Badges and awards
Make use of the International badges and awards to:
• gain a sense of inclusion within the worldwide family of Scouting;
• increase awareness of the wider natural and man-made world;
• respond positively to international issues.
Each section has International and Global badges and awards. You can also extend the number of badges available by taking part in special ones offered by partnership organisations. They often have readymade programme ideas and can even send a speaker to help you run the evening!
The Scout Association programme badges
For the Queen’s Scout, Explorer Belt and Scouts of the World Awards, members need to register before starting the required activities. Forms available on the links for each award.
International events in the UK
You can take part in some exciting international friendship experiences without leaving the comfort of your headquarters or local area. Give the following three popular events a try . . .
Jamboree on the Air (JOTA)
Jamboree on the Air takes place annually in October in which Scouts from all over the world contact each other by means of amateur radio. It’s the world’s largest coordinated global youth event with over one million young people from over 150 countries talking to each other using short wave radio and internet chat, to share Scouting experiences and exchange ideas. JOTA webpage
Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI)
Similarly to JOTA, JOTI also takes place annually in October. If you can organise internet access you can take part. JOTI webpage
Jamboree on the Trail (JOTT)
– Scouts walking together worldwide
JOTT is an annual day for the World Scout Movement to hike together. All Scouts, whatever their age and wherever they may be in the world, are invited to participate in whatever way they can. In their own way, everyone will be hiking the same direction: towards a better future through Scouting. JOTT webpage
International resources
Need some more help with international/global ideas:
OSM (Online Scout Manager)
and programme online
Amazing treasure trove of resources for all sections. Just input a theme, country name, global aspect or just international, and see what is available. Update weekly with new programme ideas, it is worth going back to it. If you have developed a brilliant programme then why not share it with the Scouting community too.
Scouts Against Maleria
Scouts Against Malaria is an initiative within the Global programme zone to make young people aware of one tropical disease for which there is no vaccine.
Their website includes some resource ideas, as well as their own set of badge activities.
Youth and United Nations Global Alliance (YUNGA)
Formed in 2009, YUNGA is a partnership between United Nations agencies, civil society organisations and other entities that work with children and young people.
They have a set of challenge badges and associated resources covering areas such as; biodiversity, food security, nutrition, and the ocean.
The Converging World activity pack
In collaboration with Avon Scouts (in 2011) the Converging World team developed an activity pack for Scouts which is intended to help them learn about climate change and social inequality in a fun and engaging way.
The Scout pack includes a number of activities for all the different Scouting ages to enjoy. From word searches, quizzes, hosting an Indian themed evening, to actually building your own wind turbine!
Scout leaders can use the pack to promote the learning and understanding of different cultures, the effects of climate change on people living here in the UK and in India, renewable energy, social inequality and perhaps most importantly the big difference that small actions can and do make.
You can download the pack here and you can read more about the Converging World and their work by visiting the website at http://theconvergingworld.org/
