Prepared to lead
Opportunities to take on meaningful leadership roles from a young age can be challenging in many communities and countries worldwide. In Scouting, young people develop leadership and life skills from a young age through a unique educational programme undertaken in local Scout groups.
Scouting’s International Leadership Training (ILT) takes this to another level, training young leaders from diverse countries and cultures and empowering them with the skills, confidence and experience to take on a much more active leadership role in Scouting in their country, region and civil society.
Learn how two Scouts — François from Senegal and Thinh from Vietnam — are putting their International Leadership Training into action, and creating opportunities for more young people:
François Mbengue, a young Unit Leader from Senegal, was one of 34 young leaders who participated in the inaugural Africa Region International Leadership Training in August 2024.
“ILT was a transformative experience. I gained valuable skills in leadership, project management, and teamwork. The workshops and exchanges helped me improve the structure of Scout Innov Tech, particularly by strengthening the organisation of training sessions and expanding our impact through the Brico Weeks.”
Aware of the rapidly evolving digital world, François developed the Scout Innov Tech programme to prepare Scouts for current and future technological challenges by training a generation of innovative Scouts, using technology for positive impact. He leads technology training for Scouts in programming, robotics and digital fabrication to develop creativity, autonomy and commitment through a programme rooted in the values of innovation, collaboration, commitment, curiosity and ethics. The Scouts can also earn badges and participate in competitions and project showcasing.
“Before ILT, my project mainly focused on introducing digital fabrication. After the training, I expanded our scope by integrating robotics, flocking, and project management training, reaching a wider audience. ILT also helped me better structure my leadership approach and reinforced my commitment to developing Scouting through innovation.”
François Mbengue, Scout leader, SenegalFrançois was invited to join the 2025 Africa Region ILT as a facilitator for two sessions. He continues to develop Scout Innov Tech by collaborating with other Scouts and Fab Labs to democratise access to technology. He is committed to reaching more Scouts and non-Scout youth, firmly believing that technology opens doors and opportunities and positively transforms communities.
Vital skills for leadership and life
Do Ho Duc Thinh from the Pathfinder Scouts Vietnam participated in the Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Training Course in June 2024. Through Scouting, he has been empowered to take on leadership roles at the local and national levels, and he is keen to ensure that other young Scouts in Vietnam benefit from similar experiences and opportunities.
- As a National Youth Advisor, Thinh contributes to the “Youth Force 2” initiative, a series of projects that foster proactive engagement and equip Scouts with essential skills for leading positive change in their communities.
- As Assistant Scout Unit leader, he collaborates on developing and leading annual activity programmes.
- As Council Youth Representative, he’s dedicated to building a vibrant youth community in his district through spaces for learning and connection: youth forums, annual gatherings, and workshops.
Reflecting on the experience, Thinh credits the sessions on teambuilding, finding balance, and self-awareness as critical to his development as a young leader. He’s transferring the learning to the National Young Leaders Training Courses in Vietnam.
“Even though I’ve studied team and project management before, the way the Young Leaders Training Course delivered the information was so practical and engaging that I was able to apply it when I got back immediately. […] With the tools and models we learned about personal values and identities, I now have a clearer picture of my capabilities. This self-awareness has been the most valuable aspect I’ve taken away from the experience so far.”
Thinh is committed to providing opportunities for young Scout leaders in Vietnam to discover their leadership style through self-awareness and teamwork. He and his Scout colleagues are also focused on integrating dialogue skills from dialogue for peace initiatives for improved understanding and effective communication. The focus for their Venture and Rover Scouts is also on self-awareness for good teamwork and communication skills.
“I recently ran a session on self-understanding and dialogue for peace during the district Rover Scout monthly meeting. As a follow-up, we are organising the inaugural District Youth Forum to strengthen team management and conflict resolution to support their successful completion of team projects.”
Do Ho Duc Thinh, Scout leader, VietnamAt the national level, building on the success of the national training and “Better World” camps in 2024, he is now responsible for coordinating and supporting four teams undertaking community projects.
International Leadership Training: A funding priority
International Leadership Training courses in 2024 were made possible thanks to continued funding from Alwaleed Philanthropies via the World Scout Foundation and a generous donation from Members of the World Scout Foundation Honours Programme.
We continue to seek funding each year to ensure international leadership training for Scouts in all Regions worldwide, to continue empowering them to hone their skills and confidence, to leverage opportunities for meaningful leadership roles in Scouting and society. Please don’t hesitate to contact us should you be motivated to invest in leadership and youth-led change!