Transforming lives through Scouting
Meet Ruhi, a Scout from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Through her volunteer role as a Ticket To Life troop leader and trainer, Ruhi works hard — alongside other dedicated Scout leaders and Rover Scouts — to protect, nurture and educate vulnerable children living on the streets through a specially tailored Scout programme that expands their opportunities and helps re-integrate them into society.
Be inspired by Ruhi’s story in this video and hear how Scouting has given her the skills and confidence to help others through the life-changing Ticket To Life programme, and how one very special Scout leader was her inspiration to give back to her community.
“From Scouting, we learn a lot of things, the network building, the trust building, and making a support system. We have to go to these children, you have to gain their trust, that you are here to help them. Scouting has taught me how to be a good leader and also helped me to convince them to come back every day, every week", says Ruhi.
Ruhi was awarded the Messengers of Peace Hero Award in 2019 for her work with young women in her Dhaka to promote gender equality, grow awareness of their rights and the importance of education, and to put an end to early marriages. A Scout for over 10 years, she is active in multiple projects including Ticket To Life, Project Wings to promote gender equality and Project Odrik to tackle the increasing mental, sexual and physical abuse faced by young people. She is an inspiration to other young people and continues to seek out solutions and give back to others.
“Young people from my generation, or in any generation actually, we face so many difficulties we have to find our own solutions to our problems, and I know that we all want to give back to our communities, do something great and leave an impact." Ruhi Rusaba, Bangladesh
The Ticket to Life Programme
World Scouting’s Ticket To Life initiative transforms the lives of vulnerable children and young people, who face poverty, social exclusion and unjust barriers to their participation in education and training. Ticket To Life gives these children opportunities to play, socialise and develop key life-skills, via a tailored educational programme of Scout activities, in a safe and nurturing environment, setting them on a path to a better life, so they can play a constructive role in society.
Originally developed in Kenya, the programme spread to the Asia-Pacific Scout Region, and is now active in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand. As of late 2021, thanks to the generous and long-term support via the Doris and Hans Imholz Ticket To Life Fund, the programme has been revitalised in the Africa Scout Region, with projects in Kenya, Niger, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The programme has additionally been expanded to target children and youth aged between 6 and 26 from additional vulnerable groups: children and youth affected by conflict or disaster; refugees; Internally Displaced People; children and youth affected by HIV; children and youth living with disabilities; orphan children and youth or those in the care of public or private authorities; ethnic minorities; and children in juvenile facilities or youth detention centres.
In Bangladesh
The Ticket To Life Programme in Bangladesh is thriving thanks to committed Scout volunteers and support, including via the World Scout Foundation. Special thanks in particular go to our long-standing Regal Circle Members Doris and Hans Imholz, and to other Honours Programme Members who raised additional support via their participation in our 2019 Bangladesh Field Trip.
Read more about the Bangladesh’s Ticket To Life Programme in our 2018 Annual Report here and see more recent photos and activities via their Facebook page here.
Let's help Scouts like Ruhi to reach even more young people through Scouting. To make a one-off or recurring donation to the Ticket To Life Fund, please donate here.