Leaven in the Dough: Led by Fr. Luis Marinho
The “Leaven in the Dough – Driving Social Change through Scouting” project (2025–2027) brings together 27 Scout associations from around the world, each represented by a young leader, a chaplain or spiritual guide, and a member of the national leadership team. Coordinated by Fr. Luís Marinho together with Raquel Kritinas as professional project manager, the initiative combines an international seminar, an online training programme, and the development of local projects aimed at strengthening spiritual leadership, social commitment, and the educational mission of Scouting within the ICCS network. A central objective is to ensure that the experiences, tools, and learning emerging from this process can later be shared across the wider ICCS community and inspire other associations worldwide.
The International Catholic Scout Foundation (ICFS) and St. Paul Fellowship : Led by John Doerr and Bray Barnes
The International Foundation for Catholic Scouting-Sevin (IFCS – Sevin), under the leadership of President John Doerr, supports Catholic Scouting worldwide. Operating with a twofold mission, the foundation finances important projects and activities that align with the core aims of the International Catholic Conference of Scouting (ICCS). Concurrently, it works to build and grow sustainable financial capital, ensuring long-term continuity and greater autonomy for ICCS initiatives. To continue this mission, the foundation respectfully seeks the ongoing support and commitment of new and dedicated donors.
Updates on Safe From Harm WOSM : Led by Phil Krajec
ICCS SAFE FROM HARM POLICY & TRAINING MODULE:
The International Catholic Conference of Scouting, as a body with consultative status with the World Organization of the Scout Movement, is required to have a written Safe from Harm policy covering child and youth safeguarding that meets certain criteria. We must:
- Create a team responsible for overseeing all work on Safe from Harm;
- Ensure that all adults receive an elemental Safe from Harm training as part of their integration process, before they interact with children and young people;
- Have a system in place to review the background of adults who interact with children and young people;
- Establish a defined child, youth, and adult safeguarding reporting procedures; and
- Provide educational materials on how to integrate safeguarding in the Youth.
The ICCS Safe From Harm Task Force is coordinated by Phil Krajec with members from each region:
- Africa – Virginie Ebongue
- Asia Pacific – Albert Chiu
- Euro-Med – Jules Dolhain
- InterAmerica – Juan Pablo Gutiérrez-Alzate
ICCS recognizes its moral and spiritual duty to uphold the dignity, safety, and well-being of every child, youth, and adult involved in its programs. Rooted in Gospel values and aligned with the WOSM Safe from Harm Policy, ICCS commits to creating environments that are free from harm, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and discrimination. In accordance with its obligations, the ICCS Safe From Harm Task Force has drafted a SAFE FROM HARM POLICY & TRAINING MODULE that will apply to all individuals involved in ICCS-organized or affiliated activities, including ICCS board members and staff, chaplains and volunteers. The policy is grounded in the following principles:
- Dignity of the Human Person
- Zero Tolerance for Abuse
- Inclusivity and Equity
- Transparency and Accountability
Before interacting with youth, all adults participating in ICCS programs must complete basic Safe from Harm training and provide evidence of background checks or clearance from their national Scout organization or ecclesiastical authority. Youth participating in ICCS sanctioned activities will have been educated about their rights and received information on recognizing abuse and how to seek help.
SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY!
St. George Brotherhood Led by David Crepy
Working Group Objectives:
- To support each ICCS region in selecting candidates for the St. George Brotherhood, drafting their reports, and submitting them to the ICCS World Committee.
- To maintain the St. George Brotherhood member directory, including new members and those who have passed away, to enable the World Committee to communicate directly with all members.
- To coordinate among the ICCS regions to ensure effective communication of activities carried out by the St. George Brotherhood members.
Action Plan for the Working Group:
- To ensure that the process for nominating new members by regions and member associations is well-known and understood.
- In conjunction with the ICCS Central Office, to coordinate the updating of the St. George Brotherhood member directory.
Friends of the Earth: Led by Marc O’Neill
“Friends of the Earth” supports scouts in promoting integral ecology and the Sustainable Development Goals within Catholic scouting organizations. It encourages concrete actions to protect creation, strengthen solidarity, and promote education for sustainable development. We invite all scouts to become agents of change by placing the SDGs at the heart of their projects and daily commitment to a more just, united, and sustainable world.
Budget Sustainability: Led by Andrea Abrate
The name of the working group: Budget Sustainability
who is the leader of the group: Andrea Abrate – ICCS World Treasurer
what the purpose of the working group is:
- To create an integrated Balance Sheet at World level, including the Budgets of the ICCS Regions.
- Activating fundraising activities and creating a focused world fundraising team.
A call to all scouts to help achieve the group’s objectives:
Call for Volunteers – ICCS Fundraising Working Group
Dear ICCS Associations and Regional Chairs,
ICCS is launching a Fundraising Working Group and is looking for motivated Scout volunteers who are interested in contributing their time, skills, and ideas to help strengthen the financial sustainability of our organization.
The aim of this group is to build a dedicated team that will work continuously on:
- Identifying potential donors and funding opportunities
- Establishing relationships with institutions, foundations, and companies
- Developing a structured and effective fundraising approach
- Creating templates and models for funding requests and sponsorship proposals
We are seeking volunteers who:
- Have an interest or experience in fundraising, partnerships, or project development
- Are motivated to support ICCS at an international level
- Can collaborate in a diverse, global team
This is a valuable opportunity to contribute to the future growth of ICCS and help ensure the continuity and expansion of its activities.
If you know Scouts within your Association who might be interested, we kindly ask you to share this call and encourage them to join us.
To express interest, please contact the ICCS Headquarters in Rome: cics-iccs@cics.org
We look forward to building this team together and thank you in advance for your support and collaboration.
Laudato Si’: Led by Michael Van Craen
The Laudato Si’ Working Group of the International Catholic Conference of Scouting (coordinator: Michael Van Craen) The Laudato Si’ Working Group of the International Catholic Conference of Scouting inspires Scouts worldwide to care for the Earth as our common home. As a committed member of the Laudato Si’ Movement, ICCS actively promotes sustainability, ecological conversion, and solidarity. Through education, formation, and inspiring actions, young people discover how they can help build a more just and sustainable world for today and future generations.
Communication : Led by Marcelin Henry DIENE
The Communication Working Group is under the responsibility of Marcelin Henry DIENE, supported by Marc O’Neill and the Vice-Presidents of each ICCS region, namely Ynes ORTEGA from Inter-America, Albert CHUI from Asia-Pacific, Oscar ZOEHINGA from Africa, and Robert THOMSON from Euro-Med. Each ICCS region must appoint one volunteer to manage its page on the ICCS website and another to manage social media. The purpose of this working group is to ensure the visibility of the ICCS to all Scouts worldwide and its two major partners: the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and the Catholic Church (specifically the Holy See through the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life).
The working group breaks down its action into four major objectives:
- Inform and train members: Provide national associations with a quarterly newsletter, publications, guides, and educational materials focused on spiritual education and the Catholic faith.
- Promote the visibility of actions: Highlight the contribution of Catholic Scouts during major international events, such as World Youth Day (WYD) or World Scout Jamborees.
- Facilitate the internal network: Share initiatives, local experiences, and news among the four regions of the ICCS (Africa, Asia-Pacific, Inter-America, Europe-Mediterranean) through newsletters, digital platforms, and social media.
- Support interreligious dialogue: Communicate transparently about the openness of Catholic Scouting and its close collaboration with other religious denominations within the worldwide movement.
We call upon all ICCS member organizations to send us articles with photos to share their experiences (cics-iccs@cics.org), and urge the ICCS regions to regularly update their website pages and social media.
Membership Development: Led by Marcelin Henry DIENE
The ICCS Growth Working Group is under the responsibility of Marcelin Henry DIENE, supported by Phil Krajec and the Vice-Presidents of each ICCS region, namely Ynes ORTEGA from Inter-America, Albert CHUI from Asia-Pacific, Oscar ZOEHINGA from Africa, and Robert THOMSON from Euro-Med. The purpose of this working group is to support the quantitative and qualitative growth of ICCS membership. This involves helping existing Catholic Scout associations attract new young people and adults, while promoting the integration of new national associations into the ICCS.
The Growth Working Group focuses its efforts on four major pillars:
- Support national associations facing difficulties: Identify countries where Catholic Scouting membership is stagnating or declining in order to offer recovery plans, share best practices, and provide targeted educational tools.
- Encourage geographical expansion: Support the creation or recognition of Catholic Scout committees in WOSM member countries where the ICCS is not yet officially represented.
- Propose innovative recruitment methods: Develop training modules and educational strategies to help Scout leaders attract young people from diverse social backgrounds and retain adult volunteers.
- Strengthen partnerships with parishes and dioceses: Promote Scouting to bishops and local Church structures as a preferred youth ministry method, thereby facilitating the opening of new parish Scout units.
We call upon all ICCS member organizations to share their challenges with us if applicable, and to connect us with associations recognized by WOSM that are not yet members of the ICCS (cics-iccs@cics.org).
Program/Resources (Prog-Res) : Led by Pedro Duarte Silva
ICCS-CICS PROG_RES(S) consists in an ICCS-CICS world level working group aimed to collect, assemble, review, present and publicize pedagogical resources on faith and spirituality within Catholic Scouting, as well as Catholic doctrine specifically related to youth ministry.
Make all these treasures easily available worldwide and to all is this working group mission! PROG_RES(S) is the acronym of Programme Resources, related to the group mission main focus, that, with an additional S (symbol for pluralism), becomes PROGRESS (growth, deepening, enlargement, extension, development…). In order to development its mission, this working group needs to find people available to join it, preferably covering all regions, with different profiles (educational, IT, design…). In this context, we invite your region or association to identify and signal people, namely young people, who would be available and interested to join this working group and contribute to ICCS mission. Identified people should be recommended to Pedro Duarte Silva (pedroduartesilva@gmail.com), who is coordinating the PROG_RES(S) working group
ICCS New Fees System: Led by Ivo Faria
This working group was established at the last World Council in Cairo in August 2024.
Its objective was to introduce a new annual contribution system for all ICCS member organizations.
Its goal has been achieved.
An online World Council was organized, and the newly adopted contribution system has been in effect since January 2026.
Below are four other working groups that are preparing to take off again.
- Sevin Foundation Projects: Led by Christian Larcher
- Inter-Religious Dialogue within WOSM: Led by Georges Ghorayeb
- ICCS Archives : Led by Phil Krajec
- Inter Religious Dialogue Badge Updates