Each year a representative of our team takes part in the annual EPM (Exchange Platform Meeting). Usually this opportunity is given to our long-term ESC volunteers.
Below you can read about this year’s meet-up from the perspective of our volunteer Mathilda.
As she explains it it was “A week of Chaos, Connections & a bit of Peacebuilding”
If you’re curious about how it went, keep reading ..
” The trip started off… well, let’s just say with character. My train ride to Bonn was turbulent — both emotionally and physically — and the return journey wasn’t much better. But honestly, that’s part of the experience, right? A little travel drama to set the tone for an international peace meeting.
So, what’s this EPM thing anyway? The Exchange Platform Meeting, or EPM for short, is an international gathering organized by SCI – Service Civil International. People from all over the world – volunteers, branches, coordinators, and partners – come together to share experiences, talk about challenges, and plan how to make volunteer projects even better. Basically, it’s like a big family reunion, if your family was obsessed with world peace and had a thing for PowerPoint.
The get-to-know games were surprisingly inspiring. One was a bit like hangman, but with a twist: you got a little sticker and a pen, drew as many spaces as your name was long, and went around the room looking for people with the same letters. You could “sell” those letters by telling a fun story. A clever idea, really — some stories were funny, others unexpectedly sad. In the end, I was M A T _ H _ D _ A.
After chatting a bit, we played some other games, but this one stuck in my mind. Later, I shared a room with three friendly ladies : A N N A, _ A R G _, and M A _ I _ N N A , and we had a great time together, laughing and talking late into the night. Without them, the week wouldn’t have been nearly as nice.
The week was packed with meetings, workshops, and discussions — so many that I briefly forgot what free time feels like. But it was totally worth it. As a newcomer to these events, I couldn’t join most discussions, but my ears were sharp the whole time. Working in different groups gave me a wonderful glimpse into the many fascinating areas SCI covers — from sustainable travel and project coordination to peace education and inclusion. It’s impressive how much passion and organization go into something as beautifully chaotic as global volunteer work.
And then, of course, there was the food — a lot of it. We ate like Marie Antoinette herself. Mornings started with a breakfast buffet, followed by coffee, then lunch with a salad bar and at least two main dishes. After that came coffee and cake, and then dinner with another salad bar, two meal options, and dessert. Sleeping, on the other hand, felt a bit like cuddling with the slatted frame itself.
Thursday was our “free” day (quotation marks very much intended). We used it to go out for dinner, explore the city a little, and recharge — both physically and socially. Somehow, those casual, unplanned moments between all the structured sessions were the ones that really stayed with me. We laughed a lot, talked about life, and found common ground in the strangest of topics.
By Saturday, we were all running on coffee and goodwill, but the final celebration made up for every early morning. There was food, music, laughter, and that warm feeling of belonging you only get after spending a week working, thinking, and growing together. That sense of togetherness was, honestly, the highlight for me.
Looking back, I realize how much I’ve learned — not just about SCI’s work, but also about collaboration, patience, and the quiet magic of a well-timed coffee and cake break. I came home with a clearer understanding of what SCI stands for and the comforting thought that peacebuilding doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s simply people sitting around a table, sharing ideas, and laughing about German trains.
I hope you got a nice insight into EPM:)
Best, Mathilda ”
photo credits: Mathilda, Enock and SCI International
