Nairobi, Kenya: More than 40 young leaders from 27 National Scout Organizations concluded the first in-person regional Scout event since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 when the 9th Africa Scout Youth Forum closed in Nairobi.
Over the course of the three-day event from 21 to 23 August 2022, young people from all over Africa took part in a journey of learning on the topics of sustainable development, advocacy, safe from harm, mental health among others. The event enabled them to reconnect and engage in making decisions that will shape the future direction of the Scout Movement in Africa.
Workshops involving partners such as the Young Scientists Kenya focused on a range of topics including leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation. The sessions inspired young people to rise and take leadership in addressing different issues in their communities and contribute to shaping connected and sustainable futures for all.
The Youth Forum programme also featured remarks from Roy Sasaka Telewa, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Youth Council and Edwin Kimani, the Global Director at the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation who spoke about the power of young people to be change-makers in their communities. The participants also shared their experiences with each other and the grassroots projects they’re leading.
A lot of emphasis was put on ensuring the Youth Forum was a safe environment for everyone to participate effectively. All participants had to undertake a mandatory Safe from Harm online course and adhere to a set Code of Conduct for the event.
As part of the decision-making process of the Youth Forum, delegates elected six Youth Advisors from a pool of 14 candidates nominated by their respective National Scout Organizations. The Youth Advisors to the Africa Scout Committee will play a key role in the Committee’s decision-making and will start their term following the 18th Africa Scout Conference to serve during the upcoming 2022-2025 triennium.
Participants worked in mixed International Teams to discuss and prepare inputs to the Youth Forum, including drafting content for the Youth Forum Declaration and proposing recommendations to the Africa Scout Conference. These proposals will be considered by National Scout Organizations during the upcoming 18th Africa Scout Conference.
The Declaration and Recommendations represent the ideas and opinions of the participants of the 19th Africa Scout Youth Forum and put forward a bold agenda for youth engagement in decision-making and governance, inclusivity of all and focus for Scouting in the next triennium.
The closing ceremony was graced by Victor Atipaga, Chairperson of the Africa Scout Committee who read a speech on behalf of Andrew Chapman, the Chairperson of the World Scout Committee who congratulated the young people and encouraged them for step up and become role models to their peers and communities through their actions. Also present was Frederic Tutu Kama-Kama, the Regional Director for Africa at the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
Majority of the delegates of this Youth Forum will now go on to participate in the 18th Africa Scout Conference taking place from 25 to 28 August 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.
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Notes to the Editor
The Africa Scout Youth Forum is an event of the Africa Region of the World Organization of the Scout Movement held every three years. This 9th edition was supposed to take place in 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit https://africa.scoutconference.org for more information and news.
For media enquiries contact:
Nelson Opany
Senior Manager, Communications and Partnerships – World Scout Bureau Africa Support Centre
Telephone: (Office) +254 20 245 0985 | +254 728 496553 | (Personal) +254 726 951296
Email: (Office) africaconference@scout.org | (Personal) nopany@scout.org