An estimated 10 million Scouts have participated in peace activities in 110 countries following a programme which was started by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah and co-sponsored by Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf. It has been the largest and most successful programme ever undertaken by Scouts worldwide.

Geneva, Switzerland 22 February – The World Scout Bureau Central Office and the European Regional Office have celebrated Founder's Day by taking the time to reflect upon the importance of working together as a team and moving the Organization forward towards a brighter future.

As had been announced in Circular 39/2007 dated 19 December 2007, the World Scout Committee (WSC) organised a series of meetings on the governance of WOSM from 15-17 February 2008. The purpose of the gathering, which was open to all National Scout Organizations (NSOs), was to help resolve outstanding issues, build a broad consensus and develop perspectives for future action up to the World Scout Conference in Korea in July 2008 and beyond, particularly in the area of governance.

2008 is the Centenary of Australian Scouting and has been declared The Year of the Scout by the Australian Government.

To mark this great achievement, Australia Post has issued three Scout stamps on 19 February which feature images that capture the spirit and camaraderie of Scouts Australia. A 50 cent stamp depicts Joeys, Cubs and Scouts in an action shot that highlights the resourcefulness and teamwork sentiment so strong within the Scouting culture.

Geneva, Tuesday 12 February - Pascal Ndene officially launched his debut book - 'Un Scout Sénégalais: L'aventure citoyenne' (A Senegalese Scout: A citizen's Adventure) at the Centre de l'Espérance, Geneva, Switzerland.

In his book, Pascal reflects on the impact that Scouting had on his adolescence, which he spent growing up in Mbour, Senegal. Pascal holds a Masters in Sociology, and now lives in Geneva, working as a educational specialist with young people who are socially marginalised.

The first such seminar, commemorating Malta’s Centenary of Scouting, aimed at the Association’s adult leaders, was an astounding success.
Organised at the Medieval Knights Hall in Valletta, over two hundred Adult leaders attended the event discussing several topics whilst giving everybody the opportunity to share their views on the centenary’s theme, “Make a difference…You Can!”, amongst other interesting Scouting issues.

The Alliance of Civilizations held its first forum in Madrid, Spain on the 15-16 January 2008. An initiative of the United Nations Former Secretary-General, the Forum provided an opportunity to find new ways to bridge the growing divide between nations and cultures worldwide, and to establish new partnerships to promote global understanding.

World Scouting was invited to participate in one of the working groups entitled 'Youth Approaches to Intercultural and Inter-religious Dialogue.'

One of the hugely successful Gifts for Peace projects has been the Amahoro Amani project- a joint World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) initiative of promoting Peace in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa.

A DVD has been created featuring highlights of the first two years of the project. The eight-minute film, which has been broadcast on national TV in Burundi, Rwanda and DRC, examines nature and objectives of the project and shows young people participating in actions in the name of peace.

It is a pleasure to announce the WOSM membership of Kazakhstan's National Scout Organization, 'the Organization of the Scout Movement of Kazakhstan (OSMK)', as from 16 January 2008.

A warm welcome into the World Scouting family is extended to all the youth and adult members of OSMK, and it is with great pride that we look forward to their participation at the World Scout Youth Forum and World Scout Conference in Korea in July.

In the aftermath of the election violence that ensued in Kenya, Scouts in Nairobi, Eldoret and in Nakuru offered a helping hand to IDPs fleeing from their homes.

Nakuru

In Nakuru, in a community service exercise led by the Area Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Wahome and the Leader Trainer, Mr. Simon Muthoga, 25 Scouts provided assistance to IDPs at the Nakuru Show Ground from December 31st, 2007 – just 4 days after the election. The operation is still on-going, in close collaboration with the Red Cross.