SCI 2011 (english)
July 25th till August 6th
Service Civil International (SCI) is a volunteer organization dedicated to promoting a culture of peace by organizing international voluntary projects for people of all ages and backgrounds.
After the wonderful experience from last year, we opened our home this summer again for young people from all over the world.
They came from Turkey, Russia, Slovakia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Spain, Austria und from Switzerland; many women and just a few men.
Our community was represented by René R. and Mieke. Other people from the community came for some days or for special projects. Bettina cooked more often as she intended; her muffins were a big hit.
Annette was the woman behind the new fire pit; with Pia, Wolfgang and help of the SCI they managed a miracle. Andreas and Pierre gave the needed muscle power. Monique as our vegetable-woman told her helpers some garden secrets. René D. did a tour to show what we achieved the last 2 years and he came by almost every day to make photos.
Every morning we started with a round; everybody had the chance to tell how he or she felt. We did some games to fully wake up and after that we divided the work of the day.
One afternoon the group went to St. Gallen, where Claudia, a friend of the community, who came to help us the first week, showed them around. The group also visited a place, where the famous cheese “Appenzeller” is being made. Afterwards they walked back to Herisau. A few went the little river Necker, for a swim. The last free afternoon it was warm enough to go for a swim in the public swimming pool of the village. Playing cards was also a favorite pastime game.
With the few of the community who were around during this holiday time we sang mantra songs one evening and in the last week we had a lovely play and dance night. The very last night we had fondue (molten cheese) on the fire in the tipi. Of course we celebrated the first of august (a Swiss holiday) with a big fire at the new fireplace and a lovely barbecue with many salads and sausages.
In between nice shoulder massages we given and taken, the work was unusual and quite heavy for those, who never did this kind of work before. One evening Bettina offered a Tai Chi course
The weather was not very summerlike and some got a cold, which they cured with tea and some quiet time in bed.
René R. and Mieke prepared some projects beforehand and we are proud to tell, that we realized most of them.
The biggest project was the clay sauna, which we build with fresh willow. A group went out to cut willow branches and then they were put in a round. The next step was to weave the bigger standing ones with smaller branches. As soon as the construction stood the clay was being prepared: clay, sand, straw ad water was being mixed and then the heavy part gave a lot of laughter. Each time six members of the group put on strong boots to mix the whole stuff. Putting the material on the construction wasn’t that easy either. As result the sauna was finished on the last afternoon and the last night, after the fondue, we took a sauna together.
Building little stone walls needed stamina; mostly we had to try the stones more than a few times before they fitted. No love at first sight in this work, but during the two weeks a few of the group discovered that they had an eye for the stones and in the end we realized the first wall in the west and also started a second one.
We have many trees in our garden and after many years of not being looked after there is still a lot to cut. Cutting them in small pieces for the fire and shredder the rest was a rewarding job.
With carton, grass and shredder material we prepare overgrown parts of the garden for later cultivation
The existing fire pit was a nuisance after every rain. Just in time on the first of august the group managed to finish a new one: a beauty now with seats made by the trees felled last year. The floor made with big and small stones from the river.
Some days a group worked with Monique in the vegi-garden and with Yvette around the flowers at the cafeteria a new border of fir slices instead of stones was realized.
The most desirable job was working in the kitchen. Helping with preparing lunch and at the same time baking muffins for tea break was quite a hit. For dinner two of the group cooked together some dishes from their own country.
The SCI group this year was much bigger than last year; maybe that’s why little groups were formed. We are grateful for all the constructive feedback, we got during the last afternoon: more time to overcome „culture-shock“, more time to get to know each other and the different backgrounds, even the luxury of an own bedroom with shower seemed less interesting than the opportunity of sleeping together in the tipi.
Every time, after working in a group, I ‘m impressed how much can be realized through working together. This time, with the help of all those great young people we made a real difference and we are proud and grateful for all the help we got during these two weeks.
So thank you and don’t hesitate to come and see us another time.
Mieke