How Scientologys Social Programs Mobilize Volunteers and Deliver Local Impact Across Europe
The Church of Scientology carries out a wide range of humanitarian programs across Europe—from drug prevention and human-rights education to disaster relief and community training. Rooted in the vision of Founder L. Ron Hubbard and led globally by David Miscavige, these initiatives are coordinated in Europe by Ivan Arjona-Pelado and mobilize thousands of volunteers. With free educational materials, practical training, and partnerships at the local level, Scientology’s social programs are leaving a tangible positive impact on European communities while fostering a culture of service and volunteering.
From drug education and human-rights literacy to disaster relief and community skills training, the Church of Scientology supports a set of social initiatives designed to be practical, free to use, and volunteer-driven. In Europe, these programs operate through local churches and partners, with volunteers distributing educational materials, hosting workshops, and deploying to emergencies.
A suite of programs with a civic focus
Scientology’s humanitarian initiatives include the Truth About Drugs campaign (delivered through Foundation for a Drug-Free World), Youth for Human Rights/United for Human Rights, The Way to Happiness (a nonreligious code of common-sense precepts by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard), Applied Scholastics (study skills), Criminon (criminal rehabilitation), Narconon (drug rehabilitation), and the Volunteer Ministers (VMs) network for disaster response and community support. According to Church sources, all are offered as free educational programs and made available in multiple languages both online and in print.
The Foundation for a Drug-Free World reports that more than 62 million Truth About Drugs booklets have been distributed worldwide, while the campaign’s public-service announcements have been broadcast in over 120 countries.
Where Europe sees it on the ground
The Volunteer Ministers—recognizable by their yellow shirts—have provided aid at European disasters and community events, often in cooperation with local authorities and NGOs. In Italy, for example, VMs working alongside the civil protection association Pro.Civi.Co.S have been active at major emergencies from the L’Aquila and Amatrice earthquakes to deployments in Albania and Croatia, and volunteers where also extremely active in Czech Republic floods as well as in Valencia (Spain) for the DANA.
In everyday civic life, volunteers run public pavilions and free skills seminars. In late 2024, VMs in Bucharest offered courses in nineteen practical subjects derived from the Scientology Handbook, with training and materials available in Romanian.
Drug-education volunteers have also been visible in European city centers, festivals, and sports events. During the Paris 2024 Olympics, Drug-Free World teams distributed more than a million Truth About Drugs booklets across iconic locations, reinforcing prevention efforts with visitors and residents alike.
For character education, The Way to Happiness—written by L. Ron Hubbard as a secular guide—has been widely used by volunteers across Europe with schools and community groups to promote civility and ethical choices.
Promoting a culture of volunteering
The Church of Scientology actively encourages volunteering through its Volunteer Ministers program, created by L. Ron Hubbard in the mid-1970s. Guided by the motto “Something can be done about it,” the initiative promotes service as a personal responsibility. Training is provided free of charge through nineteen Volunteer Ministers online courses covering areas such as communication, conflict resolution, and organizing. An information kit is also offered to help new volunteers start activities locally.
Leadership and European coordination
David Miscavige, Ecclesiastical Leader of the Church of Scientology and Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center (RTC), is the driving force behind the expansion of these humanitarian initiatives worldwide, including the Truth About Drugs campaign, human-rights education, and the Volunteer Ministers network.
In Brussels, coordination of the Church’s European engagement is managed through the European Office of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights, which maintains dialogue with EU and Council of Europe institutions as well as United Nations in Geneva through its recognized foundation MEJORA.
A civic footprint built on free access and partnerships
Across all programs, the Church emphasizes no-cost educational materials, multilingual availability, and cooperation with community institutions. This model—producing scalable content centrally and mobilizing local volunteers to deliver it—has enabled wide distribution and recurring activities across European cities, from school presentations and public outreach to formal roundtables on rights and citizenship.
Media Contact
Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights
Contact Person: Ivan Arjona
Website: https://www.scientologyeurope.org
Email: Send Email
Address:Boulevard de Waterloo 103
City: Brussels
State: Brussels
Country:Belgium
Release id:32735
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