World Scouting is proud to celebrate the successful completion of Vision 2023, its “Strategy for Scouting”, implemented between 2014 and 2024 which was marked by remarkable achievements in youth engagement, sustainability, safeguarding, membership growth, and impactful community initiatives.
This period has been defined by significant strides to enhance the participation and safety of young people, promote environmental stewardship, recover from the global pandemic, and empower Scouts worldwide to create positive change.
Global membership on the rise
World Scouting witnessed a full recovery in membership from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with global membership increasing by 22.6% over the last ten years. This growth included a rise from an estimated 38 million to 57 million young people and volunteers involved in Scouting, and a significant increase in the number of girls and women in Scouting, reaching almost 17 million, the highest in history.
World Scouting also welcomed 18 new Member Organizations since 2014, further expanding the its global footprint and reinforcing its position as the world’s leading educational youth movement.
Education is a fundamental human right and, as a global non-formal education movement, Scouting is committed to reaching marginalised communities across the world. Scouting has acted as a beacon of hope in refugee camps located in border communities of Kenya, Malawi, Turkey, and Bangladesh to name a few, providing young people with a safe haven amid conflict, humanitarian crises, and the effects of climate change.
In places like Ukraine, Libya, Morocco, Türkiye, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Mexico, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka, Scouts were active as first responders to emergency and humanitarian crisis situations, providing response and relief to communities in need.
Empowering communities to create a better world
Scouts for SDGs is mobilising young people to make the world’s largest coordinated youth-led contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Today, Scouts have contributed nearly 3 billion hours through 16 million actions of community service actions towards the achievement of the SDGs and 83% of National Scout Organizations (NSOs) are implementing the Earth Tribe or the Scouts for SDGs programme.
In collaboration with the World Scout Foundation, World Scouting has expanded its network of partners and unlocked additional source of funding to support NSOs and Scouting initiatives at the grassroots level. The Ticket to Life programme, as well as the Messengers of Peace and Earth Tribe initiatives, were among some of the key initiatives that received financial support, benefiting vulnerable communities, promoting environmental education, and fostering peace and humanitarian efforts.
Scouting offers a safe and inclusive environment for all
Child and youth safeguarding has been a top priority for the last ten years and will continue to be so moving forward thanks to the development of new assessment tools and annual reporting mechanisms to ensure that all NSOs meet the Safe from Harm requirements for World Scouting membership. Comprehensive Safe from Harm assessment tools were implemented, facilitating thorough evaluations and constructive feedback to NSOs. Training curriculums and additional resources were introduced to support NSOs in enhancing their safeguarding measures.
Furthermore, a new framework was devised to guide new members in integrating Safe from Harm initiatives as part of their membership application process. World Scouting also ensured the implementation of Safe from Harm structures at all World and Regional Scout Events, including the World Scout Education Congress, JOTA-JOTI, and Jamborees, thereby guaranteeing a safe and inclusive environment for all involved in Scouting.
Promoting youth leadership and decision making
All levels of the Scout Movement have taken significant steps to increase youth leadership and engagement in decision-making. In response to the updated Youth Engagement Strategy approved by the 2021 World Scout Conference, the Task Force on Youth Engagement identified and addressed institutional, structural, and cultural barriers to meaningful youth participation. In addition to strengthening youth representation in the World Scout Committee, new strategies must be developed to continue youth involvement following the discontinuation of the World Youth Advisor system.
Addressing six key challenges, World Scouting will focus on shifting governance mindsets, securing sustainable funding, and raising awareness about the importance of youth engagement. As part of our work, we continue to support Scout organisations and associations in updating their Youth Programmes, invest in youth leadership skills through programmes like the EU Youth Empowerment Fund, and prioritise youth participation in conferences and decision-making bodies.
Increasingly, young people represent Scouting externally, advocating for peace, humanitarian action, environmental issues, education, gender equality, human rights, and health in spaces. In the last three years, 31 Youth Representatives have actively contributed to the sustainable development agenda while ensuring that Scouting remains visible and well-recognised. Our goal is not merely to engage youth, but also to empower them as leaders.
With 23% of delegates and candidates under the age of 30 joining the World Scout Conference 2024 and a significant presence in various committees and task forces, World Scouting ensures that youth leadership remains central to its mission, equipping young Scouts with the skills and opportunities to lead both within and beyond the organisation.
Sustainability at every level: from activities to operations
Nature is our playground and classroom; we are committed to protecting it at all levels. Empowering young people to become environmental leaders has been World Scouting’s cornerstone. A resolution approved by the World Scout Conference in 2021 underscored the significance of shifting how we operate and raising awareness to protect our planet with the commitment to become carbon neutral by 2033 as a means of strengthening the Movement’s environmental sustainability.
In addition to developing a climate impact strategy to reduce our environmental footprint, World Scouting has developed guidelines to improve the sustainability of future World Scout events, and embed more environmental education into Scouting activities.
Scouts across the globe have taken part in sustainability initiatives, including Earth Tribe and Earth Hour, supported by partners such as the UN Environment Programme and WWF. In addition, 34 Scout Centres obtained the Scout Centres of Excellence for Nature and Environment label, leading by example and offering environmental education to promote a culture of sustainability at the community level.
By involving young people in initiatives like Earth Tribe and campaigns such as Earth Hour, we can enable them about the importance of environmental stewardship, while also empowering them to take actionable steps towards a more sustainable future. This active participation ensures that future generations are better equipped to protect and preserve our planet.
A Movement united by a Promise
A core element of Vision 2023 has been to promote the unity of Scouting and the global Scout Movement, which is deeply rooted in shared values and the Promise to do our best and make the world a better place. The symbols of the scarf, salute, and World Scout Emblem connect Scouts across borders, languages, and cultures, embodying the spirit of global friendship. This unity has been celebrated in over 1,400 world and regional events, from Jamborees and Camporees to Congresses, Conferences, Moots, JOTA-JOTIs, Wood Badge courses and International Leadership Training programmes.
Significant milestones, such as the 100-year anniversaries of KISC, Cub Scouts, Rover Scouts, and Wood Badge, further highlight our shared journey. These events not only showcased our resilience and tenacity, especially during challenges like the pandemic, but also reinforced our commitment to learning and improving, ensuring that future events are safer, more welcoming, and sustainable.
Despite the divisions of the world we live in, Scouting remains a powerful force for unity as we look ahead to the next decade. The achievements of Vision 2023 reflect the dedication and resilience of Scouts worldwide in creating a better world and fostering friendships that endure across borders.
Through our membership of 176 National Scout Organizations, we can make decisions together, forge partnerships, and create connections across borders. As Founder Baden-Powell reminds us, Scouting is a movement that must keep moving, and with our renewed vision and strategy, we can ensure it thrives for generations to come.
