Your Majesty,
Dear Friends,

I am very glad to be with you here in Zurich for today’s seminar.

The theme “Value based leadership” has become a feature of all our events in the World Scout Foundation in recent years.

We believe Scouting is the world’s greatest leadership development program. And each time we meet we discuss a different aspect of leadership. Today´s seminar addresses the issue of Scouting and leadership in the Africa Region.

This all started last year. The former Scout, and Nobel Prize winner, archbishop Desmond Tutu talked about his belief in Scouting. According to him, this was the organization that gave a young, black child of his youth the opportunity to lead in the South Africa, and to change his community.

Desmond Tutu is very proud to be a Scout! But unfortunately, due to his age, Desmond is not able to join us today.

The Africa region may be one of the poorest in the world, but today we will meet persons who represent a great future on that continent. All our panelists will be with us for the next few days. Take the time and talk to them. To meet and discuss, help understand each other to build a better world for the next generations.

I look forward to an interesting seminar and days.

Thank you.