In Denmark, Scouts play to build a better world

With young people being the strongest drivers of change, the world hinges on the youth to achieve the 2030 agenda. Youth involvement is insignificant, unless it is done meaningfully and empowers young people. To reach the 2030 agenda, young generations need to be part of the solution. […] 
– Cecilia Zade, Danish Youth Delegate to the UN at the 2022 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 

The question of how to engage young people is a big one for SDG communicators. With more than 1.8 billion people on the planet between the ages of 10-24, the 2030 Agenda can only be achieved if young people are involved and given the opportunity to propose solutions. 

In Denmark, data show that when it comes to promoting change and sustainable development, young Danes do not typically engage through traditional channels. From 2017 to 2020, fewer young Danes participated in national elections than other age groups – around 5 to 10 percentage points fewer. 

This means that the country’s development communicators need to think outside the box to make sure young people understand key issues like climate, health care, immigration and education policy, and that their voices are heard.  

Elsewhere in Europe, others have found school projects a good way to raise awareness of the SDGs, like the “Annoncer la couleur” programme in Belgium and “Worldwise Global Schools” in Ireland.   

In Denmark, some of the most innovative projects have come from youth organisations, which have been centering the SDGs in their programs and activities.  

The Danish Youth Association of Science (UNF), for example, has integrated the SDGs into its official strategy. The LandboUngdom, an agricultural organisation for young people, held a General Assembly with members on the SDGs. The Danish Youth Council (DUF) has developed an unofficial SDG 18 on Youth Empowerment, putting young people at the heart of the country’s development commitments. 

In 2019, DUF also organised a Sustainable Development Goals Tour across Denmark. Like Italy’s #InsiemepergliSDGs (“Together for the SDGs”) initiative, the tour visited several cities, where youth organisations and local politicians led discussions about how to bring the SDGs to their communities. 

A different kind of Danish youth organisation, Spejderne (“The Scouts”) – which has some 70,00o members – engages young people in activities around the SDGs through its “Build a Better World” project. 

The goal of “Build a Better World” is clear: to encourage young people to become active citizens. The project encourages scouts to take responsibility for their communities, and helps bridge the gap between abstract political ideas and their daily lives. 

How does it do this? 

With the support of Danish fund Tuborgfondet, Spejderne developed a handbook explaining the SDGs, and offering suggestions for SDG-related activities, group events and even games. Some examples: building a waste-sorting system for your scout hut, or eating insects (“the food of the future”). Each activity can be adapted as needed, and the handbook provides tips for modification. 

To reward children for their engagement or knowledge, Spejderne also designed an SDG badge. 

Let’s play! 

The Identity Game (SDGs 5, 10, 18): To teach kids about discrimination, this game asks scouts to write or draw 10 things that define them. Then they pair up, share one characteristic, and discuss what it reveals about their identity. Each pair then rotates to new partners. At the end, the group comes together to discuss different aspects of personal identity, like gender or values. 

Build a Dream City (SDGs 7, 9, 11): In this activity, scouts are invited to think about a different approach to developing and building cities. They act as city planners, creating a sustainable city and addressing issues like traffic, waste, energy, and employment. The final project is to build a model of their dream city.  

The Privilege Race (SDGs 5, 10): This race is designed to teach scouts about how inequality affects access to opportunities. Before starting, every participant is assigned a character with a different social identity. They then read a brief text that explains one privilege. If their character benefits from the privilege described, they step forward. At the end, scouts will learn that some of their peers have a head start before the race even begins. 

Conclusion 

Engaging young people on the SDGs can be challenging for communicators. The gap between what is discussed at political summits and what unfolds on the (play)ground often appears wider when engaging with young minds than with adults.  

Another challenge is avoiding the “authority trap.” Communicators can be perceived as representatives of a patronizing or all-knowing adult world. 

The Danish example makes clear that youth groups provide a promising avenue for communication. The more relaxed, informal setting fosters peer-to-peer communication, which can be much more effective than traditional lessons or parental guidance. 

Indeed, it seems that this approach is bearing fruit. A 2020 survey conducted for the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs found that 77% of the Danish population knew about the SDGs, with young people being particularly knowledgeable. According to Denmark’s 2021 Voluntary National Review, this is likely due to the extensive efforts of youth organisations like Spejderne and others. 

Ultimately, it boils down to a simple yet crucial message: We should take young people seriously and respect their autonomy. Youth organisations of all kinds can offer a safe space for them to explore the world, learn about critical challenges, and reach their own conclusions about how they can make a difference. 

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This post is published in partnership with Engagement Global, a German service agency working on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to engage civil society on issues of development co-operation.