activities, while at the same time promoting Climate Justice and sustainable lifestyles. Therefore, SCI is encouraging the volunteers to travel to workcamps by bus, train or boat whenever possible, and international meetings and trainings are happening more and more with use of modern media, such as skype, and live video transmissions (such as the Online Talkshow). Apart from these measures, SCI branches and partners are organising special eco-camps where volunteers work on biological farms or in ecological gardens for example, while increasing their awareness on environmental topics and sustainable lifestyles.

GAIA

Gaia was officially recognised as an official SCI working group at the International Committee Meeting (ICM) 2010. The aim of the group is to improve SCI’s consciousness and response to the challenges of sustainable living and climate change. Since sustainable living is a key aspect of GAIA’s vision, the group intends to raise awareness and build capacity on this issue among volunteers, partners, and outside our movement. GAIA believes that sustainable living and climate change are more than “environmental issues” as they are also issues of peace and social justice. GAIA has the opportunity and the responsibility to contribute to these issues with activities such as short and long term voluntary projects, and non-formal education. GAIA wants to contribute to the reduction of the ecological footprint of SCI activities, enhance the handprint by raising awareness of SCI volunteers, establish relations with environmental NGOs and strengthen the role of SCI within movements of like minded NGOs. The GAIA WG is always considering opportunities for partnerships and cooperation with other grassroots and environmental NGOs, including through the participation in international events such as international projects related to the issues addressed by this group. In 2012 GAIA was active in supporting ecological projects through the Microfund that was established in 2011. By the end of 2012 the two working groups No More War and GAIA decided to join hands in preparing a worldwide campaign of SCI on Climate Justice. This campaign is to be implemented in 2014.

GAIA Steering Group 2012

Bao Daon Sebastien Duck Lidia Krinova Frank Ormel Yvonne Poland

Green & Fun! workcamp, Iceland (2012)

Permaculture workcamp, Belgium (2012)

A STEP TOWARDS FUTURE – SCI ITALY AND SCI HONG KONG

In the year 2012, the project ´A Step Towards Future´ was initiated as a follow-up to the

´Grounding Our Future´ project in 2011. SCI Hong Kong and SCI Italy were the two main

actors in this project that aimed at increasing youth capacity to promote volunteering as a

tool to endorse sustainable life styles and to contrast global warming. The project focussed

on the exchange with people living in other areas of the world and similarly dealing with

global issues and - specifically - with the Climate Change challenges.

A training took place in Rome (Italy) in March 2012. The training concentrated on the main

theme of food and its impacts on climate. In order to produce articles and videos and to

concentrate better on each aspect of food the topic was divided into sub-topics: Production,

Packaging, Wastage, Local & Seasonal Food such as Good Food versus Bad Food.

The second meeting took place in July/August 2012 in Hong Kong where all the participants

met again to continue the work they had started together. The main idea of this second

meeting was to create attention and raise awareness about the connection between food

and the Global Climate Change. The possible answers to different questions formed the

centre of discussion and debate during the meeting: What can we do as individuals to avoid

Climate Change? What is the impact of our consuming and eating behaviour on Climate

Change?

My Hong Kong Experience – by Chetna

I don’t know what I expected while coming here; whether it was to enrich my knowledge about

climate change or to get to know more about ways by which I could help in mitigating it. One

thing is for sure: I never expected to get into this enthralling adventure! New people, new

cultures and most importantly, a whole new world, were opened up to me. Be it the very

crowded, very busy central or the most silent, serene country Park, Hong Kong has shown us it’s

array of scenes, landscapes and environment. Bamboo structures holding skyscrapers getting

built ought to say much about this multi-faceted country. We also got to know Cantonese people

quiet closely, enough to see their diagonally opposite lifestyle. Always going at a frenetic place,

always seeing only the path in front of them and always thinking of what has to be done next,

when seen from a closer angle, these people reveal a heart of gold, a smiling face and a friendly

soul. Yes, indeed, I have learnt a lot of new things on climate change, mostly thanks to the

various volunteers. But perhaps on a more important note, this experience has helped me

cultivate my human side and has given me something I will be eternally thankful for: New

friends :)

9. IINNTTEERRNNAATTIIOONNAALL CCOOOORRDDIINNAATTIIOONN IINN 22001122

International Coordination of SCI is organised through several bodies and meetings. In 2012 the most important international coordination body, the International Committee Meeting (ICM), took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in December. The International Executive

Committee (IEC) met two times to discuss policy matters and strategy as well as the work of the International Secretariat (IS), which focused on administration, exchange support, communication and PR, campaigns and project management, finances and insurance.

I. INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT

STAFF The International Secretariat had three staff persons in 2012, and one LTV position. The position of International Coordinator was filled by Margherita Serafini until the 8th of October, after which Sara Turra took over. The position of the Finance and Administration Officer was filled by Ossi Lemstrom, while Ingrid ter Maat remained active as Programme Officer. She was employed on 80% basis due to parental leave. As of December 2012 she has been working 100% again. In the beginning of the year Mariluce Ojan from Italy was the only LTV in the office. She stayed until mid February after which she left for new challenges in Senegal. In April we welcomed Karolina Rymer from Poland, who started in a one year EVS position for the project ´Volunteers4Visibility´.

LONG TERM VOLUNTEERS The International Secretariat did not have an Office LTV since 2010. This meant that various administrative tasks were done by the staff and EVS volunteer, which, especially during peak times, proofed to be rather difficult in terms of time. Besides, the International Secretariat is in need of IT support. Therefore, a call was announced for a combined Office-Tech LTV. We found a suitable candidate in the person of Mariia Ginzburg from Ukraine who was to start in September 2012. Due to unexpected long visa application procedures, this deadline was not met and Mariia Ginzburg only actually started in 2013.

FOCUS AREAS IN 2012 The International Secretariat focused mainly on project and grant management, working group support, the organisation of international meetings, external representation and the implementation of the SCI Communication Plan. Overall, the work of the International Secretariat was aligned with the SCI Strategic Plan.

IEC Members and IS staff at the ICM, Malaysia (2012)

II. INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

In 2012 two meetings took place of the International Executive Committee (IEC). The first one was in February in Antwerp, Belgium, while the second meeting was in August in Budapest. The main communication channel of the IEC to/with the movement remained the IEC-INFO mailing list, where the IECM minutes were published. Individual members of the IEC had direct contact with branches or working groups according to their areas of responsibility and participated in various international meetings. The IEC has also worked on increased visibility of the IEC members and the work of the IEC towards the branches of SCI, through a Facebook page and by publishing interviews with IEC members in SCI e-newsletters.

FOCUS AREAS The IEC dealt with several issues in 2012, such as exchanges, partnerships, international meetings, the Strategic Plan, communication, external representation, staff management and finances. The Financial Advice and Consultancy Team (FACT) had a meeting in June in Antwerpen, during the same weekend of the International Insurance Commission (IIC) meeting.

IEC MEMBERS IN 2012 Mihai Crisan International President and International

Treasurer Paolo Pagano Vice President Grazyna (‘Gina’) Pulawska Member Klaudia Bencze Member Matteo Testino Member Kata Somlai Co-opted member

III. INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES (www.service-civil-international.org)

2012 was the first year for Heinz Gabathuler in his position as coordinator of SCI's International Archives. Having worked in the Archives from time to time since the end of the 1990s, the task was not completely new to him. Besides, his predecessor, Philipp Rodriguez, guaranteed a smooth handover - and left enormous piles of documents that had been delivered to the Archives in the past few years. Heinz Gabathuler was able to do quite a lot of filing which resulted in a growth of 2.8 meters. A list of all boxes and files newly created or "renewed" during 2012 can be found here: http://www.service-civil-international.org/sciia-2012-new-files.

Heinz Gabathuler, Coordinator of SCI International Arcghives, at work, Switzerland (2012)

Apart from filing and sorting out, there was work to do in answering requests, some from researchers, some from veterans, the latter also made valuable contributions. For example SCI came to know about British IVS veteran Greg Wilkinson's blog telling the story of his life (http://workfree.blogspot.co.uk/) in which SCI plays a big role. The widow of the French SCI activist Albert Ratz sent extracts from his unpublished memoirs dealing with his SCI involvement, which is yet another interesting biographical document that shows how SCI has marked its activists' lives during the decades. And recently David Palmer wrote about his contacts with a Iranian student about a reconstruction project fifty years ago in Iran (http://www.service-civil-international.org/dousadj).

In 2012, one major result of research that had been done with SCI International Archives' documents was the publication of the book by Antonio Belmonte, an activist from SCI Madrid, on the humanitarian aid by SCI and others during the Spanish Civil War. http://www.service-civil-international.org/antonio-belmonte-contra-fuego-y-espanto

IV. STRATEGIC PLANNING

STRATEGIC GOALS 2011 – 2014

Through educational practices at the local level, SCI wants to contribute to a non violent

approach to global issues, by developing a more peaceful dialogue within society and raising awareness about social injustice and sustainable lifestyles. SCI wants to achieve this by organising peace education workshops, trainings, seminars and study sessions.

SCI also wants to empower people to take an active stand for a culture of peace in the world by facilitating acts of solidarity at global and local levels. Through the coordination and organisation of international voluntary projects this goal can be reached, as these projects are concrete acts of solidarity with people and communities that suffer social injustice, while at the same time these projects are a means to raise awareness about the current situation in the world.

Finally, SCI wants to increase its capacity in order to get better at what we do and how we do it. SCI wants to permanently work on improving certain key areas, such as volunteer and staff management, financial management, communication to be able to implement the strategic plan and establish a culture of peace for all.

V. INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS

NORTH SOUTH PLATFORM MEETING

The North South Platform Meeting (NSPM) is an annual meeting that brings together participants active in the North South Working Groups of SCI (Africa, Asia, Abya Yala, and Midi). This provides a platform for the North South working groups to hold their annual meetings. In 2012 the meeting took place in the second week of October in Darmstadt, Germany. Staff and volunteers from organisations all over the world came together in a nice

accommodation surrounded by forest. There were people from Sri Lanka, India, Egypt, Kenya, Zambia, Peru, Mexico, USA, Finland, Belgium and more.... It turned out to be a group of active, motivated people who during 5 days shared their thoughts, experiences and ideas on volunteer exchanges between North and South.

Even though North-South exchanges and their evaluation are the main topic of conversation at any NSPM, in 2012 there was also a focus on volunteer management. Many North South working groups, the main actors in North South Exchange in SCI, are dealing with a lack of activists and have problems following-up on plans and activities throughout the year. The working groups were therefore challenged to rethink the objectives of the groups and think of concrete steps to re-activate their working groups. As an immediate result some working groups saw new enthusiastic people signing up as steering group members. In 2013 at the NSPM the action plans of the working groups will be evaluated!

EXCHANGE EVALUATION MEETING

The Exchange Evaluation Meeting (EEM) is a meeting that aims to evaluate the international voluntary projects that have taken place throughout the year and to discuss ways to improve the quality of future voluntary projects. The meeting also aims at sharing the interesting and creative stories of international youth and volunteer work. In 2012 the meeting took place in the third week of October in Edinburgh, Scotland, hosted by IVS Great Britain.

EEM 2012 participants, Scotland (2012)

With a space both for plenary sessions and a group work, participants had a chance to

discuss and reflect on various topics related to exchange season, like: Open Placement

System - OPS, partnership procedures, evaluation system, workcamps standards, visa and

insurance issues, internal and external communication, workcamps’ promotion and many

others. On the last day, during two sessions intended for ‘Decision making’, participants

were voting for changes to be implemented for the next year workcamp season.

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING

The International Committee Meeting (ICM) is the annual meeting of SCI. It takes place once a year and is attended by representatives of each SCI branch and recognised group. Branches and groups can also send participants to observe the meeting. In 2012, the 72st ICM was hosted by SCI Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

SCI welcomed a new group to the network: GAIA Kosovo is now officially part of the worldwide SCI `family´. The ICM 2012 also saw the departure of three members of the International Executive Committee (IEC). SCI is grateful to Mihai Crisan, Grazyna Pulawska and Klaudia Bencze for their hard work and dedication to SCI over the past years. The following new IEC members were elected: Kata Somlai, Katja Löfgren, Živa Černec and Mihaela Dobroiu. Paolo Pagano was elected the new International President.

ICM 2012 was a good, productive and pleasant meeting for all delegates and observers present. Decisions were made, proposals approved and new plans, ideas and initiatives were discussed, both formally and informally in between the meeting sessions. The ICM was also an opportunity to see old friends again, and meet new ones. Participants expressed their gratitude to the hosting branch SCI Malaysia for job well done. Next ICM (2013) will take place in Greece, to be hosted by SCI Hellas.

ASIAN PLATFORM MEETING The first Asian Platform Meeting (APM) in 2012 was, like in 2011, organised together with the Asian Pacific Peace Education Seminar. It was held in Nepal. The second APM was held just before the International Committee Meeting in Malaysia (in December).

BRANCH COORDINATORS MEETING

The first Branch Coordinators Meeting took place in Rome, Italy at last summer, July 2012. The event

was initiated by IEC, to support the idea exchange between the office coordinators of the branches.

The participants came from 10 different branches of Europe – those came who mainly deal with the

office administration and are involved in the daily running of activities.

The discussions went around volunteer management and motivation, financial situation, challenges

and questions, the future of the Youth in Action programme, mission and vision and strategic

objectives of SCI. Participants shared practical concerns, found solutions to their problems by

learning from each other, and got motivated by hearing about others’ projects.

The participants had the chance to discover the approach of other branches in different topics,

introduce their situation – and to realise, that many of them share the same challenges, and have the

same ideas! With the words of some participants:

„Overall it was a very useful gathering”

„I know which branch I can ask for cooperation on some projects, I know what each partner is doing

and how. I feel less lonely!”

VI. CREATION OF THE NEW PARTNERSHIP REGULATIONS Throughout 2012, SCI took the challenge to review the existing procedures to become a Partners of SCI. To be a partner of SCI means to regularly and continuously exchange volunteers with SCI Branches. It is a sort of cooperation that requires trust and good understanding of mutual responsibilities. In constituting such a large and complex network, SCI must take care that volunteers are engaged in meaningful projects and that volunteers coming from outside of the network have a good understanding of the international voluntary service spirit. At the same time, the cooperation with other organisations must develop in a direction which is beneficial for SCI. All this has been taken into account by a team of 5 international volunteers who worked the whole year to deliver new partnership procedures. In order to develop a good document, the members of the team travelled to meet SCI Branches at international meetings, such as NSPM and BCM, to collect feedback and impressions and use them to further fine tune the regulations. The new Partnership Regulations were finally approved at the International Committee Meeting 2012 in Malaysia.

VII. COMMUNICATION AND EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION

2012 was the last year of the SCI Communication Plan which covered the period 2010-2012. The focus remained on increasing visibility of the organisation through improvement of existing tools and the development of new ones.

STYLE GUIDE A Style Guide was developed with information on the correct usage of SCI colours, typography, logo(s) and slogans on both off-line and on-line publications. This General Style Guide is obligatory for all International, while it is only to a very limited extent obligatory for branches. This is to ensure consistence and coherence in external communication on one side, while remaining the diversity in SCI as expressed by the different branches. The SCI Style Guide is available for SCI branches and partner organisations by accessing the SCI Members Area.

YOU(TH) CAN VOLUNTEER- LIVE TALKSHOW

This project aimed at promoting the OPS and launching the new placement season 2012. This started in January-February through an online campaign using social media, a website and e-zines. SCI reached out to and informed young people about concrete international volunteering opportunities and their value for the establishment of intercultural understanding and tolerance, as well as for social exclusion in diverse societies. This was done using video-material, images, volunteer stories and articles to catch people’s attention and trigger them into finding out more by attending the live-event on volunteering. The central event took place on March 29th 2012 between 2 and 4 pm Brussels Time. It was an interactive, live talkshow. For this the prepteam worked closely with volunteer ICT-experts to set up the technical requirements. The live talkshow could be viewed by anyone who visited www.sciint.org/you-th between 2 and 4 pm CET on March 29th. It was interactive in the sense that people with a Facebook or Twitter account were able to ask questions directly, while people who did not have these accounts were able to use a live chat conversation. Questions from viewers were collected by volunteers who worked ´behind the scenes´ and brought into the ´studio´ by one of the prepteam members, who handed them to the talkshow host on small pieces of paper. The talkshow consisted of interviews with 5 people, all experts in different fields related to SCI international voluntary projects, and related to the specific aims of this project. In between the interviews short videos and documentaries were shown. The project produced also some on-line material:

� 7 video teasers (on Vimeo and YouTube, SCI website) � the talkshow recordings themselves (downloadable from www.sciint.org/you-th) � a ´the making of´ video that shows how the talkshow was put together as well as a

final evaluation http://vimeo.com/48166364

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY

A social media strategy and plan of action have been developed. The main aims of this strategy and the concrete plan of action are to have a more structured approach to using social media in SCI in order to:

� increase our on-line audience (fans, followers, viewers) and to � inspire and motivate this audience � activate this audience

FURTHERMORE… SCI has been active with the regular updating of social media, mainly Facebook and Twitter and to a lesser extent also YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr, maintaining the website up-to-date, sending issues of SCI e-zine (external newsletter) and SCI e-news (internal newsletter).

EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION The External Representation (EXREP) of SCI has gained more focus since last year, when the IEC in order to ensure a permanent follow-up of the widespread activities the organisation was conducting established an EXREP-Team, whose members are engaged activists who help evaluate, discuss and present SCI in international meetings and fora. The Strategic Objective 3 of the present Strategic Plan of SCI served as a guideline to prioritise among the huge amount of participation requests SCI IS receives from likeminded organizations. The EXREP Team in 2012 stood from Margherita Serafini, International Coordinator, Klaudia Bencze from the IEC, Ingrid Danckaerts, Wilbert Helsloot, Magdalena Kaj and Nikolai Kvantaliani. The team had approximately 300 e-mail conversations throughout the year. Other volunteers and IEC members were occasionally helping the work the team with participation in events or opinion in specific topics.

UNOY: SCI revived cooperation with UNOY through different channels. SCI became more involved in disseminating the different calls of UNOY from the IS, thanks to which SCI branches could participate in a couple of activities. UNESCO: Our relation in 2012 was rather from the distance and of administrative nature. SCI is still in a consultative status with UNESCO that implies membership fee and access to UNESCO activities. CCIVS: In 2012 there was a follow up of activities of CCIVS where SCI has participated the year before. In 2012 SCI signed up for the new CCIVS project in 2013 which got approved. European Youth Forum-YFJ: SCI was present in almost all the principle meetings of the Forum and was quite active on the topic of the future of the Youth in Action Programme. Council of Europe: SCI continues to have participatory status with the Council of Europe.

ASEF: Since 2011 SCI is developing a closer relation with the Asia Europe Foundation with the aim of finding a way of cooperating in the frame of a common project that could potentially involve Asian branches of SCI. Several turns of project proposals were going on in 2012 that will possibly result in a concrete outcome in 2013. Network for Voluntary Development in Asia-NVDA: SCI took part in 2 projects involving this umbrella organization of volunteer associations, mostly covering Asia. Both took place in February in India: the Global Meeting on Long Term Volunteering and the NVDA Training and Networking Workcamp. Alliance: SCI also joined the celebrations of the 30th Anniversary of the Alliance of European Voluntary Organisations. The even took place in Mozet (Belgium) in conjunction with the Alliance general assembly. It has been a nice opportunity for SCI to meet in persons with many representatives of SCI Partners and to have a nice dialogue with the Executive Committee of Alliance about the outstanding issues of the international voluntary service movement, especially in Europe. Global Meeting: On Feb, 27th Paolo, SCI International Vice-President got up very early in the morning in Antwerp to join the Global Meeting of International Voluntary Service organisations held in Paris at the office Concordia, France. He did not attend one day of the IEC meeting running parallel in Antwerp but to bring SCI voice at this meeting was very important for the movement. At the meeting the networks updated each other about the most relevant project and then discussed the common challenges that they are tackling under the common platform of CCIVS, the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service. A couple of debated topics was the White Paper of Voluntary Service, the common strategic plan of the IVS networks for the next 10 years and the harmonization of statistics of the many networks in order to highlight and make more visible to international institutions the impact of volunteers on society.

1100.. AANNNNUUAALL AACCCCOOUUNNTTSS 22001122

Income 10 FINAL 11 BDG 11 FINAL FIN/BDG

01. Branch Contributions 43.357 42.000 46.273 110%

02. Vol Exch Fee (excl Insur Prems) 13.115 12.800 15.507 121%

03. Insurance Premiums Received 78.145 92.000 75.079 82%

04. Fees for Office Work Done 4.620 7.500 12.540 167%

05. Participation Fees 8.310 3.450 5.896 171%

06. Grants 206.728 139.018 121.094 87%

07. Donations / Fundraising 1.737 9.000 10.572 117%

08. Interest and Dividend 5.774 3.200 4.224 132%

09. Other Income 28.000 1019 17.998 1766%

10. Extraordinary Income 7.010 0 432

Total Income 396.796 309.987 309.615 100%

Expenditure 10 FINAL 11 BDG 11 FINAL FIN/BDG

11. Staff Costs Europe 163.778 146.966 138.838 94%

13. Office Costs 29.687 28.150 25.509 91%

15. Taxes 1.539 1.900 1.888 99%

16. Travel Costs 25.787 24.990 25.453 102%

17. Meeting Costs 8.088 10.680 11.956 112%

18. Membership Fees 2.939 3.000 2.919 97%

19. Financial Costs 1.749 1.250 2.278 182%

20. Miscellaneous 124 200 1.307 653%

21. Project Costs 64.531 30.570 20.838 68%

22. Premiums and Claims Paid 55.158 67.000 68.069 102%

23. Extraordinary Expenses 12.438 0 11561,66

25. Addition to Funds and Reserves 18.320 -955,72

Total Expenses 384.138 314.706 309.660 98%

RESULT 12.658 -4.719 -45

1111.. SSCCII BBRRAANNCCHHEESS AANNDD GGRROOUUPPSS IINN 22001122

EUROPE PVN Albania SCI Austria New Group SCI Belarus SCI Belgium VIA Belgium CVS Bulgaria Volunteers Centre Zagreb KVT Finland SCI France SCI France Région Nord SCI Germany

IVS Great Britain SCI Hellas UTILAPU – SCI Hungary VSI Ireland SCI Italy AVI Moldova VIA Netherlands ID Norway SV Zavod Voluntariat – Slovenia SVIT Ukraine SCI Madrid

OWA Poland SCI Romania VCV - Serbia SCI Catalunya IAL Sweden SCI Switzerland CID Macedonia GAIA Kosovo (as of ICM 2012)

SUB- SAHARA AFRICA SVI Mauritius VWAN Nigeria

ASIA-PACIFIC REGION IVP Australia SCI Bangladesh SCI India

SCI Japan SCI Malaysia SCI Nepal

SCI Pakistan SCI South Korea SCI Sri Lanka

SCI Hong Kong

NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA SVI Brasil CEMIAC - Mexico SCI-IVS USA

MIDDLE EAST AND MEDITERRANEAN REGION Bridges of Peace Jordan

1122.. SSCCII PPAARRTTNNEERR AANNDD CCOONNTTAACCTT

OORRGGAANNIISSAATTIIOONNSS IINN 22001122

SUB-SAHARA AFRICA

Union de la Jeunesse Fraternelle de Diébougou - Burkina Faso Botswana Workcamp Association DUNIA Arts and Culture – Ivory Coast Conseil National de la Jeunesse du Gabon Voluntary Workcamp Association of Ghana Kenya Voluntary Development Association Kiburanga Kenya Lesotho Workcamps Association AYISE Malawi AJUDE Mozambique

Les Ententes - Senegal La Fenagie –pêche - Senegal PDEF -Senegal Voluntary Workcamps Association of Sierra Leone ASTOVOT - Togo UVIKIUTA –Tanzania Uganda Pioneers Association Zimbabwe Workcamp Association Youth Association of Zambia

EUROPE HUJ Armenia AYAFE Azerbaijan DUHA Association - Czech Republic INEX-SDA - Czech Republic MS (Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke) – Danmark EST-YES Estonia YGE (Young Georgians for Europe) - Georgia VJF (Vereinigung Junger Freiwilliger) – Germany WF Iceland SEEDS SEE beyond borders- Iceland BSF - Balkan Sunflowers – Kosovo Association Amitié Portugal-Luxembourg SIW (Internationale Vrijwilligersprojekten) – Netherlands IPJ (Instituto Português da Juventude) – Portugal Eco Centre Zapovedniks – Russia

SFERA – Russia Siberian Creative Group – Russia World4U – Russia Center for Support of Democratic Youth Initiatives (Youth Memorial) – Russia Passage Zebra RU – PZ – Russia Sodrujestvo, Cheboxary –Russia AYA – Russia Russian-German Exchange – Russia Kola Nature - Russia Youth Cultural Center- Bitola – Macedonia Volunteer Center of ADP-Zid – Republic of Montenegro Voluntary Service Serbia (VSS) De Amicitia – Spain INEX Slovakia Alternative V – Ukraine

ASIA – PACIFIC REGION IIWC of IPPA Indonesia – Indonesia NICE (Neverending International Camp Exchange) – Japan League of Volunteers Kyrgyzstan APDC Kyrgyzstan

MCE Mongolian Workcamps Exchange Greenway International Workcamps – Thailand DaLaa Thailand Tajikistan Freedom Support Initiatives

Youth of 21 Century – Tajikistan Vision Youth Action -Taiwan Volunteers For Peace Vietnam

NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA Nocona Canada VFP (Volunteers for Peace) – USA Asociación C.H.I.C.O.S. – Argentina Fundación Darien – Colombia Fundación Golondrinas – Ecuador Fundacion Chiriboga – Ecuador VIVE México Nataté Mexico

CEPA - Centro de Educación Promocional Agrária – Nicaragua APAN - Asociación Pro Ayuda a la Niñez Nicaragüense Gotas de Agua – Peru BVBP – Peru DESCO - Centro de Estudios y Promoción del Desarrollo – Peru

MIDDLE EAST AND MEDITERRANEAN REGION TOUIZA - Algeria Baladna – Israel JEC - Morocco Beyti - Morocco Alkhair - Morocco ACIM (Amis des Chantiers Internationaux de Meknès) - Morocco CSM (Chantiers Sociaux Marocains) Zajel Youth Exchange Program - Palestine Popular Struggle Coordination Committee - Palestine Project Hope Palestine Tent of Nations Palestine JAFRA – Syria ATAV (Association Tunisienne de l’Action Volontaire) – Tunisia UTAIM (Union Tunisienne d’Aide aux Insuffisants Mentaux) – Tunisia GENCTUR Turkey GSM (Gençlik Servisleri Merkezi) Gudran Egypt

1133.. IINNTTEERRNNAATTIIOONNAALL CCOOOORRDDIINNAATTIIOONN IINN 22001122

INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Mihai Crisan International President and Treasurer Paolo Pagano Vice President Grazyna Pulawska Member Matte Testino Member Klaudia Bencze Member

INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT Margherita Serafini International Coordinator until October

2012 Sara Turra International Coordinator as of October

2012 Ingrid ter Maat Programme Officer Ossi Lemström Finance and Administration Officer Mariluce Ojan Project Long Term Volunteer Karolina Rymer EVS Volunteer