Dear Friends in Scouting,
it’s a real pleasure to present our Newsletter no 2 – we invite you to learn more about our theme “Bravely”, programme concept, IST Experience and Home Hospitality Programme.
In the next 4 newsletters, sent directly to you every 2 weeks, we will elaborate more on ZHP, safety and security, Jamboree site, and last but not least: Poland and Gdańsk as a Host Country and Host City. Before the World Scout Conference, we will also gather all the important information from the newsletters in one document to help you and your delegation review the Bid before the voting.
Enjoy your reading!
Have you heard of Melati and Isabel Wijsen, the two sisters who started the Bye Bye Plastic Bags campaign when they were 10 and 12 years old, determined to ban plastic bags in Bali?
Have you seen the tens of thousands of young people taking to the streets organising youth strikes in support of the climate?
How about Jaylen Arnold who himself suffers from disabilities has started his own foundation because he wanted to put an end to the bullying of kids like him?
Or Boyan Slat who founded The Ocean Cleanup Foundation at the age of 18?
Do you remember the girl from 2nd grade who organised a school charity ball or that boy from your senior year who was such a huge influence to the student council?
What about the classmate who was always very quiet but was often the one to solve class arguments?
Young people can be true SPARKS of inspiration to all of us. Young people can ACT for what they believe in. Young people can be BRAVE in so many different ways that they encourage change.
Young people dream about what they want for themselves and for the community and society they are a part of. They are conscious and feel a strong responsibility for the world around them. We believe that we, the adults, should support and empower young people to make those dreams a reality. We should give them space to discover their potential and encourage them to speak loudly and bravely. We should support and encourage them to dream big, act decisively for what they believe in, allow them to make their own mistakes and let them achieve their first successes. We should do our best to support them in these actions and ensure they do not feel alone in their journey as they explore and discover their own paths.
Let’s pass the mic to the young generation – let’s let them be heard now because they will carry the consequences of today’s choices in the future. We want our Jamboree to be a space to inspire young people to act bravely for the future of all of us and our planet.
Now is the time for Scouts to not only be the change and take the initiative but also take brave steps forward. We want to encourage young people to walk beyond the usual and comfortable path and step up to take the floor in important discussions. Scouts will learn how to take care of their well-being. We envision a Jamboree which will inspire, but which will also help young people find the right self-balance and learn to take care of their mental health.
Our theme is based on 3 pillars:
You
Our Jamboree will inspire young people to personally grow by improving their skills, competencies, talents and knowledge, to look into themselves and self-develop. Being brave is about choosing your own path. Not giving up. Being brave often involves stepping out of your comfort zone (even through small actions), and sometimes it’s simply having the courage to ask for help. What’s really important is to be true to yourself, being able to find your core values. Our Jamboree will be a space for young people to be empowered, explore and express themselves in a safe environment.
The world needs us all as we are: sometimes strong, sometimes lost. All of us from time to time need courage to fight our weaknesses and to challenge ourselves, sometimes we have to let go or find the right self-balance. We, Jamboree Organizers, want to say to young people around the world: „Hey! Be yourself. Be brave. You are good enough”.
Our Jamboree will be created by young people for young people. We will invite young people to say what they think about the world we live in, what inspires them, what they think needs to be done and also what hurts them. Our Jamboree will also be a space for an intergenerational dialog, encouraging people at all ages to engage in a mutual discussion.
Being true to yourself is brave.
„Us kids may only be 25% of the world’s population, but we are 100% of the future.”
Melati and Isabel Wijsen, Bali
You and Other People
Scouts are part of the communities that surround us. We should be stereotype breakers, open for other people no matter their religion or belief, skin colour, gender, physical appearance, sexual orientation or nationality. We find equality in diversity. We cherish that richness. Every day we learn how to communicate, interact and treat others better. Let’s reflect on how we live our lives – we need more cooperation and more togetherness.
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the perception of relationships. We locked ourselves in our homes, but at the same time in many ways we opened ourselves to the needs of others. Let’s not forget what this lesson has taught us.
Embracing diversity is brave.
“I think during this quarantine our definition of community has changed. Before you only though about your friends and your family, now it’s impossible to think about going out and not care for people even though you know them or not, because everyone is at risk and social media has been connecting us.”
María Teresa Fernández Pérez, Peru
You and the World
“Our house is on fire” – our planet needs us now more than ever. We are facing the most important task of this century. Along with the voices of young people we should spread the message of the significance of climate changes. We should take the initiative and be responsible for our world. Future generations of young people should have the opportunity to discover the Earth, learn and benefit from its diversity.
Fighting for our planet is brave.
“Youth are playing a catalytic role at local to global level, driving for climate action. We call for youth-friendly and inclusive policies which better capture and nurture our roles as positive agents of change. We should be better recognized, promoted and supported.”
Kudzanai Chimhanda, Zimbabwe
Programme
Our Jamboree will empower young people to change their local community by developing themselves – in the end, change starts with each of us. Jamboree Participants will experience an excellent Scouting programme, faithful to the the Purpose, the Principles and the Scout Method, and adapted to the needs and aspirations of young people in today and our future’s world.
Reflecting on social, educational and developmental trends for the next decade, we are creating an Educational Programme focused on the following themes: you, you and other people, you and the world. On those pillars we will build a valuable and attractive programme that will respond to both, the needs of the world, and our young people. We want to give to the Scouts space to be sparks and to act bravely. We want to actively involve them in co-creating the Jamboree programme.
The programme we have drawn for the 26th World Scout Jamboree will be a source of energy, new ideas and motivation to take action. It will also be a platform for exchanging ideas and experience, as well as an opportunity to make new friends, to learn about other cultures and to grow together, as individuals, as a generation, as a Movement.
From discovering environmental challenges and their social implications, through confirming our commitment to peace among the nations, the unity of the Scout Movement and common responsibility for people and Earth in the spirit of solidarity, to the understanding of the diversity of the world and finding self-balance. We want to create our programme in a way that will be inspiring for its participants and will encourage them to get to know themselves better. Not forgetting the fun and joy of adventurous out-doors activities.
Programme for participants will include:
- On-Site Modules focused on – Life Balance, Earth+Eco (GDV), Diversity (GDV), Water, Spiritual Development, and exciting Off-Site Modules – Service & Camp-In-Camp Adventure, Discover Gdańsk
- Free Activity Programme – Ceremonies, Faith and Beliefs Zone, Spiritual Development, Plaza activities, Interreligious Ceremony and diverse proposal for evening programme
- Additional subcamp programme
IST Experience
Redefined IST Experience with a “Bravely” Programme for adults and new “IST Adventure” component. We would like IST members to be able to fully experience the Jamboree also from its programme aspect and the power that “Bravely” motto carries. Programme for IST is therefore something we will not forget about. IST Adventure we plan as an extra part of the pre-Jamboree programme that will allow IST to explore some parts of Poland and make friends in international groups of adult Scouts.
Celebrating 120 years of Scouting
An important part of the programme will be the Friendship Day (international exchange) on 1 August 2027 centred on the celebration of the 120th Anniversary of Scouting. This day will give us an opportunity to celebrate our rich history together and show Scouts that they are part of a big brave international community.
Home Hospitality Programme
We also plan to provide a pre-Jamboree programme for participants as well to organise a supplementary Home Hospitality Programme for a limited number of units.
Main Educational Objectives
- To learn how to take care of ourselves – support mental health
- To learn how to embrace challenges by developing self-confidence and resilience
- To build awareness on how to be a social changemaker: learning about and understanding the global issues
- To learn how to bravely change local society by changing ourselves.
To spark the need for teamwork and cooperative spirit as a way to bring peace. - To understand our impact and responsibility for the environment and conservation.
- To summarize our commitments towards Sustainable Development Goals and to prepare to work on the next goals and calls to actions presented by the United Nations
- To build awareness of the importance of inclusivity and acceptance in all of our actions
- To build a sense of togetherness in Scouting
- To embrace adventure
We also don’t forget that World Scout Jamboree 2027 will be the first one that will take place under the next WOSM’s Strategy for Scouting. We would like it to inspire the scouting program, take into account the priorities of our Movement and contribute to achieve our global goals.
Yours in Scouting,
Mateusz Janik
International Commissioner
____________________________________
International Department
The Polish Scouting and Guiding Association
M. Konopnickiej Street 6, 00-491 Warszawa
tel. 0048 22 339 06 45
mob. 0048 601888817
e-mail: jamboree2027@zhp.pl; wza@zhp.pl