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Blog | 07 September 2022

My Jamboree journey: Why I want to prove teenagers can do more than look at a screen

This blog was originally delivered as a speech by Izzy at Scouts’ national AGM on 3 September 2022
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Meet Izzy, an Explorer Scout and Cubs Young Leader from Ealing and Hanwell who'll be heading off to Korea for the 25th World Scout Jamboree – one of the biggest ever global gatherings of Scouts. Here she shares her hopes for the future and looks ahead to the adventure of a lifetime.

Izzy delivers her speech at Scouts' AGM as Scouts' CEO Matt Hyde watches on
Izzy delivers her speech at Scouts' AGM as Scouts' CEO Matt Hyde watches on. Photo credit Steve Way

I first joined Scouts when I was 11 after this incredibly annoying boy at my school kept droning on about how good his Scout group was.

After a couple of weeks of debating with him, I realised that he was right. So I joined his Scout Group - much to his dismay.

What I noticed right away was that our leaders really believed in us. They didn't say the words ‘I believe in you’ because it wasn’t about ‘believing.’ They just knew we could do it.  None of this ‘snowflake treatment.’ They never doubted us, so we didn’t either. The confidence that our Scout leaders built in us was unshakeable.

An incredible opportunity

When the opportunity came round to apply for the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea there was no stopping me: I was desperate to get in. Why wouldn't you apply? Three weeks on the other side of the world away from your parents. What’s not to love? All jokes aside, there are 40,000 young people from around the world coming together for two weeks.

I was also very excited that one of the main themes of the 2023 jamboree is the Environment and Sustainability. I’m passionate about trying to make my life as green as possible. I think it’s so important, now more than ever, that we learn how the climate crisis has affected other countries. The future of our planet lies in our generation’s hands.

It’s also vital that, as young people, we create mutual understanding between cultures. I want to get outside with thousands of other teenagers from all over the world and build things. I want to get muddy and say ‘See: teenagers can do other things than look at a screen!’

UK 25 WSJ Korea logo

My hopes for the Jamboree

I hope to come back from my first trip to Asia having met some wonderful people, tasted some delicious food, and learnt something about the world and myself. I can then encourage through the Young Leader programme, the next generation of Jamboree participants.

And to think that I wouldn’t have this opportunity if I hadn’t had an argument with that ridiculously annoying boy.  

Help Izzy get to Korea

Izzy’s still raising the funds for her trip to the Jamboree. Please support her if you can.

Read about Santiago's Jamboree journey

Here's Izzy with Carl Hankinson (centre) and Santiago (right) at the 2022 AGM. Photo credit CJ Ledger

Read Santiago's blog >
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