Today people are living longer and healthier lives. Demographic changes, i.e. ageing societies, lower birth rates and family structures have impacted on the social, economic and cultural conditions. Changes in attitudes and lifestyles have a significant impact on the interaction between generations.
Globalization and modernization have changed the development of youth in significant ways. New forms of participation and communication between the generations and between men and women are challenging adult-centeredness (the design of youth policies by adults) and adultism (the authoritarian relationship between adults and young people), and are causing generational blocks rather than promoting intergenerational communication.
There are different degrees to which young people participate in society and these form a continuum:
- Elementary participation occurs when young people are consulted and asked for their opinions;
- Participation with commitment means that they help develop the objectives of a program and give feedback to improve results;
- Participation with autonomy and power means that they are given real power. However, a critical factor affecting youth participation is the refusal of many adults to recognize the intrinsic worth and value of young people.
We Are the Change
We’ve been Waiting For
The Vision for Scouting is:
As a global Movement, making a real contribution to creating a better world.
We see Scouting entering its second century as an influential, value-based educational Movement focussed on achieving its mission, involving young people working together to develop their full potential, supported by adults who are willing and able to carry out their educational role.
We see Scouting world-wide as attracting and retaining more and more young people (especially adolescents) of both genders and coming from broader segments of society.
We see Scouting as attractive to adults, women and men, in all cultures – a Movement through which they can make a significant contribution to society by working with young people.
We see Scouting as a dynamic, innovative Movement with adequate resources, simple structures and democratic decision making processes where organisation, management and communication are effective at all levels.
