Serving the pilgrims is a great honor passed down through generations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Reflecting a spirit of dedication and generosity, the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association an exceptional record of 90,375 volunteer hours serving pilgrims and worshippers at the Grand Mosque in Mecca during the holy month of Ramadan. This remarkable feat was accomplished by 605 scouts, including boys, young men, and leaders, as part of the Public Service Camp activities.
The historical context of Saudi scouting efforts
Historically, the name of the Saudi Scouts has been associated with serving pilgrims since the association's official establishment in the early 1960s. The association undertook the task of transforming spontaneous volunteer work into an organized and sustainable institutional effort through "public service camps." These camps have evolved over the decades to become a cornerstone in supporting government agencies during peak religious seasons, reflecting the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to dedicating all its human and material resources to serving visitors to the Two Holy Mosques and providing them with the utmost comfort.
Accurate and diverse field service routes
This intensive field effort, which began on the first day of the holy month and continued until its end, reinforced the complementary role with government agencies. The scouts' personnel were deployed along precise field routes to ensure the highest quality standards, including:
- Allocating 45,225 hours to the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
- 27,150 hours were spent organizing and managing crowds in close cooperation with public security.
- Dedicating 9,000 hours to organizing the prayer areas within the corridors of the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the surrounding courtyards.
- 4,500 hours were allocated to the “Little Pilgrim” program for childcare and guidance.
- Thousands of additional hours are dedicated to watering and perfuming pathways to ensure a distinctive spiritual experience for the guests of God.
Integrated scouting system and strategic partnerships
The implementation of the public service camp witnessed significant collaboration among various national sectors. The scouting organization included representatives from the Ministry of Education, Saudi universities, and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, with active participation from the Ministries of Human Resources and Sports. The participants' work focused on supporting the Special Forces for Hajj and Umrah Security and assisting security patrol leaders in Mecca, contributing to guiding visitors and assisting those who were lost. This ensured the smooth flow of traffic and the provision of services at a high level of professionalism, reflecting the significant advancements in crowd management.
Local and international impact and alignment with Vision 2030
This scouting achievement is of paramount importance on several levels. Locally , this massive volunteer effort aligns directly with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to reach one million volunteers by instilling values of national belonging and promoting a culture of volunteerism among children and youth. Regionally and internationally , these efforts showcase the honorable image of the Kingdom's citizens in the field of global humanitarian aid. Through these initiatives, Saudi Arabia presents an exemplary international model for managing massive crowds and harnessing the energy of its youth to serve humanity and facilitate the performance of religious rites with ease and peace of mind.
