"Today is the first official day, although we’ve been on site for five days already, building our exhibition and learning our way around this massive event. The opening ceremony was amazing. It’s hard to explain how it feels to be sat in a field with 40,000 scouts from 155 countries. It’s very colourful – most of the scouts wear a national uniform – and very, very noisy!
Everyone has a strong sense of pride in their nationality, but there’s also a real feeling of togetherness. The theme of this jamboree is One World, One Promise: a movement united across the globe by their Scout Promise, and by the promise of a better world.
Many of the scouts have come huge distances to participate – Australia, Brazil and China seem to be very well represented. Some have come despite really difficult circumstances, including groups from Sudan, Chad, Palestine and Zimbabwe. Today really brought home to me that scouting is more than a hobby for many scouts, and this jamboree will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of us.
Before the opening ceremony, we were lucky enough to meet Ed Miliband (left), head of the Cabinet Office, who came for a look around our exhibition. I chatted to Ed about Oxfam’s work on climate change and the role of young people in creating a better world. He seemed genuinely interested, and he even signed a pledge card to help stop climate change and end poverty.
I also managed to catch a glimpse of
Prince William (above, right) as he toured the site, accompanied by masses of photographers and security. It was very carefully orchestrated, and it made me wonder how often he has a chance to really get to know the people he meets. It seemed quite a contrast from the rest of the jamboree, which is all about making friends from across the world, and swapping ideas and experiences."
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