1st Forres Scouts Explorer Rachael Ballingall selected to attend World Scout Jamboree in South Korea
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A FORRES Academy student is to represent the town, Moray, Scotland and the UK at a meeting of 40,000 Scouts from all over the world.
Having completed a rigorous selection process, 1st Forres Scouts Explorer, Rachael Ballingall (16), will now attend the 25th World Scout Jamboree at Saemangeum, Jeollabuk-do Province, South Korea from August 1-12 in 2023.
She said: “I can’t believe I was selected and I still can’t begin to fathom how truly incredible this experience will be. When I received the confirmation, I was in tears of happiness! My dreams have finally become my reality- my six years of scouting have led me to this moment.”
The World Scout Jamboree for Scouts aged 14 to 18 and adult volunteers is organised every four years. The theme this year is ‘Draw Your Dream’.
“We will be there to share our ideas,” said Rachael “and turn them into a reality. People in influential positions will attend to teach about global issues they are helping to resolve, such as poverty and environmental problems. The lecturers also learn from the younger attendees’ views on how to tackle these matters.”
Saemangeum, a tidal flat on the coast of the Yellow Sea, will be the jamboree area. The event campsite near Byeonsanbando National Park also has a view of the mountains.
When Rachael arrived at the selection event in Dyce, she was placed in a group of Explorers she had never met to complete team building and communication exercises.
She said: “We worked together to complete tasks which determined if we were selected. This was scary considering that only 27 out of 100 people were going to be offered a place. During the first activity we stood on a thin bench and had to arrange ourselves in different orders without touching the floor. This was awkward!”
Other events included leading blindfolded team mates through obstacle courses and building paper bridges.
Rachael said: “The assessment criteria was teamwork, communication and personality. They were looking for people who were open, outgoing, confident and able to get along.”
Rachael is now looking forward to making more friends in Korea and learning about different cultures.
She said: “This Jamboree will inspire young people and provide them with the opportunity to make a difference.”
Rachael must raise £4000 via personal challenges to contribute to costs. Sponsor her at https://gofund.me/7e11dec4
