The origin of SCI
SCI was founded by Pierre Cérésole, a Swiss engineer, who established a peace and humanitarian movement after World War I in 1920 and thereby laid the foundation for SCI. Cérésole organised the first international working camp on the former battlefield of Verdun in France in 1920 to rebuild the war-torn village of Esnes-en-Argonne.
Areas of work
The largest volunteer project was carried out in 1928 in Liechtenstein with more than 700 volunteers from 28 countries, clearing the Rhine Valley plain after a heavy flood in 1927.
While volunteer projects during SCI's first decade were mainly concerned with relief efforts for regions affected by natural disasters, from 1931 onwards volunteer projects were also carried out in other areas of social commitment, such as community projects (Wales) and development aid (India).
SCI today
Today, SCI consists of 40 members (sections/groups) and more than 90 partner organisations on all continents. Short-term and long-term volunteer projects are implemented worldwide and the application processes have been modernised.
