The history of the Service Civil International (SCI), which has been working for a better world under the banner of peace for 100 years, began as far back as 1924, when numerous avalanches devastated several regions of the Alps. Pierre Cérésole, pacifist, conscientious objector and founder of what would later become the ICS, then had the idea of demonstrating the importance and extreme interest of a civil service for conscientious objectors by helping the affected populations. 

After an initial initiative of a few dozen people in Les Ormonts (VD), which is now considered the first ICS Workcamp, a larger camp (310 volunteers) was organised in Someo, in the Maggia Valley. The volunteers, animated by a spirit of commitment to peace through reconstruction and led by Colonel Erneste Cérésole (Pierre's brother), stayed in Someo for two months, also helping out in Aurigeno and Gresso (Onsernone Valley). With these missions, the volunteers wanted to make a contribution to the creation of a civil service as an alternative to military service, and at the same time help populations seriously affected by natural disasters.

A travelling exhibition and a round table to talk about peace 
To mark the first 100 years of this important pacifist organisation, the DFA/ASP is organising a panel discussion open to the public on the subject of peace on Wednesday 11 September 2024. Speakers at the discussion will be:

• Rafaela Baggio, SCI Volunteer
• Filippo Lafranchi, Co-coordinator of the Centro per la Nonviolenza della Svizzera italiana
• Ilario Lodi, Coordinator Pro Juventute Ticino and CEMEA trainer
• Marsilio Passaglia, SCI Switzerland Committee Member
• Magda Ramadan, Head of Basic Training DFA/ASP

The panel discussion will be moderated by Wolfgang Sahlfeld, Professor in History of Education at DFA/ASP.

Also in the context of the ICS centenary, a travelling exhibition has been set up at the DFA/ASP from 2 September to 9 October 2024, tracing the organisation's history and commitment over time. The exhibition documents, with materials and various documents, the various forms of voluntary work over the decades, from natural disaster relief to recreational activities for refugees. Today, clearance work after natural disasters (such as those that struck the Alps and in particular the Maggia Valley again this year) is no longer the focus of the ICS, but its loyalty to the founding idea of commitment to peace and intercultural understanding through concrete forms of voluntary work has remained strong and intact.

Participation

Participation in the round table is free and open to all.

For organisational reasons, registration via the online registration form is welcome by 8 September 2024.