North Africa and Middle East

 
  Palestine, 2009 (Photo by Federica Brivio)                                                       Palestine, 2009 (Photo by Silvia Rossini)  

`The camp was called `European Summer Camp`. The main aims were to better understand the Palestinian side of the conflict, get familiar with the status of Palestinian refugees and with life in a refugee camp. (..) Ofcourse there was also time to socialize and get acquainted with Palestinian culture: customs, music and ways of partying. This has been a unique experience. I highly recommend this camp in Yarmouk to everybody who wants to learn more about Palestinians.` - Irena Kržan, short term volunteer in Syria, 2009 
 

With SCI you can volunteer on both short and long term projects in the North Africa and the Middle East.  There are different projects to choose from. In the Middle East many projects are focused on an effort to propose a just peace as an alternative to violence and oppression in this region. Many projects in Palestine, for example, have a strong emphasis on raising awareness about the conflict in the region. SCI cooperates with partner organisations in North Africa and the Middle East with the aim of demonstrating and strengthening our solidarity with people and communities in need in this part of the world. Currently, SCI organises international voluntary projects in Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco. SCI is always open to initiate cooperation with partner organisations in other countries belonging to this region, whenever the need or the opportunity arises.
 

Coming to Europe

There is a special programme for volunteers from North Africa and the Middle East to go on a mid-term voluntary exchange to Europe. This programme is organised by a few European SCI branches. Volunteers on this programme get the opportunity to participate in European workcamps, and join special trainings, together with volunteers from Asia and Latin America. For more information about this programme you can contact your local branch or partner organisation, or one of the regional working groups.
 

Midi Working Group

International voluntary exchanges to and from North-Africa and the Middle-East are organised by SCI branches and partner organisations and are facilitated and supported by the working group for this region, called ´Midi`. The Midi working group consists of staff and volunteers from different branches and partner organisations, representing different countries. Apart from international voluntary projects and exchanges, the group is also active in international campaigns. You can read more about Midi in the section on Working Groups.