Over the years, my involvement in various social and international projects has allowed me to combine meaningful action with cultural discovery. At 15, I participated in a disability and sports initiative with my scout team, helping organize activities for individuals with autism and contributing to the European Volleyball Tournament for Deaf individuals.

At 17, I joined my mother's UNICEF team to visit vulnerable orphans in Vietnam, where I witnessed both the charm of my country of origin and the challenges faced by rural communities. That same year, my scout team embarked on an international exchange with Macedonian scouts, fostering cultural connections and exploring a way of life different from our own.

At 19, I worked with the Munay association in Peru to build improved kitchens for Andahuaylas families, providing better living conditions while embracing values of solidarity and hands-on engagement. These experiences not only deepened my understanding of global challenges but also reinforced my commitment to contributing to meaningful change.

When I was 15, our scout team, consisting of 24 members, decided to undertake a social project aimed at helping individuals with disabilities continue participating in sports. Throughout the year, we collaborated with several organizations, offering support during their events. One such event focused on autism in sports, where we assisted in organizing various activities at a stadium to encourage individuals with autism to exercise and enjoy themselves. This experience was deeply meaningful and gave purpose to the project we had been working on throughout the year.

Later, we contributed to the organization of the European Volleyball Tournament for Deaf individuals. We helped prepare the court alongside the official team, participated in basic sign language workshops, and served as ball pickers during the five-day international competition.

Finally, during the summer, we had the incredible opportunity to gather with 15,000 scouts from across France and international groups in Strasbourg for the You're Up Jamboree. The event, unfortunately, was struck by a tornado on the second day, though thankfully, no one was seriously injured.

To see the photos >> Youre-Up-2015"

Thanks to my mother, who was actively involved in the UNICEF club at her workplace, I had the opportunity to join the team visiting the supported children in Vietnam. It was my first time traveling to my country of origin and a unique chance to experience its culture from within.

I was charmed by the prevailing atmosphere, but I also witnessed the challenges faced by rural communities. Many lived in homes without windows, furnished with only the bare essentials - a bed, a table, and sometimes not even a chair. Despite these hardships, the people were incredibly kind and welcoming, always doing their best with the little they had.

At the age of 17, our scout team, composed of 18 members, decided to undertake an international project with the goal of connecting with scouts from a culture entirely unfamiliar to us. After some research, we found several Macedonian scout groups with similar aspirations at the time. This led to a connection, and we planned a meeting in Macedonia for the summer.

Throughout the year, we raised funds to purchase plane tickets for the trip. Once there, we met with three scout groups - two from the Ohrid Lake region and one from Skopje. It was the farthest I had ever traveled into Eastern Europe. While Macedonia was culturally distinct from France, the Macedonian scouts were incredibly welcoming and eager to share insights about how they practice scouting in their country.

Who could better explain our action than the us from 2019 ?

We will be building "improved kitchens" in households in Andahuyalas. We are providing funding for the necessary materials and contributing our labor to help families benefit from better living conditions. Specifically, the addition of small chimneys will prevent families from inhaling toxic smoke, thereby reducing the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Furthermore, these kitchens allow households to save wood as they retain heat more effectively, prevent smoke from contaminating the kitchen area, are safer, and make maintenance easier.

Our initial experiences made us realize that we wanted to contribute in a hands-on way. That's when we discovered the Munay association, which offered this project and connected us with a team of volunteers who worked with them last year. The team confirmed our enthusiasm for the association, sharing that they had felt useful throughout their stay and that the construction of the stoves was well-received by the community.

Munay supports rural development projects in the fields of nutrition, education, health, and child protection, aimed at farming communities in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Initially focused on the Maras region, the organization now works in Andahuaylas.

We are eager to make a meaningful impact beyond our borders, discovering new cultures and ways of life. This project aligns with the values upheld by the movement as well as our personal values. We find it incredibly enriching to engage with cultures unfamiliar to us, to learn and share experiences while assisting the communities we will meet. Contributing to the development of an economically disadvantaged country, even in a small way, reflects the values of solidarity and mutual aid that scouting has instilled in us from a young age.

Il y a peu, j'ai découvert une autre facette du scoutisme : aux Journées Nationales, il y a deux semaines, j'ai compris que le scoutisme que nous vivons à BDM, ça ne coule pas de source. Notre scoutisme découle du cadre et de la pédagogie fixée par le national, puis par le territoire. Mais le territoire, c'est nous, nous les représentant associatifs qui pouvons voter aux assemblées générales, nous les RG, nous les chefs, et nous les jeunes. J'ai découvert que moi je le façonne, qu'ensemble, c'est nous qui le façonnons. Il m'a suffi de m'investir un peu en venant aux JN pour découvrir une nouvelle fois la grandeur du scoutisme. Puis, une semaine plus tard, je suis retourné à Jambville pour suivre la première formation du BAFA. J'ai découvert la nouvelle pédagogie scoute, je suis redevenu jeune l'espace d'une semaine et j'ai refait contact le bonheur que cela procure. Ensemble, nous pourrions être une entreprise qui fonctionne du tonnerre, j'en suis convaincu. Mais nous poursuivons un but plus grand : trouver le bonheur. Et moi aux scouts, je l'ai trouvé. J'y ai mes trouvé mes meilleurs amis, je m'y épanoui, et je fais mon possible pour que mes co-chefs et mes jeunes s'épanouissent de la même façon.

Aujourd'hui je souhaite marquer mon engagement dans le scoutisme. Cela m'a paru naturel mais pourtant j'ai pris la peine d'y réfléchir. Car s'engager quelque part, c'est renoncer à s'engager dans mille autres choix possibles. Car s'engager, c'est oser entrer dans la lumière, se lever, agir et être fier. Et oser c'est prendre un risque. Mais chaque fois que j'ai du prendre un risque pour le scoutisme, il s'est révélé bénéfique pour moi. En plus, le risque, c'est ce qui fait grandir.

Je m'engage parce que je crois en le scoutisme comme un oiseau crois en ses ailes. Si cela m'apparait aussi comme un devoir, c'est aussi pour moi un chemin de bonheur. Voir grandir les jeunes, les voir prendre confiance en eux et placer la leur en nous, c'est quelque chose de fort et d'enrichissant. Confier des responsabilités toujours grandissantes et s'en voir confier est quelque chose de gratifiant. La confiance accordés par les parents qui nous confient leurs enfants.

Plus largement, je crois en le projet SGDF, en cette pédagogie qui cherche à développer les qualités de chacun, à leur propre rythme, et à transmettre des valeurs de partage, de respect, d'honneur et de débrouillardise fondamentales, pour un an, dix, ou une vie entière.

Enfin je m'engage car j'aime les scouts, j'aime mes amis, mes co-chefs et mes jeunes, et il n'est pas de plus grand amour que de donner sa vie pour ses amis, et donner sa vie, c'est d'abord donner son temps.

Recently, I discovered another side of scouting. At the National Days two weeks ago, I realized that the scouting we experience at BDM doesn't just happen by itself. Our scouting comes from the framework and pedagogy established at the national level, and then by the territory. But the territory is us: we, the association representatives who can vote at general assemblies; we, the group leaders (RG); we, the leaders; and we, the youth. I discovered that I play a role in shaping it, that together, we are the ones who shape it. All it took was getting involved a little by attending the National Days to once again recognize the greatness of scouting.

Then, a week later, I returned to Jambville to attend the first BAFA (youth leadership training) course. I discovered the new scouting pedagogy, became young again for a week, and reconnected with the joy it brings. Together, we could function like an outstanding organization, I'm sure of it. But we pursue something greater: finding happiness. And in scouting, I have found it. I've met my best friends there, I've thrived, and I do everything I can to help my co-leaders and my youth thrive in the same way.

Today, I want to affirm my commitment to scouting. It felt natural, but I still took the time to reflect on it. Because committing to something means renouncing a thousand other possible choices. Because committing means daring to step into the light, to stand up, to act, and to be proud. And daring involves taking a risk. But every time I've had to take a risk for scouting, it's turned out to be beneficial for me. Besides, risk is what helps us grow.

I commit because I believe in scouting the way a bird believes in its wings. While it also feels like a duty to me, it's also a path to happiness. Seeing young people grow, watching them gain confidence in themselves and place their trust in us, is something powerful and enriching. Entrusting greater responsibilities to others and being entrusted with them in return is deeply rewarding. The trust that parents place in us by entrusting us with their children is humbling.

More broadly, I believe in the SGDF (Scouts and Guides of France) project, in this pedagogy that seeks to develop each individual's qualities at their own pace, and to instill fundamental values of sharing, respect, honor, and resourcefulness, whether for a year, ten years, or a lifetime.

Finally, I commit because I love scouting. I love my friends, my co-leaders, and my youth. And there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends—and laying down one's life starts with giving one's time.