The Crown Prince of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg praised the Kingdom's support for the Messengers of Peace during the launch ceremony for the second phase of projects

​Minister of Education: The "Messengers of Peace" initiative is a global model for empowering youth and promoting a culture of peace

His Excellency Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Minister of Education and President of the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association, alongside His Royal Highness Prince Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie, Crown Prince of Luxembourg and Board Member of the World Scout Foundation, participated in the launch ceremony for the global "Messengers of Peace" projects, which are supported by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The ceremony took place at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh and attracted various leaders and decision-makers from the World Organization of Scout Movement, as well as numerous specialists and enthusiasts in scouting, both locally and internationally.

The Minister of Education opened the ceremony with a speech, welcoming the Crown Prince of Luxembourg, all partners in the World Scouting Movement, and the champions of the "Messengers of Peace." He emphasized that the Kingdom, with the support of its wise leadership, will remain a key partner in promoting the message of peace and sustainable development, working towards a safer and more humane world for future generations.

His Excellency clarified that the Kingdom's leadership places great importance on the scouting movement due to its crucial role in individual development and societal building. This commitment has bolstered the Saudi Scouts' international standing, allowing them to effectively influence the future of the scouting movement through the high-quality programs and impactful initiatives they provide.

The Minister of Education said, “The second phase of the Messengers of Peace initiative, launched in the Kingdom, represents a global model for empowering youth and fostering a culture of peace. Over the next ten years, this initiative will focus on enhancing the Kingdom's role and position by sponsoring 27 projects worldwide. These projects will include initiatives focused on the environment, health, volunteering, peacebuilding, and achieving sustainable development goals." He emphasized the Kingdom's renewed commitment to this initiative by allocating a $50 million grant, which aims to expand its scope and inspire over 100 million scouts worldwide.

Minister Al-Benyan added that the first phase of the initiative, which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supported in 2011 with $37 million, focused on empowering youth, training leaders, and implementing humanitarian initiatives around the globe. Since its launch, the Scouts have contributed over 2.7 billion hours of community service across various humanitarian sectors.

For his part, the Crown Prince of Luxembourg said in his speech at the ceremony, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aims to empower youth, and here the importance of scouting emerges, as it promotes volunteer work, equips young scouts with skills, and supports community service."

His Highness expressed gratitude to the Kingdom for its significant financial contribution to the Messengers of Peace initiative. In its first phase, this initiative supported over one million Scout groups worldwide, facilitated 16 million local projects, and engaged 32 million volunteers, contributing to a total of 60 million Scouts. He acknowledged Saudi Arabia's backing of the Scout movement and this initiative, which, in its second phase, seeks to inspire young people and help them achieve their hopes and dreams for a more peaceful world.

At the end of the ceremony, group photos were taken of the Messengers of Peace champions alongside the Crown Prince of Luxembourg and the Minister of Education. A three-day workshop aimed at building capacity is planned to take place in Riyadh, where 70 male and female scouts are expected to participate. 

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