Community service & compassion

On World Humanitarian Day this Saturday, and indeed every day, we recognise the vital role Scouts play in strengthening the resilience of local communities and driving relief efforts, both in natural hazard-driven and conflict-driven disasters. Humanitarian principles resonate strongly with Scouting values and this is why Scouts are so often on the frontline when disasters hit.

Maui Fires Relief Effort, Hawai'i 

Right now, Scouts in Maui, Hawai'i, are actively engaged on the ground, offering their unwavering support in the relief efforts following the devastating wildfires that have burned Lāhainā to the ground, in solidarity with the affected families and individuals, including many Scouting families, who have lost homes or have been displaced by the fires. 

The Aloha Council Scouts have also opened their Camp Maluhia as a shelter for the victims and are running provision drives to get essential resources to those displaced by the fires.  

Follow their web news for updates and to support their Maui Fire Relief efforts. 

And they are not alone. Across the world, when communities need it, Scouts step up and are there for the long-term.  

From migrant Scout programmes in Chile, to the ongoing outreach for war refugees in Ukraine and surrounding countries, to immediate mobilisation earlier this year in Türkiye and Syria following the devastating earthquakes, in Bangladesh following the Dhaka market fire and in Madagascar following Tropical Cyclone Freddy, Scouts serve others with enormous compassion, leading positive actions to create a better world.

Chile, Scout Migrant Programme 

Showing determination to help others, Scouts in Chile created a programme for migrants to provide recreational activities to support the harmonious inclusion of migrant children and youth through Scouting. 

Migration to Chile has increased considerably in recent years. According to  ReliefWeb, 1.5 million refugees and migrants live(d) in Chile in 2022, most from Venezuela. Notably, most migrants who make it to Chile — many of whom are with their young families — have endured exceptionally difficult desert journeys to make it there.  

After a year of hard work, the Asociación de Guías y Scouts de Chile launched their programme for migrants in August 2022 to boost positive social, economic and cultural development for migrants, their families and their communities. As part of their National Youth Programme, Chilean Guides and Scouts help bring young people together to have fun and learn about human rights, peace, international cooperation, intercultural perspectives, active and global citizenship, social participation and anti-bullying. The programme also leaves space for migrants from different places to share their cultures, experiences and realities, including cultural events to showcase dances, foods, traditions and customs of Chile and other countries.

To ensure they learn from others and meet the most important needs of migrants and refugees, the Migrant Scout programme coordinators regularly meet with migrant communities, the Interamerica Scout Region, and coordinators from similar initiatives in Brazil and Argentina. For their successful efforts to welcome and integrate migrants in Chile, the team behind Migrante Scout was awarded a Messengers of Peace Hero Award in 2022.

Firefighting in Dhaka, Bangladesh 

In April this year, Bangladesh Scouts swiftly mobilised in the capital Dhaka to support fireflighters to battle an inferno that raged through a popular clothing market, covering the city’s oldest neighbourhood in black smoke.  
 
Scouts in Bangladesh, as in many countries worldwide, regularly run training camps for disaster management to prepare Scouts to to support the efforts of first-responders, as well as assist in longer-term follow up where entire communities are impacted. Learn more about the national Scout disaster management training here. 

Cyclone Response 

Scouts in Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique mobilised to provide emergency response to the devastating effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy from February onwards, which killed more than 1000 and displaced hundreds of thousands of persons, destroying crops and livelihoods. Scouts supported first responders with first aid and search and rescue, led blood donation drives, helped repair homes and managed logistics. Read more here.

Long term support 

Importantly, Scouts are there for the long-term, to continue supporting their communities to rebuild or integrate. Well over a year since war erupted in Ukraine, Scouts continue to support displaced persons and war refugees both in Ukraine and in surrounding countries with integration programmes, adapted Scouting, winter and now summer camps for refugee children.

Türkiye and Syria too, Scouts continue to support children and families following the devastating earthquakes in February. They joined the search and rescue operations, dug through the rubble, managed mass-scale warehouse deliveries, provided emergency supplies, meals, water and hot drinks, and have since continued to run activities for children and families who lost everything. Read more here. 

Your regular support 

Your support, and that of other Scouts, BP Fellows and Scout supporters, to the Ukraine Emergency Appeal, the Türkiye and Syria Earthquake appeal, and the latest Ukraine Scouting and summer camps appeal, has already made an enormous impact. 

The world needs more Scouts. Please consider setting up a regular donation to World Scouting or to our Emergency Fund. Your support enables more quality Scouting worldwide and allows us to provide resources to boost Scouts’ actions where help is needed most.