50 days of service, 50 million Scouts: Make It Happen!
World Scouting has launched a global campaign called "Scouts #MakeItHappen" to engage over 50 million Scouts in 50 days of community service, tackling pressing global challenges to achieve a more sustainable future This is part of the Scouts for SDGs initiative and builds on Scouting's commitment to deliver four billion hours of community service to the SDGs by 2030.
The Scouts #MakeItHappen campaign starts on 3 June and will run for 50 days, culminating on 23 July during the opening ceremony of the upcoming 24th World Scout Jamboree where Scouts will be issued a final challenge to take their service leadership to the next level throughout the event. The Jamboree, which will take place in West Virginia, USA, this summer, is the largest event of World Scouting and one of the world’s largest youth events, bringing together 50,000 young people and volunteers from 170 countries for 12 days of adventure, education, and friendship.
Through a series of daily challenges, Scouts #MakeItHappen will inspire young people around the world to learn more about the 17 SDGs and take action in their communities to tackle some of the most pressing social, environmental, and economic challenges facing our planet.
Chief Ambassador of World Scouting and global adventurer, Bear Grylls, supported the campaign’s launch by sharing a video message encouraging the Scout Movement to take action for sustainable development. “With the World Scout Jamboree just around the corner, my challenge to Scouts is to serve your community and do something to protect our planet. As a family of 50 million strong, together we can create a better world,” said Bear.
Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, invited Scouts around the world to share their community projects and log their service hours through campaign’s online platform: www.scoutsmakeithappen.com building on the 1.2 billion hours of community service that young people have already contributed towards the SDGs since 2012. World Scouting is supporting its 170 National Scout Organizations (NSOs) to promote the campaign at the national level, while encouraging the use of action toolkits and resources on gender equality, plastics pollution, and Safe from Harm to further engage young people in the education for sustainable development.
For community projects that require financial support, Scouts can participate in a #MakeItHappen Challenge to crowdfund donations with the support of their NSO via the Scout Donation Platform. During the campaign, three Scouts will have the opportunity to receive up to USD 1,000 in matched funding to implement their community projects.
Alongside global partners, UN Environment and UNHCR, Scouts will also take part during the #MakeItHappen campaign in several international days of action happening in the month of June, including World Environment Day (5 June), World Oceans Day (8 June), and World Refugee Day (20 June).
This fantastic campaign has been made possible thanks to the continued generous support of Alwaleed Philanthropies to World Scouting's Scouts for SDGs Initiative.