Delegates took part in important decision-making and heard exciting announcements for the future of Scouting on day 4 of the 42nd World Scout Conference. We danced to a new song for Scouting and looked back on the impact of the first World Non-Formal Education Forum and the Rio Declaration on Non-Formal Education as one of the event’s key outcomes.
A number of side events took place throughout the day, including an update from the World Scout Foundation and two gatherings hosted by Regional Scout Foundations in the Africa and Interamerican Regions. You may have also dropped in to the special event to learn about the Kandersteg International Scout Centre’s 100th anniversary celebrations being planned in 2023.
Knowledge sharing and skills building
We connected virtually through a number of workshops to showcase the activities and best practices being implemented by National Scout Organizations around the world. The sessions focused on topics including: membership recruitment, diversity and inclusion policies, financial management, building strategic partnerships, and the impact of Scouting in humanitarian settings.
Participants asked questions and learned how to apply these good practices in their local and national contexts. A series of follow up sessions enabled delegations to work together to implement the Conference outcomes in their National Scout Organizations.
World Scouting also hosted Q&A sessions for Member Organizations to learn more about upcoming World Scout Events, such as the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Korea and JOTA-JOTI, as well as the new innovative process being implemented to endorse volunteers to be part of the next Operational Framework. Remember the volunteer call to #JoinTeamPurple is still open until 15 September 2021.
Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons elected
Day 4 saw the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons elected by the World Scout Committee. Edward Andrew “Andy” Chapman (United States of America) will serve as the Committee’s Chairperson, and Jo Deman (Belgium) and Sarah Rita Kattan (Lebanon) will serve as the Committee’s Vice-Chairpersons during the 2021-2024 triennium.
In accordance with WOSM’s constitutional provisions, the new World Scout Committee’s mandate will start following the closure of the 42nd World Scout Conference and end at the closure of the 43rd World Scout Conference in 2024.
Congratulations to the Hosts of future World Scout Events
We also shared our congratulations with the Member Organizations of Poland, Portugal and Egypt who were elected by the Conference to host future World Scout Events. The 26th World Scout Jamboree will be hosted in 2027 by the Polish National Scout Organization, Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego. The 17th World Scout Moot in 2025 will be hosted by the Portuguese National Scout Organization, Federação Escutista de Portugal. The 43rd World Scout Conference will be hosted by the Egyptian Scout Federation in 2024. We can’t wait to see you again at these events on the horizon!
Voting on key decisions during the Conference
In plenary, the Resolutions Committee presented its report to the Conference on Amendments proposed to Draft Resolutions. Delegations then spent most of the session discussing and voting on a number of topics that will shape the future of World Scouting over the next years. The Conference adopted the draft objectives of the World Triennial Plan 2021-2024, as well as Resolutions on Youth Engagement and the Evolution of the World Scout Conference & World Scout Youth Forum.
Reaffirming the Scout Movement’s commitment to the protection of young people, the Conference agreed on an ambitious Resolution to strengthen Safe from Harm across the Movement. A 99% vote was achieved towards an amendment to the WOSM Constitution declaring Safe from Harm standards become a fundamental membership requirement.
