Scout humanitarian action
Scouts are frequently amongst the first responders during a humanitarian crisis, putting their Scout training and organisational, human resources and large-scale logistics skills into action to serve their local communities.
Duty to others is at the heart of the Scout Promise. However, what stands us apart from so many other responders is what happens in the long term when the emergency teams depart: Scouts remain to support their communities to recover and rebuild.
Learn about the long-term approach taken by Scouts in Poland and in Türkiye and Syria, and World Scouting’s work to strengthen the capacity of National Scout Organizations worldwide.
Time after time in 2023, Scouts answered the call to assist when emergencies struck, in response to both manmade situations and natural disasters, from Morocco to Hawai’i, Libya to Malawi and Mozambique, Chile to Ukraine and Palestine, and so many more. The list of locations is devastatingly long, yet where there is Scouting, there is action and hope.
By developing capacity and skills in young people to cope with crises through the implementation of the Scouting youth programme, we are developing resilient, active citizens, capable of leading positive action and building resilience within their communities, which will prove vital during times of need.
Continued support for Ukraine refugees in Poland
When the war in Ukraine broke out in 2021, Polish Scouts swiftly moved to the border to assist Ukrainian families fleeing the war and have continued to serve refugees since this time.
Scouts such as Jacek, featured above, and others from the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP) also provided vital support and coordination at Blue Dots — UNICEF Europe and Central Asia safe spaces near border crossings and transit points, which delivered vital emergency assistance, coordinated protection services and ensured access to information, legal aid, mental health support, and child protection services.
The Blue Dots were active with Scout assistance from March 2022 until the end of December 2023, as part of the youth-led UAct project between the Europe Scout Region and UNICEF, to provide humanitarian support to over 1 million Ukrainians — children and families — affected by the ongoing war. In October 2023, the UNICEF Senior Regional Adviser on Adolescent Health, Development and Participation participated in a dynamic panel discussion at the World Scout Foundation 2023 Impact Seminar to share insights from this special partnership:
“After the first initial response faded, the Scouts were still there! […] And for the Blue dots, the biggest partner we had, the people in the blue dots, were Scouts, and that gave the blue dots a level of humanity, legitimacy and caring, that was quite extraordinary. It was a fantastic project and the stories from the field tell us how important this was for the arriving refugees, but also for the host communities.”
Polish Scouts’ efforts continue to support refugees in Poland through service projects and by including and integrating children who have settled into Scout activities, camps and local groups and by providing continued psychological support to help children and families deal with the trauma they have experienced, including thanks to your generous support of the wider Ukraine appeal via the Scout Donation Platform. Thank you.
Safe spaces for children
The skills and experience gained in Scouting lay a solid groundwork for long-term assistance in a variety of contexts, from rapid-onset disasters to protracted emergencies and, as active citizens and trusted members of the communities they serve, Scouts can provide critical support to help children navigate their emotions, fears, and anxieties.
When the deadly earthquake struck in central Türkiye and northern Syria in February 2023, thousands of Scouts mobilised immediately, assisting with search and rescue and mass-scale logistics, providing support for traumatised children and their families, and serving their local communities with enormous compassion. In total, 10,000 Scouts in Türkiye and 6,000 Scouts in Syria volunteered during the initial relief efforts and longer-term initiatives that lasted throughout 2023.
Our global community of BP Fellows, Scouts and other supporters came together in solidarity, generously donating to an emergency appeal to sustain and amplify Scout actions on the ground, and thanks to your support, Scouts have continued to provide emotional support, counselling, and cultural integration activities to help children cope with the lasting trauma associated with the earthquake. At the end of 2023, local Scouts in Damascus, Syria, were establishing a permanent centre specialising in the training of trainers to respond to natural and humanitarian disasters. The centre will also serve as a safe space to run Scouting activities for affected children.
“All the children here find the presence of the Scouts and the games they provide very enjoyable, beneficial, and educational for us, especially since we currently have no place to live after losing our home. I always hope there will be ongoing Scout activities, not just now because we are displaced. This has encouraged me to join the Scout teams, learn everything they know, and contribute to helping others.”
Increasing our capacity
Over the past years, support for Scout humanitarian action has been boosted, including with the support of Alwaleed Philanthropies via the World Scout Foundation, to develop resources, train Scout consultants and pilot materials in different contexts.
In 2023, there was an additional focus on strengthening the capacity of more National Scout Organisations to respond to disasters and to support more young people living in humanitarian settings through Scouting. Deliverables included:
- Guidance for National Scout Organisations on implementing Humanitarian Action in the Youth Programme.
- Asia-Pacific Region Regional Training on planning for and responding to humanitarian crisesfor 30 adult volunteers from 14 countries.
- Interamerica Regional Workshop on humanitarian action integration in the Youth Programme, ran for 20 adult volunteers from 11 countries.
- 3 projects implemented in Burundi, Jordan and Tunisia National Scout Organisations to deliver programmes for young people living in humanitarian settings.
- 109,640 beneficiaries (young people and adult volunteers, direct and indirect) supported through the above funded activities.
“The Humanitarian Action workshop was truly transformative. The strategies and insights gained will be instrumental in reshaping our organisational approach to disasters.”
Humanitarian action: a funding priority
In a world where humanitarian needs are on the rise and 50% of the global population is under 30, we are committed to ensuring that Scouts have the skills, values and resources to address the immediate and long-term needs in their communities.
With your support, we will continue to improve the health, well-being and livelihood of people impacted by humanitarian crises and natural disasters, in the short and long-term, by scaling up Scout efforts and investing in youth-led humanitarian action. Please get in touch with us to discuss partnership opportunities today!
