“There are still too many decision-making places where youth is not significantly represented”

Inês Rodrigues has been a Scout in Portugal for as long as she can remember. Over the past three years, she has served as the External Representative for the European Region of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, where she focuses on advocacy for Peace Education. She is also the current President of the European Youth Parliament Portugal, a position she has held since August 2023, demonstrating her commitment to youth engagement. Inês is pursuing a Master's degree in Intercultural Studies for Business from the Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto.

I usually say that I was born a Scout. My parents met through scouting, and I’ve been involved in it for as long as I can remember. Experiencing the values of scouting from a very early age strongly shaped my values and my sense of identity. It sparked my interest in volunteering projects, one of them being the European Youth Parliament (EYP) Portugal. EYP is one of Europe’s largest youth platforms for civic education and exchanging ideas. It is run by young people for young people.

 

My involvement with EYP Portugal started in 2018 when I participated in a Regional Session. After three intense days of sharing, debating and meeting new people, I was instantly drawn to the project. Six years later, and almost 40 events later - from Regional Sessions to International Forums the EYP Network continues surprising me and giving me lifelong friendships. This year, being the President of my National Committee only amplifies my commitment to the organisation and its mission. As for my role in the European Region, my journey started almost three years ago when a friend mentioned an open call for the External Representatives Team. I was unaware of all the work being done in the Region at the time, so this opportunity broadened my horizons. Now, building on our advocacy efforts regarding Peace Education in Europe, I feel inspired and committed to giving young people even more chances to raise their voices and help them learn how they can contribute to building peaceful societies.

 

It was for sure this sense of wanting more and knowing that I could do more for the organisation and its projects. I had been in EYP for some time, undertaken diverse roles within the organisation, and participated in national and international events. So in 2022, I joined the Board of EYP Portugal as an Event Coordinator, being responsible for overseeing and supporting our events. When the mandate was ending, I still felt like I had a lot of ideas and skills to share, so I applied as President, and today here I am. It’s not easy being a young person and being involved in so many projects, but it is worth it at the end of the day. 

 

I believe that these youth organisations are something every child and young person should experience - they shape and encourage young people to be active citizens in their communities. The non-formal approach to education nurtures leadership skills, promotes global citizenship and fosters a sense of community. We see that it is more important than ever that our children and people develop their sense of empathy and tolerance to help build more peaceful and inclusive societies.

I think that in any leadership role, one of the greatest challenges is managing the people themselves - working with different personalities and expectations and combining different availabilities in this volunteering capacity are tremendous challenges, but even more so when we adapt this to the international setting. For me, the best way to overcome these has been to ensure open and transparent communication, creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their ideas and concerns. I have directly worked with my teams towards this by setting clear expectations and goals for our roles to minimise misunderstandings and potential conflicts - we sat, talked about our expectations and fears, and kept this conversation going through time. Checking on the people working alongside you regularly is crucial so no one feels left behind.

 

While I can't pinpoint a specific initiative, I'm incredibly proud of our strides in EYP Portugal in building partnerships and securing sponsors. As a non-profit organisation, funding is a challenge, but enhancing our relationships with allies has greatly improved the quality of our events. We've taken two complementary approaches: partnering with stakeholders like the Portuguese Office of the European Parliament and supporting local businesses. These efforts have strengthened our financial foundation, expanded our network, and enriched the experiences we offer participants. It's a collective achievement that I'm proud to have been a part of and that we will keep on developing.

Scouting is one of the most powerful avenues for youth empowerment and development. Being an External Representative for the European Region has been an incredible journey, giving me the confidence and knowledge to build a stronger voice. This is also what happens in scouting worldwide - it offers this unique platform for development that accompanies each stage of life. Through this movement, we have seen many young people becoming catalysts for positive change and creating a chain of change that starts in their communities. When we foster this engagement in outdoor activities, service projects, or international activities, Scouts gain valuable experiences that build resilience, confidence, and a deep sense of responsibility and community.

 

Notably, scouting also amplifies young voices, a crucial aspect I have witnessed as an External Representative. There are still too many decision-making places where youth is not significantly represented, and here we, as young people, have a powerful opportunity to create a more meaningful involvement. For me, the significant ways to work towards leaving this world a better place are by advocating for the more than two million Scouts in Europe and working closely with my local group back in Porto.

 

Looking ahead, I'm excited about what the future holds, both personally and professionally, especially in advocacy and international cooperation. Right now, I enjoy every moment of my involvement in projects like scouting and the European Youth Parliament. At the same time, I am finishing my master's in Intercultural Studies, which has opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities.

 

As I move forward, I understand how these projects have sparked my interest in international development and cooperation. I want to dive deeper into understanding different cultures and global issues, leveraging my academic background and practical experiences to drive positive change on a larger scale.