Scouting everywhere!
Did you know that Scouting is for all children worldwide in every possible setting imaginable — from city centres and rural settlements to universities and schools, refugee camps, orphanages and millions of community halls across the globe?
Discover World Scouting’s long-standing and expanding Ticket to Life programme, through which even the most vulnerable children are able to play, socialise and develop key life skills through specially-tailored Scout activities, taking place in a fun, safe and nurturing environment.
Meet Edward (Malawi), Pitchada (Thailand) and Jazper (Philippines) — just some of the young people transforming lives through the Ticket To Life programme in 2023!
Empowering refugee children
Edward is one of the young Scout leaders bringing Scouting to the Dzaleka Refugee camp in Malawi. Half of the 50,000+ residents are children, whose families have fled conflict, persecution and disaster in neighbouring countries. Education is severely limited, and further impacted by the lack of resources. Yet, Scouting has brought the young people and their families hope, and so much more!
“Life is challenging, and I have seen with my own eyes how Scouting helps young people to find a place and hope in Malawi, far from their homes. Scouting also helps to provide skills for life to these young people. It builds self-confidence and allows them to excel in many activities in their daily lives. […] We have created a place where children can connect, be part of a community, and have fun amidst the refugee camp’s challenging conditions.”
Edward Nyamwera, Scout & Rover President, Scout Association of MalawiEdward and his Scouts have risen to every challenge to support the children’s education and development. Seeing the Dzaleka children struggling to do their homework with scarce lighting at the end of the day, after a long day walking kilometres to fetch water, school and daily chores, Edward and the Malawi Scouts installed solar panels on the school roofs to give the children this vital electricity to ensure they don’t fall even further behind on their education.
They have also set up programmes to empower marginalised young women with business and entrepreneurial skills, and to tackle food insecurity via innovative gardening techniques where the Scouts learn to grow food for their own families as well as for income generation.
“This has been a life-changing experience for me. The outdoor adventures and skills-building activities have not only taught me practical skills, but also instilled confidence and a sense of self-reliance. Through challenges and triumphs, I’ve grown into a more resilient and responsible individual!”
Championing creativity and resilience
Pitchada, a student at Matthayomsuwitsereeanusorn (MSS) School in Bangkok, Thailand, joined Scouting three years ago and is actively engaged in the Ticket To Life project organised in her school. She says she joined Scouting because she saw how Ticket To Life wanted to help her community.
“Ticket to Life has totally changed my life. Before, I was shy, I had no confidence, and I could not make friends. But Ticket to Life taught me many things: leadership, how to make friends, and how to make a team… Ticket to Life gave me so much opportunity.”
Pitchada, Ticket to Life Scout, ThailandThe Ticket to Life programme is nurturing resilience and instilling confidence in Scouts from underserved families by championing creative-skills workshops including baking and jewellery making, which in turn are promoting entrepreneurship and employability. The profits generated from the Scouts’ creations, sold in a small coffee shop in the school and a nearby market, are more than just numbers — they represent a lifeline for these families and a foundation for a future filled with possibilities.
The power of a supportive community
As the youngest of three boys from a poor household living in a densely populated area of Manila, in the Philippines, John Jazper Luna faced a challenging childhood. He followed in his brothers’ footsteps, joining the Scouts as a young boy, where he found a supportive environment and extended family in the Ticket to Life Manila Scout Troop.
“The Ticket to Life Scout Troop made me realise I have potential to be a good citizen, to be a capable leader, to be a positive change in my community. It really made me believe in myself, and have confidence in the things that I do, and find my voice.”
John Jazper Luna, Ticket to Life Scout, PhilippinesThanks to the support of his family and Scout leaders, Jazper now serves as a representative for his Scout Council and Region and, with the support of Ticket to Life, is studying computer science.
He continues to play an active role in the Troop, inspiring other Scouts from extremely difficult circumstances to “dream big and act on this”, no matter where they start in life. In 2023, Jazper was recognised as one of the 2023 “Ten Outstanding Scouts of the Philippines”.
“This award reflects the power of a supportive community and the potential within each of us. [Ticket to Life Manila Scout Troop] Thank you for being an integral part of this extraordinary journey. Together, we’ll continue to inspire and create positive change.”
John Jazper Luna, Ticket To Life Scout, PhilippinesLearn more about Ticket To Life
Originally focused on supporting vulnerable children living on the streets, Ticket to Life now also supports children and youth affected by conflict or disaster; refugees; Internally Displaced People; children and youth affected by HIV; children and youth living with disabilities; orphaned children and youth or those in the care of public or private authorities; ethnic minorities; and children in juvenile facilities or youth detention centres.
Thanks to long-standing and generous support via the Doris and Hans Imholz Ticket To Life Fund, the initiative is currently active in the Africa and Asia-Pacific Regions in: Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal, Niger, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Thailand and Viet Nam.
2024 will see Ticket to Life further expand to countries in the Interamerica, Europe and Arab Scout Regions.
Ticket to Life: A funding priority
We believe in empowering young people through Scouting — all young people, no matter their background.
Ticket To Life is replicable and scalable in all five Scout Regions: Africa, Arab, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Interamerica. Target groups vary by country and Region, and include refugees, street children, ethnic minorities, orphans and children with disabilities.
We are seeking funding up to USD 1 million per year to scale up implementation over the next three to five years. Help us to transform lives of more young people and their communities by donating today!
