Dear Nordic friends. Dear guests.

It is an honour for me to welcome you to Nordic Scout Conference 2024 here in the Faroe Islands.

It has been 6 years since we last time met in this conference in person. Three years ago we had to meet online because of the covid pandemic. That was a necessary and good solution at that time, but I think we can agree on, that it is better to meet in person and be together in the same room.

The Faroe Islands have had the presidency of the Nordic Scout Komité for the last 3 years. It has been a privilege for us. Thank you for trusting us with the presidency and the conference.

When we took on the presidency in 2022, it had been 16 years since the last time we had this responsibility. Therefore, we can also admit, that it was a challenge for us. Everyone was new to this assignment. So we had to find our feet. But I think we managed to do that. And we really look forward to hosting this conference for the next days.

The Nordic Guide and Scout Conference is an important part of the Nordic co-operation. This is where we make decisions on matters affecting us all in the Nordic, but this is also where we come together to celebrate what we have in common.

We celebrate what we have in common – for common is good. And the conference is arranged according to the same democratic principles that guide the rest of our Nordic co-operation. The Faroe Islands may be hosting the conference, but we all provide the content, which will add to our rich history of Nordic Guiding and Scouting.

The topic of the Nordic Scout Conference this year is Changing Times.

They say that every generation thinks, that change comes too fast. And we also know that feeling. In 1963 Bob Dylan recorded a famous song (an anthem) about change. And he sang: “You better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone / For the times they are a-changin’.”

And I think it is fair to say, that also we live in times of change. I would say in times of big change. Of fast change. We experience it in so many areas of society. In technology. In production. In education. In personal rights. In international affairs. And also in the world of scouts.

Therefore, we look forward to discuss topics of change in this conference. Let us meet and talk. Debate. Be open-minded. Learn from each other. And let us also have informal talks. Get to know each other as persons. Laugh and have fun. Let us use this fantastic opportunity to strengthen our old and close relationship as persons, Nordic people and scouts.

The badge of this year’s conference is the Dandelion. It is one of the flowers that changes the most. So it can be our symbol of change. It has been a Western tradition to blow out a Dandelion seedhead and think of a wish to come through.

My wish is that we will have an inspiring, challenging and giving conference for the next 3 days.

Welcome to the Nordic Scout Conference 2024. Thank you!