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23rd World Scout Jamboree:
An overwhelming experience
The 23rd World Scout Jamboree was held in Kirara-hama, Yamaguchi in
Western Japan from July 28 to August 8, 2015. The theme was 'Wa: A
Spirit of Unity'.
The kanji meaning harmony, unity or togetherness was also a part of
the theme. 'Wa-Wa Japan' is also an early name for Japan. The Jamboree
site was a flat land with an area of 2.8 km north to south by 1 km east
to west.
There is a natural park on the site, where wildlife living on
Kirara-hama is preserved. Millions of wild birds visit Kirara-hama every
year.
In addition, the Jamboree site was equipped with water and sewage
systems, as well as a sports dome and a swimming pool that was used for
the programs. Access to the site was easy by airplane and Shinkansen
bullet trains. The site is located 30 minutes from the Shin-Yamaguchi
Station on the JR Shinkansen line, which has the capacity to carry a
large number of passengers. Four international airports serve within a
two-hour radius of the site, out of which Fukuoka International Airport
and Kansai International Airport are located west and east of the site.
The opening ceremony was held on the evening of July 29, 2015, where
most people participated. It included a flag ceremony, a speech by the
mayor of Yamaguchi and another speech by a representative of the World
Scout Organisation.
Global Development Village, also known as GDV, is an on-site module
program, which attempts to raise awareness of global issues such as
peace, the environment, development, human rights and health among
participants.
As the 23WSJ is held in Japan, GDV focuses on disaster mitigation and
world peace. The world scout organisation has requested for active
involvement of UN agencies, NGOs and NPOs. The GDV program is also part
of the Join-in-Jamboree program.
An on site program aimed at deepening the understanding of advances
in science and technology and the benefits and problems associated with
science. The program provided a venue for learning about the development
of fuel cells and other energy sources for future, ecological problems,
robotics and automotive technologies.
There were around 200 young correspondents from the camp working with
the media centre of the jamboree.
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