SAEMANGEUM, Republic of Korea — From the 3rd to the 4th of August 2023, 400 enthusiastic young Scouts had the opportunity to dive into the topic of sexual and reproductive health and rights with UNFPA at the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, Republic of Korea.

As the Scouts made their way through Ban Ki-Moon’s SDG village, many headed straight to the United Nations tent, where UNFPA was stationed alongside many other UN agencies. There, they were introduced to some of the services provided by UNFPA – from products like Safe Delivery Kits, which save lives when women are forced to give birth under challenging conditions, to the creation of women’s and girls’ safe spaces, which offer a lifeline for survivors of gender-based violence.

Naturally, visitors to the tent were eager to learn about the role of young people. The team introduced the Scouts to UNFPA’s global strategy for adolescents and youth: “My Body, My Life, My World”, an approach which puts young people – their talents, hopes, perspectives and unique needs – at the very centre of sustainable development.

This idea was brought to the fore when former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, visited the United Nations tent to participate in collective activities related to climate change. The urgency of environmental issues for young people became apparent as the Jamboree went on, when a severe heatwave and typhoon warning led to the evacuation of many attendees. 

To underscore the importance of young people’s action on climate, the UNFPA team spoke to the Scouts about the organization’s work in some of the countries most affected by the climate crisis, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, the Philippines, South Sudan and Zimbabwe.

By working together with young people and bolstering youth-led organizations, we can empower the next generation to shape a more equitable, sustainable world in the future.

For more information about UNFPA's Participation in the Jamboree, kindly email Yumi Chang from UNFPA’s Seoul Regional Office at ychang@unfpa.org or Rewan Youssif from UNFPA HQ at ryoussif@unfpa.org.