From 27th July - 17 August, with the financial support of the European Union, SCI Germany has educated & trained 21 Peace Messengers from 13 different countries. Immediately afterwards, the newly-born Peace Messenger teams were able to put theory into practice by visiting over 19 international workcamps in Switzerland, France, Belgium & Germany, in order to run one-day peace workshops for over 200 young volunteers in total.

Each of the workshops was unique, having been put together and designed by the PMs themselves. They included diverse games, exercises, group-plays, theoretical discussion and confrontations with such issues as the roots of racism, stereotypes, intercultural conflicts, peaceful conflict transformation etc. The vast majority of participants expressed great satisfaction at having the opportunity to discuss peace issues in such depth in their workcamps, and many wanted them to continue for a second day.

The importance & significance of such work has become doubly evident when the South Ossetian conflict suddenly broke out midway through our project. It reminded us of how fragile peace can be, even in or close to Europe's borders.

Next year, SCI hopes to continue & expand the project to bring the Peace Message home to more & more people: A "train the trainers" is scheduled to take place in Spring in the Ukraine, and afterwards a series of TWCs (Traveling Workcamps) throughout Europe, the Balkans and hopefully even in CIS-countries & the Caucasus.

Our thanks go to our wonderful trainers, Kathy Schroeder and Georg Adelmann, our great campleaders, Rebecca & Sarah, and last but not least to our stressed-out but committed & joyful Peace Messenger volunteers, who promised to continue their work upon their return home.

More information about SCI's direct work for peace is available on the special website www.spaceforpeace.net