SCI Anniversary 1920 - 2010

by P.Rodriguez (Jul 6, 2009)

In 2010 SCI celebrates its 90th anniversary. In 1920 the first workcamp was organised in the war damaged village Esnes near Verdun.

A campaign with the working title "Provoking Peace" is in preparation, which will set the focus on Pierre Ceresole the founder of SCI.

Ceresole is known as undeviating pacifist, which provoked several public polemics against militarism. Often he presented then SCI as a counter concept to militarism. In bringing closer that aspect of SCI I'm convinced that the anniversary become even more attractive inside and outside SCI.

A first project is already in progress. In cooperation with the Bibliothèque de la ville Chaux-de-Fonds an exhibition about the life of Ceresole is planned. Ceresole lived for more than 10 years in La Chaux-de-Fonds and the region of Neuchâtel (Switzerland) and some important polemics took place there. This offers a good base to cooperate and to share resources. A first working meeting is planned in June. The exhibition is scheduled for autumn 2010.

A peace march, which follows the path of the controversial journeys of Ceresole to Germany iibition is scheduled for autumn 2010.

A peace march, which follows the path of the controversial journeys of Ceresole to Germany is in preparation as well. This journeys are well documented and offer interesting topics for discussions on SCI and peace. In addition a peace march would allow the participation of all kind of people from SCI. Maybe an international gathering could be linked.

Still in the concept phase are

• photo competition: 2-3 historical workcamp photos are given, which shall be imitated in nowadays workcamp.
• online publication of volunteer memories
• a project competition for the 90 years anniversary

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