The Scout Movement and similar entities must equip young people with the skills they need to face future challenges with confidence. They must encourage youth to think globally and prepare them to take global action on these issues, said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Global Cultural Jamboree of the Sri Lanka Scout Association.
He was addressing the opening ceremony of a virtual Global Cultural Jamboree organised by the Sri Lanka Scout Association.
“I am happy to learn that this event is one of the first of its kind,” he said.
Excerpts of his speech:
“I commend the Sri Lanka Scout Association for taking this initiative in light of a global pandemic that has forced us to change the way we live.
“In context, this initiative symbolises the great value of the simple but deeply profound motto of the Scout movement: ‘Be Prepared’.
“Since its establishment more than a hundred years ago, the World Scout Movement has helped millions of young people develop vital skills such as leadership, teamwork, resourcefulness, and the ability to overcome various challenges.
“Such skills become more important as the world we live in becomes more and more complex.
“The challenges that the future will bring may be more difficult to overcome than those of the past.
“In addition to today’s problems such as conflicts and the pandemic, issues such as the loss of biodiversity, environmental degradation, food security, access to water, and climate change, are challenges that will need to be overcome in the future.
“The World Organisation of the Scout Movement and similar entities must equip young people with the skills they need to face these future challenges with confidence.
“They must encourage the youth to think globally and prepare them to take global action on these issues.
“I hope that during the course of these three days, all participants will make full use of this forum to learn about the different cultures and traditions that comprise and shape our world, as well as about and from each other.
“I hope that the bridges they build and the connections they make will stand them in good stead for the future as truly global citizens.
“As the Chief Scout of Sri Lanka, I take great pleasure and pride in hereby declaring open this virtual Global Cultural Jamboree, “Culturally One Scout World.”