We have members of Girlguiding and Scouts joining us from all over the world this week, one of those people is Peter from Kenya. This is Peter’s second Essex International Jamboree having come along in 2016 and he is a passionate advocate for Scouting and sport being a vehicle for social change.
If you see Peter around the site, chances are he will be carrying a football covered in names. He is aiming to raise awareness for the Global Youth Forum and the Football for Goals initiative from the United Nations. His personality and enthusiasm is immediately infectious and the story of what he has achieved with the Global Youth Forum is truly inspiring. “We want young people to have a good life, that they can enjoy while exploring their full potential and achieving their dreams.”
The Global Youth Forum engages young people by “getting them to play football so you learn more about them and discover what they really need then bring them into the programme.” The programme then aims to help young people aged between 16 and 35 to look for work and gives them the skills to be successful “once you find out [why they don’t have work] you empower them with skills to either get a job or create a job”.
So why football? Peter tells me that football is hugely popular in Kenya with the biggest game in the country being A.F.C. Leopards vs Gor Mahia, two teams based in Nairobi with a long-standing rivalry that compares to that of North London or Manchester.
“Football, according to FIFA, has four billion people including fans and players. Football unites like Scouting unites! If I move around here, every Subcamp has a ball!” By harnessing the popularity of football, Peter has made a huge difference in his community. He is committed to ensuring that the young people, that the Global Youth Forum works with, are supported to raise their aspirations and improve their lives. A truly inspirational way to live Scouting values!
