On the 24th of July 2023, 135 youths from around the country will begin their journey to in SaeManGeum in South Korea for the 25th World Scout Jamboree. The World Scout Jamboree is held every 4 years and brings together approx. 40 000 youth from 172 countries across the globe to promote unity, community, and togetherness.
This year the event will take place from 1 to 12 August 2023, in SaeManGeum, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea! It will also mark the 100th anniversary of the Korea Scout Association, a milestone we will all celebrate together. The theme of the Jamboree is “Draw your Dream”, representing the Scout Movement’s willingness to accept young people’s ideas and opinion to not only draw their own jamboree dream, but the teenagers present will be encouraged and enabled to shape the future they dream of. World Scout Jamborees are always jammed-packed with fun and adventurous activities, service to others and our planet and create moments to embrace the many cultures present. In addition to making new friends and meeting people from different cultures and countries, our South African Scouts will be developing their skills and learning new ones through fun activities, each designed to support social, physical, intellectual, emotional, mental, and personality development in Scouts in attendance.
135 SA Scouts will join 40,000 youth from around the world to draw their dream for the future
To maximize the experience for our participating youth, the SCOUTS South Africa Contingent will be taking a trip around the country before the main event. This will include making a pit stop and paying Singapore a visit. After which they will get the amazing opportunity of exploring Seoul for three days and embarking on the popular Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) tour – where they will see the original demarcation line between North Korea and South Korea at the end of World War II.
Many Scouts spend years looking forward to this event as only Scouts aged 14- to 17 are eligible to apply for the Jamboree. Participants are selected two years ahead of the event to enable them to raise the funds needed for this trip of a lifetime. Scouting Adult Volunteers can also to join the Jamboree as Scouters or as international event staff.
“Attending a World Scout Jamboree as a young person is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 135 Scouts from all corners of South Africa are travelling over 13 000km to the Republic of Korea for the 25th World Scouts Jamboree. This will be their time to explore a new culture, to embrace new friendships, to have meaningful conversations that can shape not only their thoughts and actions going forward, but also that of peers from around the globe. I am excited when I think of the personal growth, the practical skills development, and the impact of partaking in local community service actions will have on our young people. The value of such cultural and adventurous exchanges is immense. Doing this together with 40 000 other Scouts from around the world, it a unique experience. I wish our young travelers a fantastic trip and encourage them to open their minds and hearts and embrace the new world they are set to discover. I encourage all the youth to share their experiences with those that did not have the opportunity to attend the camp. They must use the experiences to help grow their Regions, District and Groups”, says SCOUTS South Africa Chief Scout Khonzaphi Mdaka.
For more information, please contact Natasha Kayle at pr@scouts.org.za