Renewed Messengers of Peace Funding!
The World Scout Foundation and World Scouting are excited to announce renewed funding for Messengers of Peace. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will provide an additional USD 50 million over the next decade to enhance Scouting’s core educational programmes and strengthen the capacity of National Scout Organizations to take action in promoting peace, dialogue, and community action worldwide, inspiring a global culture of peace.
The transformative Messengers of Peace agreement was signed between HE Yousef bin Abdullah al-Benyan, Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and President of the Saudi Arabian Scout Association, and Siegfried Weiser, Board Member and Chair of the Messengers of Peace Oversight Committee of the World Scout Foundation, at the Human Capability Initiative event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 13 April, building on more than 15 years of collaboration between World Scouting and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The agreement was signed in the presence of the World Scout Foundation Executive Committee and HH Princess Sama Bint Faisal Al Saud, WSF Board Member, HE Faisal bin Abdulrahman I. Almuaammar, WSF Board Member, John Geoghegan, Special Advisor to the WSF Board, and Mark Knippenberg, CEO and WSF Board Member. World Scouting’s leadership was represented by Daniël Corsen, Chairperson of the World Scout Committee, Christine Pollithy, Member of the World Scout Committee, and David Berg, Acting Secretary General of World Scouting. A delegation of World Scout Bureau staff and Messengers of Peace Heroes also attended the signing ceremony.
Messengers of Peace connects with the priorities of Saudi Vision 2030, and aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through developing innovative youth leadership, peace education, sustainability, and active citizenship.
“Through the Messengers of Peace initiative, millions of young people have been empowered to foster a culture of peace and dialogue worldwide, driving impactful initiatives at the community level. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their unwavering support of this invaluable initiative, which continues to benefit the global Scouting movement and promote a more harmonious world.”
Message from HRH Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg, Immediate Past Chair and Board Member, World Scout Foundation, on the occasion of the Messengers of Peace signing ceremony at the Human Capability Initiative event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Since 2011, support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Messengers of Peace has empowered a worldwide network of young peace-builders to take action as global citizens to promote peace and sustainable development. Over the years, Scouts have carried out more than 16 million local projects and actions, contributing nearly 3 billion hours of community service towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Scouts worldwide are committed to creating a more peaceful and inclusive world. With this renewed funding, more young people and volunteers will have an opportunity to experience Scouting’s transformative education programmes, equipping them with the essential skills and leadership capabilities to be ready for life.
We extend our sincerest appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this generous funding and their trust and support of Scouting’s peace-building work, and to HE Yousef bin Abdullah al-Benyan, Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and President of the Saudi Arabian Scout Association, our Saudi Arabian Board Members of the World Scout Foundation: HH Princess Sama Bint Faisal Al Saud and HE Faisal bin Abdulrahman I. Almuaammar, and to Dr Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Almedaires, Vice-President of the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association, and all involved in this ground-breaking renewal of funding.
“Messengers of Peace has already inspired millions to lead with compassion, serve their communities, and build a more peaceful world. With this renewed funding, we can build on those successes to reach even more Scouts — equipping them with the values, skills, and experiences to become leaders and changemakers,”
