The 43rd World Scout Conference drew to a close on 23 August, capping off seven days packed with meaningful decision-making which will set the direction of the Scout Movement for years to come. The gathering marked the first in-person global Conference in seven years, bringing together over 1,600 participants and guests, with an additional 400 participants joining online.
Hosted by the Egyptian Federation for Scouts and Girl Guides, and supported by a team of dedicated volunteers, the event offered a platform for National Scout Organization leadership to agree on crucial strategic directions, including the adoption of key resolutions, an amendment to the WOSM Constitution, and the unanimous approval of a new vision and Strategy for Scouting.
This ambitious roadmap for the next decade, together with the priorities outlined in the World Triennial Plan for the 2024-2027 triennium, will set the Scout Movement on a path to address pressing global topics, such as sustainability, youth leadership, and peace education, ensuring that Scouting continues to make a positive impact on millions of young people and volunteers worldwide.
“With a new vision, strategy and focus on the future, we can ensure Scouting is stronger, more united, more sustainable, and more youth-led for generations to come,” Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary General of World Scouting told delegates. “As we look ahead to the next decade, Scouting offers a space for us to unite together in a divided world. By embracing Scouting’s values and living by the Scout promise, we can create the world we want, rather than accepting the world as it is.”
Guiding the strategy’s early implementation are the newly-elected voting members of the World Scout Committee, a group of 12 Scout leaders selected by delegates to serve on the governing board for the 2024-2027 term. The Committee also appointed its new Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons during the event.
In his first speech as the Committee’s new Chairperson, Daniël Corsen of Curaçao reiterated how participants had used the Conference to make their voices heard. He outlined his commitment of “all for all”, ensuring the Committee acts together towards decisions that represent the interests and diversity of Member Organizations worldwide. He further emphasised that the Committee would implement the decisions taken at the Conference to make Scouting safer, embrace youth-led climate action, foster growth, and offer more transformative learning experiences for young people and volunteers.
“In everything we do, we must listen and learn. To keep in mind the aspirations, realities and needs of all our National Scout Organizations, and to support you to deliver quality Scouting programmes,” said Corsen to a packed room on the final day of the event.
Joining Scouts on stage were inspiring speakers and guests, including Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed, who spoke of the critical role Scouts play in addressing global challenges, describing the World Scouting as a cornerstone of youth leadership worldwide.
At the mid-point of the Conference, delegates also voted on the Hosts for future World Scout events. The Scout Association (United Kingdom) was chosen to host the 44th World Scout Conference in 2027, The General Association of Scouts of China (Scouts of China) will host the 17th World Scout Moot in 2029, and The Danish Scout Council (Denmark) will host the 27th World Scout Jamboree in 2031.
Other key outcomes of the event included the approval of an inflation adjustment to the WOSM fee system and strengthening measures to protect children and young people, setting a strong foundation for the future of Scouting. Among the resolutions proposed by Member Organizations was Colombia’s call for a World Mental Health Policy to address the mental health needs of Scouts, and collective efforts to bolster the prevention of gender-based violence, including by creating safe, respectful environments within Scouting.
The Conference also celebrated recent successes, including the Movement’s successful recovery of membership impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growth of Scouting worldwide. Over the past decade, global membership increased by 22.6%, and today there are more than 17 million girls and women involved in Scouting, the highest figures in the Movement’s history. Other highlights included welcoming four new Member Organizations – Antigua and Barbuda Scout Association, Scoutisme Congolais, Scouts et Guides du Mali, and Scouts of Albania – further expanding Scouting’s global footprint and demonstrating the Movement’s continued appeal among young people.
Lighter moments were offered by evening entertainment that embraced the rich diversity of the Scout Movement, such as an international evening where delegates showcased their country’s culinary and cultural traditions, and a treasure hunt game through the Grand Egyptian Museum’s ancient artefacts. Exceptional Scouts and their organisations were also recognised with various accolades, including the Bronze Wolf Award, as well as in categories such as growth and intergenerational leadership.
The Conference marked a pivotal moment for the global Scouting community, setting a clear direction for the future. By bringing together delegates from across the Movement to work collaboratively and shape the next chapter of Scouting, the event not only set the stage for Scouting’s future but also reinforced the Movement’s unity and shared vision. With a clear roadmap for the decade ahead, Scouting is poised to continue its mission of fostering youth development, ensuring that young people are ready for life, and making a positive impact in their communities.
