KIRARA-HAMA, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN, August 3, 2015 /EINPresswire.com/ -- On the occasion of the 23rd World Scout Jamboree, the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) today launched the global Scouts Go Solar project, labeled #scoutsgosolar. Aimed at raising awareness on climate change and sustainability solutions among Scouts, the project demonstrates age-appropriate learning-by-doing activities on renewable energy technology, particularly solar energy.

The project was started in April 2014 with the official pilot in Manila with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. Subsequently, many trainings and workshops were also introduced to Scout groups in Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, Peru and Senegal. A second official pilot was established in Islamabad with the Pakistan Boy Scouts Association in December of the same year. The global launch marks the formal introduction of the Scouts Go Solar project into the World Scout Environment Programme (WSEP).

Prior to this official launch, annual workshops have been organised at the Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland where Solar Ambassadors from all continents gained practical experience on basic solar energy principles and concepts including the self-assembling of a solar torch for Scouts and a do-it-yourself solar suitcase for camps, but also for emergency electricity supply.

A specific objective of the Scouts Go Solar project is also the launch of the Solar Challenge Badge Handbook for Youth Leaders that can be adopted by National Scout Organizations (NSOs). The handbook is intended to allow Scouts from all over the world and other youth leaders to organise and run their own solar energy related activities with children and young people.

“Scouts Go Solar” will also be the message towards the United Nations climate conference in December 2015. The Scouts will be first walking the talk at the 11th Conference of the Youth with a solar workshop and then at the 21st Conference of Parties to present the Scouts voice on sustainable solutions. This will be followed with solar activities at the the French Scout Centre Jambville, near Paris that will become a Scout Center of Excellence for Nature and Environment.

The Scouts Go Solar is a joint project between the World Organization of the Scout Movement and non-profit groups based in Switzerland, the Philippines and Japan, working in close collaboration with the Kandersteg International Scout Centre including the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and Pakistan Boy Scouts Association as official pilot countries of the project. #ends#

Lin Lin Yeoh
World Scout Bureau
+603 22769024
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