Scouts ACT Joins UN Listening Tour

Scouts ACT had an opportunity to have their voices heard at the United Nations earlier this month when they met with Satara Uthayakumaran, the Australian Youth Representative to the UN.

Satara is travelling around Australia on a Listening Tour to speak directly with young people about their hopes, challenges and perspectives on current domestic and international issues. These workshops, described by Satara as ‘yap sessions’, provide a rare opportunity for young people to provide direct input into Australia’s work at the UN. 

The workshop, organised jointly by the Scouts ACT Branch Scout Council (BSC) and Branch Venturer Council (BVC), covered a range of topics including what youth members get out of Scouting, the biggest challenges facing young people today, and the cost-of-living crisis. There was lively debate as the youth members discussed their perspectives and personal experiences under Satara’s expert guidance.

Having Satara attend our meeting was a wonderful and insightful experience. It was such a unique opportunity for us to express ourselves and have our opinions on both local and national issues taken into consideration. – Medha, Branch Venturer Council Chair

There is a strong connection between Scouting and the United Nations. Meg Cummins, a Rover Scout from NSW, attended the United Nations General Assembly last year to advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).