The main objective of the project was to improve the quality and safety of youth work within our scouting organisations. We aimed to introduce a structured incident reporting system that would allow us to collect and analyse data on risky situations and use this evidence to design preventive measures. Another objective was to develop minimum safety requirements for large national and international events and to prepare training materials and learning opportunities for volunteers. We focused on strengthening the competences of young leaders in preventing and responding to physical, psychological, and sexual risks. The project also aimed to enhance cooperation between the Slovak and Czech organisations and facilitate the exchange of good practices. In the long term, our goal was to create a safer and more inclusive environment for all young people involved in scouting.
We decided to apply for this project because we increasingly observed a deterioration in the mental well-being of children and young people, which was also reflected in our scouting activities. Volunteers working with youth were facing situations related to psychological distress, conflicts, bullying, or identity-related questions, but they did not always have sufficient tools and support to address them effectively. At the same time, we identified the need for a more systematic approach to risk management at large events. We lacked a unified system for collecting incident reports, clearly defined minimum safety standards, and a structured link between collected data, prevention, and training. The project enabled us to approach the topic of safety in a comprehensive way, strengthen the competences of our volunteers, and establish sustainable mechanisms for child and youth protection.