{"alias":"newsItem","byline":"Emily Jones, UK International Team ","standfirst":"This new year, eight UK Scouts travelled to the heart of the Swiss Alps to join the Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC) International Rover Week: Winter 2026 - an unforgettable experience focused on peace education, global friendship, and the power of dialogue. ","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/afyhyknz/young-people-in-snow-outside-kandersteg.jpg","width":800,"height":533,"altText":"Scouts with flags in snow  ","caption":"Scouts from 23 different countries working for peace ","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW198507651 BCX8\u0022\u003EKISC\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;is th\u003C/span\u003Ee World Scout Centre, often described as the\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u2018Permanent Mini Jamboree\u2019.\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;Founded in 1923 and open year-round,\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003EKISC brings Scouts and Guides from across the world together to\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;explore\u003C/span\u003E, learn, and grow.\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003ETwice a year, KISC holds a\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Etraining week for young adults in Scouts\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u2013 known in many countries as Rovers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022OutlineElement Ltr SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Paragraph SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003EBuilding peace together\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003C/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022OutlineElement Ltr SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Paragraph SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003EIt was an absolute privilege to join the Rover Week team this winter. I had the joy of\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Ecollaborating with\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Eamazing\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Einternational volunteers\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;to\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Eplan, facilitate\u003Cspan\u003E and deliver sessions\u003C/span\u003E.\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003EThis\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003EInternational\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003ERover Week welcomed 23 different\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Enationalities, creating a truly global community.\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003EWithin the participants,\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Esix\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;were UK Scouts\u003C/span\u003E,\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Ealong\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Ewith\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Emyself\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;and James Willis\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Eon the facilitation team.\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003EDespite differences in language, culture, and experience, everyone arrived with the same purpose: to learn how peace can be built, protected, and shared.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003C/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022OutlineElement Ltr SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Paragraph SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003EListening to each other; connecting with nature\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003C/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022OutlineElement Ltr SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Paragraph SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003EThrough workshops,\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;discussions\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;and challenges\u003C/span\u003E, participants explored dialogue, conflict resolution, and\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Epeace-building. These sessions went far beyond theory. Rovers practised listening with empathy, navigating disagreement respectfully, and understanding how conflict can be transformed into cooperation.\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;Set against\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;the backdrop of the Swiss Alps, we\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Ealso found\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;peace\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;in the outdoors\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;through connection with nature.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;Together, they reflected on global challenges and local realities, learning how peace education can be applied both at home and internationally.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003C/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022OutlineElement Ltr SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Paragraph SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003EThis week is only the beginning\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Efor these Rovers.\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003EThey are\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;designing real, practical peace projects\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;to bring back to their communities -\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Efrom youth workshops and\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Ecampaigns\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Ehosting community dialogues.\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003EThe skills\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Ethey\u2019ve\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;learnt\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Ewill\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Ebe carried forward to inspire more young people\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;to take up their own peace projects.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003C/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022OutlineElement Ltr SCXW251085183 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/ritfzupv/young-people-in-snow-at-kandersteg.jpg","width":5712,"height":4284,"altText":"Scouts in snow at Kandersteg","caption":"Scouts in the Swiss Alps ","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022OutlineElement Ltr SCXW62504661 BCX8\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Paragraph SCXW62504661 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW62504661 BCX8\u0022\u003EAdvocates for peace\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003C/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022OutlineElement Ltr SCXW62504661 BCX8\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Paragraph SCXW62504661 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW62504661 BCX8\u0022\u003EThroughout the week, there was an overwhelming feeling of joy,\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Econnection\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;and unity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;Celebrating New Year\u2019s Eve surrounded by snow, laughter, and sh\u003C/span\u003Eared traditions was a reminder that peace is not only something we teach, but something we live\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Eas\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003EScouts. By the end of the week, strangers had become friends, and friends had become a global network of peace advocates.\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003C/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022OutlineElement Ltr SCXW62504661 BCX8\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Paragraph SCXW62504661 BCX8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW62504661 BCX8\u0022\u003EKISC International Rover Week: Winter\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;2026 showed that when Scouts come together with open minds and shared values, they\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Edon\u2019t\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;just imagine a more peaceful world\u003C/span\u003E,\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;they actively\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003Ebuild it.\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003C/div\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/nd4p2000/group-at-kandersteg.jpg","width":4000,"height":2252,"altText":"Scouts indoors ","caption":"Teamwork in action","link":null}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"06 January 2026","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Scouts for peace","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2025/january/scouts-for-peace-how-we-can-help-build-a-better-future/","newWindow":false}],"id":88271,"nodeName":"Scouts work for peace","title":"Scouts work for peace over new year at Kandersteg  ","type":"newsItem","image":{"url":"/media/afyhyknz/young-people-in-snow-outside-kandersteg.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dc7f30b24498b0","caption":"Young People In Snow Outside Kandersteg","type":"jpg","size":98810,"width":800,"height":533,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Scouts work for peace over new year at Kandersteg  ","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Eight UK Scouts travelled to the Swiss Alps to join the Kandersteg International Scout Centre International Rover Week.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC84ODI3MSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2026/january/scouts-work-for-peace/"}