By Harry Bah
Scouting in The Gambia has for many years helped young people develop discipline, teamwork, leadership and a spirit of service. Many Gambians still associate the movement with Scout uniforms, camping and community service.
But today’s young people are growing up in a changing world, facing challenges including climate change, plastic pollution and unemployment.
The Gambia Scout Association says it is responding to these challenges through a new National Youth Programme. Momodou Kuyateh, Youth Programme Lead of The Gambia Scout Association, said the new programme maintains the traditional values of Scouting while placing greater emphasis on practical skills and community action.
“Scouting is responding to this changing reality,” Mr. Kuyateh said. Through the Scouts for SDGs movement, young Gambians are being introduced to practical initiatives such as Plastic Tide Turners, Diversity and Inclusion, Food for Life, Nutrition Challenge and Dialogue for Peace, alongside environmental initiatives under Earth Tribe, including Champions for Nature. He explained that these are not simply programmes for young people to participate in, but opportunities for them to identify challenges in their communities and take action
. “A Scout group can respond to plastic pollution by organising a community clean-up. Another can establish a garden to promote food production and nutrition,” he said. Mr. Kuyateh also highlighted the role Scouting can play in addressing youth unemployment by developing skills that can be applied in employment, entrepreneurship and leadership.
“A Scout who plans a community project learns how to develop an idea. A Scout who leads a team learns how to communicate and manage people. A Scout who organises an activity learns about planning, budgeting and accountability,” he said.
“At a time when young Gambians need stronger pathways towards employment, entrepreneurship and leadership, Scouting is contributing by developing skills for life and work.” Muhamed Fofana, District Commissioner for Kombo North, said Scouting is preparing young people for a future that cannot be fully predicted.
“We prepare young people for that unknown future,” Mr. Fofana said. He identified seven competencies that Scouts will need in the next 10 years: agency and self-directed learning; critical and systems thinking; creativity and value creation; social, emotional and intercultural competencies; ethical and global responsibility; digital and technological fluency; and wellbeing and sustainable life management.
Ebrima Faye, Scout Master of Fass Delta Troop, said young people should consider joining Scouting because of the practical skills and values it provides. “Scouting helps in teaching young people real skills. Skills like having the knowledge of working in a team and solving problems,” Mr. Faye said.
He said the movement also helps young people build character by encouraging them to be hardworking, loyal, honest, helpful and resilient. “Scouting helps young people to be resilient. It trains young people how to face and handle challenges and risks. It also helps in building confidence and in building young people to be productive and responsible citizens,” he said.
Makang Fofona, Regional Assistant IPRO, said he believes the future of Scouting is bright. “Scouting was founded in 1907 with 20 boys. Today in 2026, it is 119 years and it is in more than 200 countries with 50 million plus young people,” Mr. Fofona said. “I see a better scouting and scouts in the next years to come as we see a good number of young people always coming and being ready to make it better every single day.
As a member of this great movement I am certain that the future of scouting is bright.” Mr. Kuyateh stressed that the changes within Scouting do not mean the movement is moving away from its roots.
“The values of service, discipline, teamwork and leadership remain at the centre. What is changing is how those values are applied to today’s challenges,” he said. He said the ambition is to develop Scouts who can translate knowledge into action.
“The ambition is to see a Scout who does not simply know the importance of protecting the environment, but takes action to protect it. A Scout who does not simply learn about leadership, but leads. A Scout who does not simply discuss community problems, but helps develop solutions.”
