International Voluntary Service

Country Information for Asia

In Asia, SCI operates in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. Since 1999 SCI has also co-operated with organisations in the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam under and EU/ASEAN Partnership programme.

SCI branches in this region are working in different social, economic and political situations to SCI branches in Europe. Many of the basic human needs of the people are not met and many are living in poverty. Along with working for the promotion of international peace and understanding, they are also working for the establishment of a civil society, which will respect basic human rights, have self-management resources, a sustainable economy and agriculture which will provide democratic participation in a sustainable civil society. SCI aims to empower local people to organise their own projects and to become sustainable in the longterm.

The North South programme in Asia provides a great opportunity to interact with local people as well as with other volunteers from different cultures and nationalities. Asian branches also organise weekend projects for local participants and activists throughout the year. International projects take place at different times, mainly during the winter (November-December) and during the summer season (July-August).

SCI Bangladesh

SCI Bangladesh has now about 1500 members in its 10 units spread throughout the country. In Bangladesh SCI encourages young people to participate in voluntary work, responding to emergency relief and rehabilitation, advocacy and movement for human rights, working on a sustainable environment and campaigning for peace. SCI Bangladesh is the focal point and provides the convenor/coordinator of the International Women’s Working Group and is a member of the International (Asian based) working groups on Peace & Human Rights, Environment & Development.

Members of the SCI Bangladesh participate in local, regional and international work and study camps, workshops and seminars. Every year several volunteers take part in the Exchange Programme (AEEP) to Europe. SCI Bangladesh receives approximately 10 to 20 volunteers from Asian and European countries on its international camps and is also involved with a more intensive bilateral exchange with SCI Japan.

The organisation concentrated on participatory and holistic development of the rural poor, landless, women, children, marginal farmers and the fisher folk community in the remote coastal villages.

SCI India

SCI India, which was started in 1950, organises many voluntary projects and other actions with branches/groups in different regions of India. SCI India also organises youth induction programmes, training programmes, workshops and seminars to get people involved, trained and motivated in social action and voluntary work. It has developed a strong volunteer force to take a lead in activities and issues related to forestry, environment, refugees, peace, communal harmony, disabled and women’s issues.

Every year SCI India receives between 25 to 40 European and American volunteers in their projects. Also a number of volunteers from other Asian countries and from India participate in these projects.

SCI also organises seminars, workshops, peace initiatives and solidarity campaigns. There is one long-term project in the Tamil Nadu state for the overall development of the community of socially and economically deprived section of the society. The activities include education, nutrition, health, women’s empowerment by imparting vocational training to get employment and rural development. SCI India helps European volunteers to find placements in its own projects or associated projects throughout India. Volunteers of SCI India also help after natural and man made disasters, as in the case with the recent earthquake in Gujarat. http://www.workcampsindia.tk/

SCI Nepal

SCI Nepal organises a limited number of projects each year, some of which are international, others are bilateral (for instance with Japan) or for local people. On average SCI Nepal hosts 30 to 40 foreign volunteers each year. Also various other activities are organised in cooperation with national and international SCI branches/groups and partners; for instance workshops and seminars on leadership training, environment, refugees, peace, disabled people, women and children etc. to get more people involved, trained and motivated in social action or in voluntary activities.

For national and local volunteers various activities such as national projects, seminars, training events and conferences on peace and environment are organised. SCI has recently started a long-term project in a rural village which provides education for women and children. SCI Nepal has no paid staff member and relies completely on volunteers.

SCI Sri Lanka

SCI Sri Lanka was founded in 1963 and works in many parts of the country except the North and the East, due to the prevailing conflict situation in that area. The political situation in the country has provided a large scope for SCI Sri Lanka to work on projects that help to bring people together in a peaceful way. SCI Sri Lanka has carried out a lot of projects and programmes with internally displaced people in Sri Lanka due to the civil conflict. Other focal points are working on environmental issues, especially those preserving the natural environment, issues related to peace and human rights participation in peace campaigns, marches and training programmes on non-violent Conflict Resolution issues related to women and programmes that encourage development and participation. http://www.sldoc.be

SCI Pakistan

SCI Pakistan, an SCI Group, is running a free dispensary in Lahore, catering to around 20 people per day. They work in association with Khawaja Owais Foundation, which is running a free eye hospital near Lahore in a very remote area.