Scouts countdown to world jamboree
Eight scouts from West Lothian have been chosen to represent the east of Scotland at ‘The World Scout Jamboree’ in South Korea next year.
The Jamboree happens every four years in different countries around the globe. Next summer in 2023 more than 40,000 scouts will gather in South Korea for the 25th World Scout Jamboree.
At the Jamboree, scouts from across the world will engage with each other over environmental issues, international issues, and share their country’s culture.
Only 36 spaces were available to Scouts from the ‘Forth’ region, which covers Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Ninety scouts from across the Forth region went to a selection camp in Torphichen where they were they were observed performing activities and tasks to see if they were a good representation of the Scouts in the East of Scotland.
Scouts from West Lothian took eight of the 36 spaces, nearly a quarter of the available spaces for the Forth scouts.
All scouts in attendance are aged 14 to 17, and the eight chosen scouts from West Lothian will be a part of the ‘UK Contingent’ at the camp.
It costs approximately £3945 to send a single scout to South Korea, so in total for all eight scouts it will cost £31,560.
The scouts will be fundraising for the opportunity to get to the jamboree next year and have several events lined up already.
Three scouts from the 6th West Lothian Scout Group for children in Broxburn & Uphall will be walking 22 miles in kilts to raise funds as part of the Scottish Kilt Walk 2022 next month.
So far the three scouts have raised £1841 towards their total of £8000.
The Broxburn & Uphall scouts also plan to host a
quiz night on May 7, a fair celebrating the Queen’s platinum jubilee on June 5, a ceilidh on November 12, and a race night with the date to be announced.
Excess funds raised above the grand total of £31,560 for the West Lothian scouts will go towards sponsoring children from developing countries to attend the jamboree.
Joanne Cook, a Beaver leader with the 6th West Lothian scouts at Broxburn & Uphall, said: “The jamboree is a great opportunity for the scouts to develop international bonds and raise their awareness of cultural traditions and issues people face worldwide.
“At the camp in Korea our scouts will host Scottish nights, cooking and showing off Scottish recipes, displaying textiles like tartan, and swapping objects that have cultural significance in other countries.
“Given the high price to send a scout it doesn’t feel like an opportunity that is open to all but we encouraged all parents to apply, then work together to raise the necessary funds.”