Brussels, Belgium — November 2025 — From the streets of Prague to community halls in Madrid, members of the Church of Scientology are upholding a time-honored tradition: contributing to the public good through compassionate initiatives that aim to reinforce a sense of dignity, compassion, and ethical principles. Behind these efforts lies a core principle central to Scientology itself — that real spiritual advancement cannot be achieved unless one actively supports the betterment of others in the community.
During recent months, Scientologists and their affiliated groups have led numerous community and educational programs throughout Europe. In the Czech Republic alone, Volunteer Ministers conducted nearly 50 community initiatives in October 2025, ranging from neighborhood clean-ups, disaster-response training, and educational sessions for young people focused on integrity and teamwork. Comparable programs took place in Italy, Hungary, Spain, and France, all delivered under the Church’s broader humanitarian umbrella.
Humanitarian Work as a Spiritual Practice.
Unlike many religious or social movements that separate faith from service, Scientology puts helping others at the center of spiritual development. Its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, wrote that “a being is only as valuable as he can serve others,” a teaching that guides the Church’s outreach initiatives. From the international Volunteer Ministers movement to public education efforts on drug prevention, literacy, and human rights, each action demonstrates the idea that helping people is an integral component toward one’s own personal liberation.
Across Europe, this philosophy has been put into action through initiatives such as “The Way to Happiness” — a non-religious ethical guide written by Hubbard in 1981 that has been distributed to millions in more than 100 languages — and “Youth for Human Rights”, which enables students to learn about and advocate for the internationally recognized human rights standards. These programs, while entirely secular in participation, exemplify the Scientology view that improving society’s moral and ethical condition is vital to individuals to grow in awareness and freedom.
A European Culture of Civic Responsibility.
In cities like Rome, Brussels, and Vienna, Scientology Missions and Churches have become trusted partners in civic life, often collaborating with local associations to respond to social challenges such as social exclusion, substance dependency, and prejudice. Their work aligns with the European Union’s emphasis on human rights awareness and local involvement.
“Helping others is not merely a charitable act — it is a foundation of a peaceful and inclusive society,” said Ivan Arjona-Pelado, Representative of the Church of Scientology to the Council of Europe, OSCE, UN, and EU. “When individuals choose to care for their communities, they also begin to grasp their own true identity. This is the essence of what Scientologists mean by freedom — not only self-determination, but shared responsibility for the world around us.”
Volunteer Ministers: A Movement of Practical Help.
One of the most prominent expressions of this ethos is the Volunteer Ministers (VMs) program, created in the 1970s in response to what Hubbard described as the “moral decay” of modern life. Easily recognized by their yellow shirts, VMs are active in nearly every region of the world, delivering assistance in times of crisis — from earthquakes, floods, and storms to individual hardships.
In Europe, Volunteer Ministers have been responded to flood response in Slovenia, humanitarian aid for displaced persons in Hungary, rebuilding efforts after seismic events in Southern Europe, and regular community service projects across the continent. Their training — open to anyone regardless of belief — focuses on practical tools to address disagreements, improve communication, and help people regain their sense of self-worth.
These actions are guided by service, not by seeking new members but by the belief that people, when given practical help and empathy, can find their way forward and news eureka rebuild their futures. This is why the program’s motto, “Something can be done about it,” has resonated across languages and cultures.
Education and Prevention as Keys to Social Change.
In addition to hands-on aid, Scientologists have focused significantly on education as prevention. The “Truth About Drugs” campaign — spearheaded by the Foundation for a Drug-Free World — has shared educational materials with countless individuals and hosted community forums in cooperation with teachers, police departments, and youth organizations. Similarly, Youth for Human Rights chapters throughout Europe have run workshops in schools, encouraging students to recognize human dignity as a universal right.
Each of these programs is backed by Church members but carried out jointly with secular institutions, proving that spiritual values can drive meaningful social action. This cooperative spirit has received recognition from local authorities, educators, and NGOs for its sustained dedication.
The Path to Spiritual Freedom.
For Scientologists, helping the community is not separate from their spiritual journey — it is the path through which spiritual awareness deepens. The religion teaches that individuals are immortal spiritual beings, capable of achieving higher states of consciousness through both self-directed learning and service to others. Supporting those around you thus becomes an essential element of advancing toward what Scientology calls “total freedom.”
“Europe has a rich legacy of humanism that honors compassion and community support,” added Arjona. “Scientologists build upon this heritage by bringing ethical insights into practical action — {bringing help, hope, and understanding wherever they can|offering practical aid and moral clarity in their communities|sharing tools for a better life