Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The year that just started is the one of our centenary, and we are all preparing ourselves to the celebrations which will culminate on August 1st when Scouting will officially enter in its second century.

In Brownsea, where the adventure started, one girl and one boy from each National Scout Organization wil join to salute the Scouting's Sunrise in the spirit of the motto of the year 2007: One World One Promise. All around the world, Scouts will celebrate the dawn of the New Century of Scouting sharing their Gifts for Peace with their local communities and symbolically with the whole world. They will invite older Scouts and new friends to Join-in-Centenary. Initiatives and celebrations will take place all year round with some other highlights on the occasion of the Founder's Day on the 22nd of February; at the 21st World Scout Jamboree in July, taking place at Highland Parks in England where 45.000 Scouts are expected to gather in the greatest Jamboree ever; during the International Congress on Scouting’s contribution to 100 years of education which will conclude the celebrations in the premises of the United Nations in Geneva, at the end of November.

In his letter to all those who share the Scout Promise, the Secretary General underlines the challenges posed to Scouting by the world of today and invites us to take renewed action to “be prepared” to such a very demanding endeavour. As Scouts we have been trained to make possible the “im-possible” and on behalf of the World Scout Committee I invite all of you to join to make of 2007 a new start for creating a better world.

Yours in Scouting

Herman Hui
Chairman of the World Scout Committee