Youth Advisers meet to prepare the World Scout Youth Forum - Youth Advisers from the six regions joined the 2nd meeting of the Planning Committee of the 9th World Scout Youth Forum Tunisia 2005 which was held in Collevecchio, Italy, from the 15th to the 16th of April 2005 just prior to the meeting of the World Scout Committee. The aim of the meeting was to define the preliminary agenda and clarify objectives of the youth forum.

Youth Advisors from the six Regions: Ms. Florence Oduut, Africa Scout Region (Uganda), Mr. Abdullah Al Nuzha, Arab Scout Region (Saudi Arabia), Ms. Nozima Nurmukhamedova, Eurasia Scout Region (Tajikistan), Mr. Craig Turpie, European Scout Region (United Kingdom), Ms. Lorena Gudiño, Interamerican Scout Region (Mexico), Mr. Edward Cook, Asia-Pacific Scout Region (New Zealand).

The Planning Committee members built on the preliminary agenda developed at the previous meeting in Geneva last year.

The three major topics which will be discussed at the World Scout Youth Forum are: Global challenges for Young People, Challenges for Young People, Challenges in Scouting. And there will be an hour dedicated to the 2007 Challenges. The event will also offer the participants the possibility to visit a Market Place, a mini GDV and an Open Forum to share different projects and ideas. (May 2005)

News from the 3rd Africa Scout Youth Forum - Anse La Raie, at the northern tip of Mauritius, was the venue of the Africa Scout Youth Forum from 1-3 September 2004. Forty-one delegates and 5 observers from 25 countries participated in this event. The programme focussed on WOSM's strategic priorites and the needs of young people in Africa today. The topics discussed were: youth involvement, youth leadership, challenges for young people in Africa, HIV/AIDS and Scouting and Reaching Out. In addition some time was spent preparing the young people for their participation in the Conference.

The planning team comprised Sawda Issemda, Chairperson (Mauritius), Maria Tirant (Seychelles), Rajeev Manick (Mauritius), Mallot Flavier (Reunion), Emmanuel Onosphy Eseine (Nigeria), Florence Opodoi (Uganda). One resolution from the Conference requested that all Scout associations in the Africa Scout Region appoint a commission for HIV/AIDS. (December 2004)

Youth involvement in the Asia-Pacific Scout Region - Fifty-seven participants from 17 countries attended the APR Youth Forum at the Games Village in Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Six Youth Advisers were elected and Edward Cook (New Zealand) was appointed as the Chairman of the Youth Group and will attend the Regional Committee meetings. Each of the other young people will attend the sub-committee meetings. The Youth Advisers are: Edward Cook, Chairman (NZ), Eko Andrianto (Indonesia), Netsai Khaimarn (Thailand), In Sun Ryu (Korea), Maiya Twayanabasu (Nepal), Aaron Wardle (Australia). (December 2004)

Youth involvement in the European Scout Region - The Committee of the European Scout Region has agreed its general methods of working to achieve the European Scout Plan 2004-2007. There are four key priorities: An Organisation for the 21st Century, Young People and the Youth Programme, The Adults we Need, Scouting's Profile. A Finance Support Group has also been established. Networks of volunteers have been recruited to support these areas of work. There was an open call for candidates to ensure there is an input from volunteers with a wide variety of backgrounds, e.g. age, gender, geography. From nearly 60 applicants, 50% are young leaders under the age of 30. (December 2004)