inclusive participation in home scouting …
TRANSCRIPT
© WSB Inc. / Victor Ortega
INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION IN HOME SCOUTINGRECOMMENDATIONS- ADAPTING A MORE INCLUSIVE APPROACH
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
© World Scout Bureau Inc.DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIONDecember 2020
World Scout BureauEurope Support Centre Geneva, Switzerland
Rue Henri-Christiné 5CH-1211 Geneva 4Switzerland Tel: +41 22 705 1100Fax: +41 22 705 1109
Reproduction is authorised to National Scout Organizations and Associations which are members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Credit for the source must be given.
INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION IN HOME SCOUTINGRECOMMENDATIONS- ADAPTING A MORE INCLUSIVE APPROACH
Inclusive participation in Home Scouting Recommendations- adapting a more inclusive approach
Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the implementation of self-isolation policies across Europe creating a challenge for daily Scouting activities that could not happen face to face as they used to.
Current research shows that self isolation measures not only decrease public activities to the minimum but also have a significant impact on mental health. In order to minimise the negative effect that is caused by the lack of the usual face to face interaction it is important to create social interaction using different methods and means of communication, such as online meetings, community services activities, radio and self care ideas
Just whenwe need it most, there are competing priorities that mean inclusion and diversity may potentially get lost in our organisations’ essential operations. Now more than ever, NSO’s need focused commitment for full, true inclusion. We must continue to find a way forward, to capture our shared values and focus on creating diverse and inclusive opportunities at this critical time. We must work together and share the best practises of organisational response, adaptation strategies and “new way” of Scouting in order to ensure that diversity and inclusion stays within strategic sight and acted upon in every Scout organisation.
Over the last 110 years, Scouting has adapted to meet the evolving needs, expectations and aspirations of young people in different social contexts. As we continue to watch our communities change and evolve in this VUCA (Volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) world, we, as a movement, need to adapt. By looking for new means to reach our current members, continuing to deliver educational activities and supporting the communities in which we serve while equally finding ways to reach those, who are not yet members of Scouting, but would benefit from the holistic experience offered by Scouting region wide.
The two core pillars of inclusive Home Scouting and the focal points of this recommendations paper are defined below.
• The inclusivity of Home Scouting activities;
- Activities are accessible to the diversity of learning styles, languages and age groups in your Scout membership
- Activities are provided equally offline and online - Activities promote both self directed learning, connecting with other Scouts and engagement
with family/friends - Activities do not add additional pressure to primary care givers and offer alternatives/
adaptations that ensure young people benefit equally from Home Scouting
• Ensuring Home Scouting is available and accessible to all;
- Active inclusion - Extending reach - Engage all members of the community - Creating opportunities all young people, Scouts & non Scouts
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DOCUMENT AIMS 6
RECOMMENDATIONS 7
RESEARCH AVAILABLE 4
BEST PRACTICES 5
NSO CAPACITY STRENGTHENING 9
Recovery guidance for NSOs 10
RESOURCES 18
CLOSING REMARKS 19
Contents
Document aims This document aims to:
• Highlight best practises of Scouting activities that supported the inclusive participation of Scouts with different backgrounds in Home Scouting
• Provide recommendations identified for the two pillars of inclusive Home Scouting
• Present available research and resources related to the current inclusion challenges highlighted in Europe
• Increase the capacity of NSOs, by considering flexible adaptations, to extend their reach and remove barriers to participation
• Empower existing Scout members to be more actively inclusive and increase participation in Home Scouting and offline
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Recommendations
1. Invite, engage & include families in activities at home. Connecting and reconnecting with Scouts and their families, through programme activities accessible at home, individually and as a group will support wellbeing, continued access to Scouting, parental involvement and future collaboration with local families.
2. Use different means of communications, to engage with your members and local community. How can you utilise radio, newspapers, podcasts or post to reach more people in your community?
3. Establish connections with local businesses, organisations and education providers, to identify and ensure necessary needs are supported for Scouts with different backgrounds. Identify trusted influential figures within the community to provide support and localised voice.
4. Understand your communities and their individual vulnerabilities - Hear the voice of your young people and those in similar situations to understand how to remove barriers and improve access to Scouting. How can young people lead their own Home Scouting? Consider different needs, risks and priorities, assess your localised vulnerabilities using this matrix, to understand risk, needs and how to act.
Below are the conclusive recommendations for inclusive participation of Scouts with different backgrounds in Home Scouting. The following recommendations are a result of indepth research, Scouting and non Scouting best practise and consultation with other relevant stakeholders.
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5. Use dialogue- training adults and young people on how to use dialogue, to increase trust, hear needs and building community cohesion is essential to be actively inclusive in the participation of Home Scouting.
6. We are all different, all equal- To create and ensure inclusive opportunities, we need to consider the interconnected nature of our social and cultural categorisations. Often these are inhibiting and create overlapping systems of discrimination or disadvantage. Always consider how to make Scouting safe, developmental and accessible to all, inclusive of all intersections of society.
7. Identify & find ways to remove barriers to participation- Ask, listen and hear. Hearing local voices, assessing needs and using dialogue will help you find the best ways to remove barriers to participation and access to Scout programmes. Within necessary safety measures, you can make service activities educational, while considering cost, practicalities, use of community contact points or ways to distribute programmes. Turn service activities into educational experiences and sharing.
8. Reflect on the diversity of the ‘new normal’ for all members of your community. Be prepared to adapt when returning to ‘normal’ Scouting, for existing and new members. For some, staying engaged was never going to work, how do you welcome them back, how do you promote the benefits and feeling of inclusive space regardless of the new normal. Consider what has changed, what inequalities return in face to face Scouting, what are the impact of societal changes for young people and their families.
This live padlet also highlights some common challenges faced by NSOs, but also some of the visible solutions or ideas to support the above recommendations. It is encouraged to keep this conversation going and keep learning from volunteers across the region.
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Research availableSocial cohesion, education for human rights and combating exclusion are highly prioritised within European organisations and institutions, resulting in a diversity of research or resources to develop the understanding and enhance the inclusion dimension across the European Region.
The pandemic sparked additional research in the areas of inclusion, diversity, mental health and other areas that were mostly affected by the lockdown. We recommend getting acquainted with some research examples that can help to better understand the needs of our members, the increased challenges and possible solutions that can help to create relevant and adapted activities in response to changes and crises.
Scouting from Home research- This research was conducted by the Impact of Scouting team. It focuses on understanding the impact of the Home Scouting programme during the Covid-19 pandemic. A notable finding is that the majority of the young people (or their parents) who participated in the research reported ‘Home Scouting made them feel part of a community’, which highlights the significant importance of ensuring the inclusive participation of Scouts with different backgrounds in Home Scouting. You can see a brief summary of the research in this video.
Coronavirus vs. inequality. This research, done by the United Nations Development Programme, focuses on the different aspects of inequality that are affected by the Covid-19 crises.
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Inequality and poverty effects of the lockdown in Europe by J. C. Palomino, J. G. Rodríguez, R. Sebastian. It looks at the impact of the two month lockdown on the wages and inequality level of European citizens.
Educational inequalities in Europe by The European Commision Science and Knowledge center. The paper focuses on the educational inequalities caused by closed schools and homeschooling, as a result of Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
Cultural participation & inclusive societies report- Council of Europes research’ explores the link between cultural participation (such as artistic expression, online creativity and passive
participation) and the features of an inclusive society, such as trust, tolerance, etc.
The Spirit Level- Why equality is better for everyone! (Richard Wilkinson & Kate Pickett)
This book provides a detailed explanation of how inequality is responsible for many of our present day problems, including violence, poverty and mental illness. It shares in depth data and studies that support and highlights how inequality hurts everybody in society.
Understanding intersectionality- In this brief TEDx video, we see how all of our identities exist within intersections of ourselves and others, and how understanding intersectionality is key to inclusion. Dive deeper here into the additional complexity of understand intersectionality online, the Through an awareness of intersectionality, we can better acknowledge and ground the differences among us. Through better collaboration, we can better understand the diversity of the child!
Domestic abuse. Living in isolation youth members are more vulnerable to child abuse or domestic violence, look into the research and best practise on how to recognise the victims and recognise suspicious behaviour.
Reconnecting after Covid-19. Reconnecting with people after Covid-19 caused isolation, can cause anxiety, since personal patterns have been altered by staying home and social distancing for so long.
A Principled and Inclusive Response to Covid-19. The research identifies the difficulties Covid-19 poses to at-risk groups, particularly in conflict- and humanitarian-crisis affected areas and provides recommendations on inclusive response to Covid-19.
Social aspect of Humanitarian Action- A quick glance into the social aspects often forgotten during humanitarian crisis help Scouts understand the powerful role they can play in supporting everyone in their community. Explore ideas and how to use dialogue to build better understanding amongst your members, their families and your local communities.
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Best practices Member organisations adapted their activities to the “new normal” where usual residential activities could not happen anymore. It shows the adaptive power of the movement and stresses the value that youth organisations bring to society during crises, through activities that can include people from diverse backgrounds. Below, a few best practises are listed that can be used as an inspiration for implementing inclusive activities at an organisation or group level.
Association des Scouts Catholiques de Côte d’IVOIRE
Catholic Scouts of Côte d’Ivoire implement home Scouting activities, service projects and various initiatives to manufacture and distribute masks and hydroalcoholic solutions. Awareness-raising activities implemented by Scouts created a strong partnership with the government in dealing with the spread of the Covid-19. It allows members to feel included into tackling the pandemic and help them to provide the necessary safety products for those in need.
Lithuanian Scouting
Online platform that includes the main resources needed for Scout activities at home: online tools for distance learning, suggestions for patrol leaders on how to encourage Scout activities at home, games, videos, etc. Parents and Scout leaders can use these resources to keep young people included in the usual Scout activities.
Weekly education radio show about Scouts on the public radio interviewed various Scouts, introduces Scouting to non Scouts, helps to explore different topics connected with Scouting and is available for people with no access to the internet. This is a good example of how Home Scouting can be done using other resources than internet connection.
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Scouting Australia
During these exceptional times most Scout activities have been cancelled or postponed, but as Scouting continues, so does the personal journey of each Scout. Scouting Australia engaged the parents and families of their Scouts, to keep the progress alive. Allowing young people to feel included in their Scouting group through Scout promise benefits their mental health, reduces the feeling and loneliness and helps to cope with the scarcity of their usual life. See how you can do your Scout promise, anywhere!
Amnesty international-
Amnesty International shares some new and creative ways to care for ourselves, our loved ones, and our local and global communities. They highlight how important it is to show up for our communities and ourselves, something which is equally inherent within the active citizens of World Scouting.
The highlight why checking in on the most vulnerable members of your community and how to offer support- Use this outreach template to offer to run errands for those who might be stuck at home.
Scouting Switzerland
Scouts in Switzerland showed active citizenship by establishing a grocery & medicine ordering and delivery service for vulnerable people within their communities.
Service actions like this also present great opportunities to share educational activities or include young people and their families with Scouting programmes.
Scouting UK
The Scouts created guidance on how to protect everyone involved in the Scouts and support those made more vulnerable by the current situation.
In addition, their #TheGreatIndoors material helps to keep young people active and engaged while face to face Scouting is limited. These clever resources can be shared with all of your young people, present an opportunity to connect with parents and bring Scouting into the families at home. These could also be distributed throughout service activities and within the community.
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UN WOMEN & TRANSLATORS WITHOUT BORDERS
The risk communication and community engagement working group share insight and tips on ‘How to include marginalized and vulnerable people in community engagement’ in this paper. A strong reference for understanding intersectionality and how to hear and support the variety of needs present for all members of our communities, including young people.
WHO, Unicef, IFRC & GOARN
Collaborators identify key considerations for engaging communities on Covid-19 and tips on how to engage where there are movement restrictions and physical distancing measures in place, particularly in low-resource settings.
Tips for engaging communities during Covid-19- What options Exist for engaging communities in settings without internet or Cellular coverage? What considerations do you need to make to bridge the digital divide?
UNICEF
UNICEF as a first step recommends engaging with adolescents and youth to understand what their needs are, and how they can take action. Consultations with adolescents and youth is your best ‘go-to’ resource to determine how UNICEF can engage, protect, and support adolescents and youth in the Covid-19 response.
See their practical tips to Engage and take action!
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Check this innovative approach towards distanced learning that allows to include young people that are not included in daily activities.
UNICEF Nine basic requirements for effective and ethical participation of adolescents and young people
1. Transparent and informative: Adolescents must receive full, accessible, diversity-sensitive and age-appropriate information;
2. Voluntary: Adolescents should never be coerced into expressing views against their wishes, and they should be informed that they can cease involvement at any stage.
3. Respectful: Adults should acknowledge, respect and support adolescents’ ideas, actions and existing contributions.
4. Relevant: Adolescents should have opportunities to draw on their knowledge, skills and abilities and to express their views on issues that have real relevance to their lives.
5. Adolescent-friendly: Environments and working methods should consider and reflect adolescents’ evolving capacities and interests.
6. Inclusive: include marginalized adolescents of different ages, genders, (dis)abilities and backgrounds.
7. Supported by training: Adults and adolescents should be trained and mentored in facilitating adolescent participation.
8. Safe and sensitive to risk: Expression of views may involve risks. Adolescents should participate in risk assessment and mitigation and know where to go for help if needed.
9. Accountable: Adolescents should receive clear feedback on how their participation has influenced outcomes and should be supported to share that feedback with their peers.
NSO Capacity Strengthening This paper also aims to provide necessary support and direction that may help NSOs reflect on the recommendations outlined and take appropriate steps to support the inclusive participation of Scouts with different backgrounds in Home Scouting, both during and sustainably after 2020.
Amidst the diverse challenges and competing needs of our organisations it can become easy to overlook the Diversity and Inclusion dimension, however it remains of significant importance crosscutting your organisational priorities and should be firmly on the agenda throughout the planning and implementation of any recovery actions.
External research and also that within this document highlights how inequalities increased during crisis. It’s our role, as resilient and adaptable youth movement, to strive to reduce inequalities and to remind us all of why, the need for Diversity and Inclusion.
You have read research and best practises that may have shaped your ideas, reflections and determined next steps. We have highlighted below useful resources from within WOSM and any relevant external partners.To help you further consider how you can adapt and respond to the needs of your members, reflect on the following questions;
• How were Scouting activities implemented during the lockdown for your existing members? What went well? What could be improved?
• Were you able to ensure that all members get equal access to your activities?
• Do you know how many Scouts you managed to reach?
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Future & Sustainability
• As Inclusive, non-formal education accessible to all, is an ‘essential service’, how can you reconfigure or adapt to ensure that Scouting remains a service accessible to all?
• What new inequalities or existing inequalities are present within your communities?
• As an organisation, how can we ensure we leave no one behind?
• What can be learnt from the pandemic in regards to the future, sustainability and inclusivity?
• How can your bridge the digital divide within your membership and community?
• What can be learnt from the global change when considering future sustainability and inclusivity of Scouting?
Take a deeper look into your programme or access to Scouting. How can you further meet the needs of and ensure the inclusive participation of Scouts from all backgrounds?
• Is the current setting or format of the programme at all inaccessible to the families you are trying to reach? (Language, cost of adventurous activities, uniform)
• How accessible are the current resources we have for the audience we want to engage? How can they be accessed? Consider the language, cost and practicalities.
• Are there any specific sensitivities which should be taken into account when reaching out to certain groups?
• Do you already have experience or understand different challenges already present within local communities? How can you learn more about these?
• What financial dependencies are implied or expected?
• Is there a safe place (mentally as well as physically) available, or will we need to create one?
• It’s important to consider the Hierarchy of Needs of both young people and adults when trying to find ways to ensure inclusive Scouting is accessible to all. Although Scouting provides fun, adventure and non-formal education this may not be visible or accessible in a traditional sense to some communities.
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Recovery guidance for NSOs
Reconnecting after Covid-19 and returning to a Scout meeting will be a different experience for both young people, adults and families. Your meeting may be the first social experience offline or outside of close family, it may present new emotions or surface certain behaviors as we adapt to a new normal.
As our organisations navigate the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, there are a number of key issues that NSO leaders should take into consideration, as well as steps they can take to reshape the new reality and plan for recovery.
Explore this resource to learn more about the five prioritives identified as important to consider in your NSO’s recovery.
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Resources The D&I self assessment
The self-assessment is intended to be accessible and useful to all NSOs and decision makers in Scouting, not just something for experts. It consists of reflective questions to help you evaluate Diversity and Inclusion within your organisation or association. This self assessment will be regularly updated and software refreshed. Please use this regularly and as frequently as you need to support improvement and reprioritization of areas on D&I.
WOSM SERVICE
The services here can help you with improving your NSO’s policies, programmes and strategies to ensure that Scouting in your country is open and accessible, better reflects its different communities, and actively includes all young people. It also provides a variety of relevant resources and elearning to support your actions.
• D&I Global guidelines
• Vulnerability matrix
• Dialogue for Peace - programme materials and activities
• NSO Covid 19 Recovery guidance
Watch list;
Connecting with Scouts offline-
In this webinar Scouts from around the world explore Scouting offline, share their experiences and discussion ideas for the future.
Role of youth organisations in building resilience-
Guest speakers from across the European Region discuss the role of youth organisations in building resilience, offering key recommendations on steps forward following uncertain times and organisational challenges. Here from Ville Majamaa (Vice President of the European Youth Forum), Gamze Igrioglu (Policy Analyst OECD) Katerina Loukopoulou (YMCA Europe)
Self directed learning-
As part of the learning path, Diverse members & Inclusive opportunities, as The Academy 2020, a variety of relevant online learning was created by volunteers across the region. These include the below, as well as other interesting topics for you to explore.
• Overcoming racism in youth programme
• Scouting for young people with additional needs
• True colours of gender equality
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Closing remarksWe’ve all felt a relative impact on our personal and professional lives in 2020, yet most of us have had the privilege to remain connected, have our Scouting comfort blanket close by and find solutions to adapt to the new normal. Unfortunately, this isn’t the reality for all of our communities and the young people within them. Many already apparent inequalities have been exacerbated, many are now just more visible than before and that calls for even more urgent action to close the inequality gap, enable access to education and foster at the development of our communities. Time to act is now.
“The most worthwhile thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.”
Baden Powell
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© World Scout Bureau Inc.DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIONSDecember 2020
World Scout BureauEurope Support Centre Geneva, Switzerland
Rue Henri-Christiné 5CH-1211 Geneva 4Switzerland Tel: +41 22 705 1100Fax: +41 22 705 1109