4th World Scout Education Congress Shaping the Future of Education in Scouting
PARIS, France - This week, the 4th World Scout Education Congress will bring together more than 500 thought leaders, educators, academics and partners from across the World Scout Movement to explore the latest trends in education and youth development, while also co-designing a roadmap to define the future of education in Scouting.
The Congress is being convened by the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and hosted by the Scoutisme Français, and will take place from 1 to 3 December at Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris. The event builds on previous World Scout Education Congresses held in Hong Kong (2013), Switzerland (2017), and Brazil (2019), and aims to advance a common agenda for non-formal education and the commitments outlined in the Rio Declaration on Non-Formal Education.
Through dozens of inspiring keynote presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions, the Congress will highlight innovative ideas and practices from National Scout Organizations and other leading partners centered around topics, such as youth leadership, digital education, volunteer engagement, intergenerational learning, diversity and inclusion, and education for sustainable development.
The event will also be an opportunity for participants to contribute to the design and development of a roadmap for the future of education in Scouting over the next decade. The roadmap, which will be a key outcome of the Congress, will identify tangible solutions to enhance Scouting’s educational offering linked to the priorities of the Movement’s next Strategy for Scouting.
“Our world is undergoing incredible change, and yet our traditional education systems remain stuck. Millions of young people are being left behind and unable to access quality education opportunities,” said Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary General of WOSM. “We have now reached a tipping point in the learning crisis, and as the world’s leading educational youth movement, we must continue to adapt and evolve our educational experience to make it even more relevant, engaging, rewarding and transformative for young people and volunteers.”
“This Congress is an opportunity to bring together the best minds, practices, and solutions from across the Scout Movement and beyond to highlight how non-formal education can play an important role in equipping young people with the skills and competencies needed to thrive in today’s rapidly changing world,” said Coline Garnier, International Commissioner, Scoutisme Français.
Throughout the event, National Scout Organization leadership will discuss approaches for modernising their Scouting Youth Programmes, enhance membership and volunteer management systems, advocate for non-formal education, and use digital technologies as a tool for learning and personal growth. Participants will also learn how to adopt Scouting’s educational initiatives to complement their national Youth Programmes, and engage young people in learning about and taking action for sustainable development through Scouts for SDGs, a global mobilisation effort to make the world’s largest youth-led contribution towards the SDGs.
In addition to participants from more than 75 countries around the world, a number of key partners, government ministers and leaders in the education field will also be contributing to the programme, including Portugal’s Minister of Education, and representatives from UNESCO, Junior Achievement, WWF, Foundation for Environmental Education, Learning Economy Foundation, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) among others. Online learning and engagement opportunities will also be offered for Scouting leadership during the Congress to join key moments of the event remotely.
Several Congress networking events and guided off-site activities will showcase the best of French culture, including an international evening for participants to visit the Eiffel Tower, walk down the Champs Elysées, take a cruise along the Seine river, or discover the iconic neighbourhood of Montmartre.
Media Contacts
Alexis Chaufrein: achaufrein at sgdf.fr
Maya Taylor: maya.taylor at scout.org
About the World Organization of the Scout Movement
Scouting is the world’s leading educational youth movement, engaging millions of young people to be active citizens and create positive change in their communities. The World Scout Movement is made up of more than 57 million Scouts connected together through a membership network of 174 National Scout Organizations.
About Scoutisme Français
Since 1940, Scoutisme Français has brought together six Scouting movements in France within a Federation: the éclaireuses et éclaireurs de la nature (Buddhist-inspired), the éclaireuses et éclaireurs de France (Secular), the éclaireuses et éclaireurs israélites de France, the éclaireuses et éclaireurs unionistes de France (Protestant), the scouts et guides de France (Catholic) and the scouts musulmans de France. French Scouting involves 90,000 young people and 35,000 volunteers who take part in scouting activities throughout the year in nearly 1,300 local groups. In total, 125,000 people are committed to making the world a better place through the French Scouting Federation.