Violence amongst young people is a serious problem in many places. Often it is driven by distinctions of race, religion, social class, and wealth. Scouting can help to ease these tensions and reduce violence. One example is in El Salvador.

Street fights, rape and murder were on the increase, and the community was shocked when bombs started to be thrown into school-yards. The educational authorities reacted by trying to punish those involved in each incident, but had little sucess in preventing the problems.

Working with child-behaviour experts, the Scout Association of El Salvador conducted a study to determine why young people join gangs. What are they are looking for? They also asked Scouts why they joined Scouting. The answers were remarkably similar. They concluded that Scouting had something to offer the young people who were being drawn into violent gangs. They tried an experiment: they invited students from two schools with rival gangs to come for a holiday camp: an adventure, fun things to do, a chance to get away from home, and it was free. Most had never been out of the city. In the first year, the invitation was regarded with suspicion by many gang members and they would not accept it, however their opinions started to change when those who attended the camps returned to school!

At the camp the students from both schools got to know each other. They had fun together, they learned together, and they had to work together to put food on the table, organise activities, etc. They were working together in small groups called "solidarity brigades". Scouts were also members of the brigades; every effort was made to avoid an "us and them" segregation. This was a camp to integrate people, to create tolerance for diversity. Back at school, attitudes started to change as the participant’s enthusiasm spread; they had a new horizon in life that wasn’t defined only by the school they attended.

Methods and Achievements:

• From April 2001 to January 2004, five camps were held and attended by a total of 800 non-Scouts, involving some 200 schools, each with a student population of about 600. (Some students have decided to become Scouts, but that was not the main objective of the project.)
• The camp programme focused on five modules: Integration, Teamwork, Brigade Life, Learning Useful Skills, and Community Service.
• Back in school, students form 'Brigades' composed of those who attended the camps, and those who did not, thereby creating a multiplying effect. The Brigade organises social activities, inter-school dialogue, community service projects, etc. About 4,000 students are members of these brigades.
• In addition, 950 academic staff have been trained in techniques of non-formal education (Scouting!), and gained experience in conflict-resolution techniques.
• According to reports of the National Civil Police, the participation of students in violent events has reduced by 80 percent since 2001.