inFORMATION
The World Scout Youth Forum provides an opportunity for young members of World Scouting to discuss and express their views on different issues, and many participants are also delegates at the World Scout Conference. Through preparing inputs and making recommendations to the World Scout Conference and to the World Scout Committee, participants will develop the skills necessary to take part in decision-making processes. The World Scout Youth Forum is considered as an interim measure to improve youth involvement in decision-making at world level.
The World Scout Conference is the governing body of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. The Conference which takes place every three years provides an opportunity for Member Organizations to consider the policy and standards of the Scout Movement, formulate the general policy of the World Organization, and take the action required to advance the purpose of the Movement.
The joint theme of the Youth Forum and Conference, “Bridging a Better World”, provides a strong symbolic framework for both events and speaks to our ambition to grow and strengthen the unity of the Scout Movement. “Bridging the World” challenges young people and participants to take action to build bridges in their communities, across borders between National Scout Organizations and with WOSM partners. It emphasises the need to work together to build peace, mutual understanding and tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges related to the Sustainable Development Goals.
We are currently faced with the realities of the impact the pandemic has had on large-scale international events and how to deliver the Conference and Youth Forum in an engaging and inclusive way to support the health and well-being of participants, meet constitutional requirements, and reflect feedback from National Scout Organizations.
Research was carefully considered by the World Scout Committee on different modalities of delivering the events, concluding that it is foreseen to not be viable to organise any in-person international events in August 2021. The decision was taken by Member Organizations in February 2021 to deliver these events through virtual means, to ensure that good governance of World Scouting can continue and to unify our Movement during this unprecedented times, strengthening our motivation to continue growing stronger together towards Vision 2023.
A positive and engaging participant experience is at the forefront of envisioning and planning the virtual events. Supported by a virtual conferencing platform, participants will be provided technical support, engage in decision-making for the future of World Scouting, learn from educational workshops, have fun during social activities and network with Scouts from around the world to gain new insights and inspiration.
