Around 40 volunteers from National Scout Organizations (NSOs) and staff from World Scouting, representing more than 25 countries, gathered from 25 February to 1 March in Qatar’s capital, Doha, for the first WOSM Events Academy - a workshop designed to strengthen the skills needed to plan and deliver World and Regional Scout events.
Over five days, participants deepened their understanding of the quality standards and best practices required to deliver large-scale Scouting events. The programme also created space to exchange knowledge, strengthen collaboration between event hosts and the World Scout Bureau, and develop practical skills that contribute to putting on safe, engaging and successful events.
Hosted by the Qatar Scouts and Guides Association, the academy covered a wide range of topics, including project planning, safeguarding, venue operations, attendee experience, communications, and risk management.
The programme combined both theoretical and practical learning, allowing participants to explore the realities of hosting major Scouting events from multiple perspectives. Among the interactive exercises, participants took part in crisis simulations, budget and expense planning, brand marketing activities, and designing daily run sheets, helping test their knowledge and skills through real-world scenarios.
A day before the event was due to conclude, conflict erupted in the region. Despite these challenges, the programme continued amid the knowledge that World Scouting’s crisis management coordination was triggered and contingency plans were being developed to safely return participants home.
“Every year, Scouting events bring together tens of thousands of young people from around the world, and the experience of participants depends on careful planning behind the scenes,” said Raul Molina, Global Director, WOSM Events. “The WOSM Events Academy helped share knowledge across the Scout Movement so that hosts, staff, and volunteers feel supported, confident, and ready to deliver events that are safe, impactful, inclusive, sustainable, accessible, and truly memorable.”
The Academy complements World Scouting’s new events strategy, which aims to deliver safer, sustainable, and more impactful events, foster greater trust among NSOs, while enhancing planning and delivery expertise.
Among those attending were representatives from NSOs that will host upcoming World Scout events, including future editions of the World Scout Education Congress in Singapore, World Scout Conference in the United Kingdom, World Scout Jamborees in Poland and Denmark, and the World Scout Moot hosted by the Scouts of China. Also present were Ghanem Abdulrahman Al-Kuwari, Chief Commissioner of the Qatar Scouts and Guides Association, along with Salem Al-Harmi, Deputy Chairman of the NSO’s Board. Representatives from WAGGGS and the World Scout Committee also joined the discussions, sharing their perspectives and insights.
Participants also heard from several external experts who shared lessons and best practices for organising major international gatherings, including the Olympic Winter Games and the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
This WOSM Events Academy will lay the foundations for similar capacity-building events in the future. Participants provided valuable feedback on the concept and shared ideas for how future editions could help ensure that Scouting events around the world remain safe, inclusive, sustainable, and impactful experiences for all.