Sixty Scouts from across Saudi Arabia and around the world gathered in Riyadh this week for a three-day youth leadership event under the global Messengers of Peace initiative. The event, held from 14 to 16 September, focused on equipping young people with the skills and inspiration to drive positive change in their communities. Through workshops, training sessions, and intergenerational dialogues, participants explored peace education, innovation, and leadership in an increasingly complex world.
The gathering marked a renewed phase for the Messengers of Peace program, which was relaunched earlier this year to address today’s global challenges. Award-winning Scouts and key partners joined the event to share experiences and strengthen collaboration across cultures and generations. A highlight of the programme was a panel discussion at the King Abdulaziz Public Library, where HRH Prince Guillaume, Crown Prince of Luxembourg and Immediate Past Chair of the World Scout Foundation, reflected on Scouting’s lasting impact on his life and leadership journey.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education also hosted a launch event to celebrate the renewal of the Messengers of Peace Fund, which will allocate $50 million over the next decade to support youth-led projects in peacebuilding, humanitarian work, and sustainable development. National Scout Organizations (NSOs) will soon receive guidance on how to apply for these new grants, which aim to grow the Movement to over 100 million Scouts worldwide.
The event featured inspiring stories from Messengers of Peace awardees from countries including Romania, Bangladesh, Mexico, Niger, and Tunisia. Each shared how their local Scouting projects—focused on issues such as education, climate, and community resilience—had made tangible impacts in their communities.
In his address, Saudi Minister of Education and President of the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association, Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing youth leadership through the Messengers of Peace initiative. He described the program’s second phase as a global model for empowering young people and fostering a culture of peace, with expanded support for initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The event also brought together senior leaders from the World Organization of the Scout Movement, World Scout Foundation, and partner organisations such as Alwaleed Philanthropies and the Misk Foundation. Since its launch in 2010, the Messengers of Peace initiative has engaged millions of Scouts globally, contributing nearly 3 billion hours of service to peace, sustainability, and community development.
