Scouts learn about impact innovation and creative problem-solving skills to tackle community challenges
Young people around the world are gaining essential leadership, innovation, and critical thinking skills through World Scouting’s LifeLeaders initiative, preparing them for the future of work and to play an active role in their communities.
The Impact Innovators Challenge introduces Scouts to practical innovation by equipping them with the skills to identify problems in their community and to develop and test solutions to those challenges through local projects. This hands-on approach enables young people to apply creativity and problem-solving skills to real-world issues.
Through a partnership with Accenture and the World’s Largest Lesson, the Impact Innovators Challenge is now being implemented in 12 countries across all five Scout regions. Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile, Congo Brazzaville, and South Africa are already integrating the Impact Innovators Challenge into their national Youth Programmes, while National Scout Organizations in Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sweden, Portugal, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates are applying design thinking to address local social, economic and environmental issues.
Together, the initiative aims to reach 17,000 young people and deliver over 2,000 youth-led community service projects. Nearly 500 adult leaders have also been trained to mentor participants and support the delivery of the project.
Turning sustainability education into action
Across different countries, young people are driving community change through creative, impactful community projects designed through the Impact Innovators Challenge.
In Cape Town, South Africa, Scouts at the Injongo primary school led a literacy campaign to encourage students to read books, practice storytelling, and visit the local library, helping to build confidence, vocabulary, and a love of reading.
In the United Arab Emirates, Scouts designed a simple, sustainable system that reduces water waste during wudu (an Islamic washing ritual). The system redirects water to irrigate plants, while raising awareness about water conservation and the importance of eco-friendly practices in schools, mosques, homes, and the wider community.
Other Scout-led projects inspired by the Impact Innovators Challenge are also promoting health and well-being. In Sweden, young Scouts tackled the challenge of loneliness among elders by creating “sun days” at a local home, organising weekly visits for conversation, games, and Swedish fika to reduce isolation and foster meaningful intergenerational connections.
And in Brazil, a Scout-led initiative is breaking taboos around menstruation by providing education, promoting menstrual health, and supporting girls and women in vulnerable situations with information and access to essential hygiene products.
Together, these initiatives are enabling young people to gain hands-on experience that they can carry forward into their education, careers, and lifelong learning opportunities, while also building a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative world.
Learn more about the LifeLeaders initiative and the Impact Innovators Challenge on the Scouts for SDGs platform.
