Young Scouts hold the largest Decision-Making Event in Brazil

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On 30 May 2024, the Brazilian Youth Network brought together young Scout adults aged 18 to 26 in Recife, in the northeastern region of the country, for the largest and most important youth decision-making event of the year. This forum is an integral part of the National Scout Congress, which also includes the National Scout Assembly and the National Board of Directors Meeting, along with workshops and panels on relevant topics. This event underscores youth engagement, allowing young people to participate alongside adults in joint decision making.

The entire event was streamed live on YouTube, lasting seven hours. You can consult here first and second part of the transmissions in Portuguese. The professionalism of the infrastructure prepared for the event underlined the importance of its hybrid character, essential in a country of continental dimensions.
Scouts in the Youth Forum

Representation System

The Youth Forum is characterised by a system of indirect representation. All young people associated with the União dos Escoteiros do Brasil have the right to speak, but only three representatives from each state have the right to vote, totaling 81 voters in an ideal scenario with all 27 states represented. This year, the Forum was attended by 51 delegates from 17 scout regions, the largest voting quorum to date, evidencing the expansion of the initiative. Considering the online audience and those present who were not voting delegates, the event could easily have doubled or tripled in size.

 

Key Topics and Elections

Among the topics discussed, youth self-organisation stood out, with the revision of the Youth Network's General Regulations marking a significant advance in Scout youth autonomy. There was also intense competition for the positions of the new Coordinating Team of the Network, composed of five elected members.

The Coordinating Team in Brazil is formed by three coordinators and two representatives of the Network in the National Board of Directors, which corresponds to the positions of Network Coordinators and Youth Advisors of the Interamerican Committee. This cohesive structure underscores the importance of including youth in decision-making spaces at various levels of the institution. The new administration will take office on July 1, 2024, for a two-year term.

Other highlights of the Forum were the election of host cities for the National Gathering of Young Leaders and the approval of a motion to the National Board of Directors, signaling a direction towards democracy in Scouting. 

 

Consult the full document at Portuguese, and in its free translation at Spanish.
Selfie of Scouts in the Youth Forum
Young Leaders present at the National Forum, in the city of Recife

Looking to the future, it is essential to continue to listen to and value the contributions of young Scouts, ensuring that their voices are an integral part of the Movement and the building of a better world. The Brazilian Young Leaders Forum continues to be a testimony of the transformative power and commitment to form active and engaged citizens.

For more information about the Youth Network in Brazil, consult the following documents and contacts: 

Written by: Lukas Palermo Lopes, Brazilian, 24 years old. Coordinator of the Youth Network - São Paulo Region.
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