Internal and external ambassadors

Jamboree ambassadors are one of our most important channels to create interest and enthusiasm for the jamboree around the world and I have during the last two week’s met many different groups that will spread the word in diverse areas. Today I gave a presentation and a status report to the boards of the different scout associations in Sweden and the board of the Swedish Guide and Scout council. We also discussed important questions like how to ensure a high level of participants from the host country and how to make the jamboree project become an energy boost and not drain the organization.

Last week I met external ambassadors representing the Region Skåne Council, the landowner and the governor of Skåne and next week we will have a meeting with the municipality council in Kristianstad. We are getting a great support from these partners and by keeping them updated and informed about the progress of the jamboree planning we identify areas of collaboration and make them committed and comfortable of spreading the word.




The jamboree site covered in snow. Lars Carlsson, Head of Site Services, tries to imagine what it will look like in the summer of 2011 when the whole world moves in to the field.

Happy new year!

This year the Christmas cards from Sweden give the right picture of the landscape, the temperature has been below zero for a few weeks and the snow is deep and shimmering white. A view that is very far away from the green open summer fields of Rinkaby, but totally right for a joyful and relaxing Christmas holiday.

The jamboree is coming closer, one and a half year to go, and it’s getting more and more fun!
2009 has been a busy year and the jamboree planning team has grown a lot and do now reach over 400 members. In an organization that big you can’t and shall not know about everything, so now and then I hear about fantastic ideas and plans I had no clue about, all guided by our idea of Simply scouting – this gives me energy and confidence.
But it’s not only the planning team how works with the jamboree today. All over the world scouts and leaders have started their journey and the first step is to decide to go to the jamboree. In the beginning of the new year we will open the registration and I’m very excited to see how many scouts that will come from your country.

I wish you all a happy new year and good luck with all your scout activities and preparations for the jamboree!

All the best,
Marie

African Regional Scout conference

The last day of the conference in Ghana – my first conference in Africa and a very well organized meeting. Even at this conference we were a big team from Sweden and the reason for this is not only promotion, the most important part is to meet and learn about the countries and cultures in the region. During the days here we have had the time to talk to almost all the countries represented and we also had a HoC gathering.

And finally, even in Ghana we gathered representatives from the youth forum to listen to their expectations and discuss their way of communicating. We thank you all who contributed, your feedback is very important for us!
Right now we are waiting for the closing ceremony and tomorrow it’s time to go home again. But this time we will have some time before the next conference – Arab region in January.

Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conference

It’s time to sum up the days at the conference and the conclusion is that we are very happy and satisfied! It has been a week full of meetings, around 50 countries were represented, half of them from Asia Pacific. Our participation in the regional conferences mainly aims to promote the jamboree, but actually equal important is to meet the different cultures and talk to all the countries. We have learned a lot this week and we are already looking forward to next conference. Africa – here we come!

One of the top activities this week was a gathering with some 25 youths that attended the Youth forum just before the conference. Enthusiastic and curious they shared their expectations about the jamboree and they also helped us to understand how young people in this region communicate today.

We also took the opportunity to meet the heads of contingents or contact persons for the jamboree represented at the conference. A summary of the information given at the HoC Visit in August was presented and we got the chance to get feedback and build a dialog.
And during the week our Facebook fanclub has got close to 1000 new fans – are you one of them?!

Jamboree Council meeting

Tired, but full of energy, we are now on the train back from a very good planning meeting. It was the fifth meeting with the jamboree council and this meeting focusing on the participant experience. This is a perspective we always have to have in mind, but until now these meetings have focused on the overall idea, organizational structure, planning and follow up tools and clarifying boundaries and interfaces. So it was good to head light this perspective during the weekend.
I was excited before the weekend and now after I am very satisfied. It was a very positive climate and by being at the same place and having time to spontaneous meetings and discussions we together sort out a lot of questions and issues.

Thank you everyone for a good weekend!

JET meeting

Even September can offer warm sunny days in Sweden. Last weekend the executive team met and the sun joined us the whole meeting.

Half of the team - Nina, myself, Olle and Lasse

Financial support from the Swedish government

I'm happy to tell you that the 22nd World Scout Jamboree will get financial support from the Swedish government. It was announced in the state budget this morning.

The Minister for Integration and Gender Equality, Nyamko Sabuni, says that she is happy to be able to support an event that gathers tens of thousands young people from all around the world, engaged in social work and preventing racism.

We will get 15 million SEK during 2010 and with the money we now have financial support from the local government of Kristianstad, the regional government of Skåne as well as the national government in Sweden.

The press release from the Ministry could be found here (but is only available in Swedish):
http://regeringen.se/sb/d/11289/a/131945