Scouts from across the world reiterated their commitment at the 4th World Scout Education Congress to creating a world shaped by youth who are barrier breakers, decision-makers, and active global citizens, empowered by core competencies and values.
Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary General of WOSM, said during the event’s closing ceremony in Paris, France that Scouting will further lead the way towards creating a more peaceful and inclusive world, eliminating discrimination and ensuring safe and equal opportunities for everyone.
Scouting, he said, will also build more resilient communities by educating, advocating, and empowering young people to take action for environmental sustainability.
Sessions later in the day culminated in the unveiling of a roadmap, developed as the main outcome of the Congress and designed to advance inclusive experiences to young people and offer quality value-driven citizenship education. Among its key points was a shift away from traditional youth engagement to youth leadership and towards new modes of flexible volunteering.
Meaningful action
Also during the final day of the three-day Congress, Chris Castle, UNESCO Director of Peace and Sustainable Development Division, shared his thoughts on how Scouting’s vision and mission to build a better world is what is needed in today’s world.
By 2023, Scouting aims to be the world’s leading educational youth movement, enabling 100 million young people to be active citizens creating positive change in their communities and in the world based on shared values.
He added that the Scouts are an integral component in achieving various Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including those ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education by promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Castle said that UNESCO believes education should prepare people to lead a life of dignity, treat others with respect, and act in the face of adversity noting that there was no shortcut to empowering generations of learners with the knowledge, skills, and values, and ensuring that no one is left behind in the process.
“Education – if crafted with the proper tools – can become a force that motivates and empowers learners to make informed decisions and take meaningful action at the community and global levels. [It] gives us more than just hope in the face of uncertainty, it gives us something to do. It allows us to be part of the solution,“ Castle said.
Global partnerships for sustainable development
In an earlier session on innovation in Scouting, Asheesh Advani, President and Chief Executive Officer of Junior Achievement, said that stakeholders in non-formal education, including Scouts, need to promote more global partnerships in sustainable development.
Speaking during the same session, Anna Segall, Chief Executive of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), said there was a need to think of the needs of volunteers of all ages to give them a sense of belonging. Segall also underscored the need to attract young volunteers who can add value to the needs of youth movements like Scouts and WAGGGS.
Human rights education
Other notable sessions included breakouts that focused on how human rights education in Scouting can empower young people. The session delved into how through Scouting, young people can become more exposed to the ideas and principles of human rights education as a core tool for youth empowerment.
It also gave participants the opportunity to learn about how the Scout Method can be more closely aligned with a human rights-based approach to education to enable Scouts to respond to humanitarian situations and global challenges.
The Scout method applies various elements that support Scouting’s purpose and principles, and creates a cohesive and balanced system for young people to experience the true potential of Scouting in a safe environment. By empowering young people to become active citizens, speakers said that they will gain lifelong learning and skills based on shared values, education, and fun.
With the Jamboree exhibition and members of the team involved in sessions and breakouts the Jamboree Planning Team acts actively to disseminate informations about the Jamboree and to connect with the international community. The Pomorskie Voivodeship is an official partner of our participation to the Congress.
