GLB-C19-2023
Scouts around the world have answered an urgent call to action to improve the sustainability of our planet through Scouts for SDGs, a global initiative making the world’s largest coordinated youth contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with nearly 3 billion hours of community service and millions of local youth-led actions contributed towards the Global Goals.
Built on a longstanding partnership between World Scouting, Alwaleed Philanthropies, and the World Scout Foundation, the impact of the Scouts for SDGs initiative is detailed in a new evaluation report which highlights how Scouts and National Scout Organizations have mobilised around the 17 SDGs to tackle global issues from the climate emergency to humanitarian crises to promoting peace, equality and justice in local communities. The impact evaluation report was conducted by an external evaluation and research agency, and demonstrates the results and return on investment of the Scouts for SDGs initiative since its inception in 2018, while also highlighting key lessons that can enhance the Scouts for SDGs mobilisation effort for the future. Among the key data highlights:
- 164 NSOs have integrated Scouts for SDGs in their youth programmes
- Over 60,000 participants in funded projects under Scouts for SDGs
- Over 112 million participants in non-funded actions under Scouts for SDGs
The report is being released this week alongside our engagement in the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where World Scouting’s leadership and Youth Representatives are urging for accountability and meaningful progress on the SDGs from decision-makers, while also advocating for greater involvement of young people in tackling the most urgent issues facing our planet.
A newly redeveloped Scouts for SDGs hub with nearly 100 educational Scouting activities to engage young people in learning about sustainability with their Scout Leaders is also now live and ready for use by National Scout Organizations who are implementing the Earth Tribe and Messengers of Peace initiatives to complement their national Youth Programmes.
We would like to thank all National Scout Organization (NSO) leadership, Scout Leaders, and Scouts for activating this incredible mobilisation effort and contributing to the evaluation, and encourage you to share the report with your networks and key stakeholders.
If you have any questions about Scouts for SDGs or how to implement World Scouting’s educational initiatives, please contact Cynthia Marquez, Director, World Educational Initiatives with the World Scout Bureau, at [email protected].
Yours in Scouting,
Ahmad Alhendawi
Secretary General
World Organization of the Scout Movement