Scouts and Leaders from Brecon arrived at Heathrow Airport to begin their journey to South Korea for the 25th World Scout Jamboree.

More than 800 adult volunteers are supporting the thousands of young people going to South Korea. Scouts from nearly every country on the planet come together once every four years to promote unity, community and togetherness.

This year the event will be hosted in Gunsan-si, South Korea and is the second time the country has hosted the event. The 17th World Scout Jamboree was held in the country in 1991. The Scouts, who are aged 14 – 18, will learn new skills, experience new cultures, and make international bonds with fellow scouts who may not share the same mother tongue but hold the same values as one another.

The Scouts heading to the Jamboree will also have the amazing opportunity of exploring Seoul for three days and also visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) – where they will see the original demarcation line between North Korea and South Korea at the end of World War II

Scouts from Brecon, and 4,500 others from across the UK, will join more than 45,000 others from almost every country in the world this year. Many Scouts spend years looking forward to this event as only Scouts ages 14 to 17 are eligible to apply for the Jamboree. Participants are selected two years ahead of the event so the Scouts can focus on their fundraising skills to fund their trip. Each time, around 800 adult volunteered are selected to support the young people and the running of the camp.

Dai Hazelden, age 62, from Brecon said: “For the 2012 Olympic Games in London I was a Gamesmaker and my role was to be outgoing, cheerful, welcoming and helpful – I used one of the giant foam pointing fingers! I will bring those same skills to the Jamboree (but no finger this time). Plus, my language skills will also very helpful, although I hope to improve those and, perhaps, learn new languages, whilst here.

“All the experiences will be invaluable when I return to my own Scouts back in Wales.”

Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: “Scouts from all corners of the UK are travelling over 12 hours to South Korea for the 25th World Scouts Jamboree. This year 4,500 young people from the UK and 40,000 others from nearly every country on the planet are coming together to take on new adventures, make lifelong friendships and experience this once in a life time opportunity.

“The theme of the Jamboree this year is to ‘Draw your Dream’, representing our willingness to accept young people’s ideas and opinions, and create an opportunity for them to make their Jamboree dreams come true.

“I’m so proud to be a part of a movement that puts young people first by helping almost half a million people develop skills for life.”