The Birth of a Tradition

The idea of World Thinking Day was born in the United States in 1926, during the 4th World Conference of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Delegates decided that February 22nd, the shared birthday of Lord Robert Baden-Powell and the World Chief Guide, Lady Olave Baden-Powell, would be a day of gratitude and international solidarity. Hence the name: we pause to “think” about our sisters and brothers worldwide.

Interestingly, the fundraising aspect of this holiday has Polish roots! In 1932, during the conference in Bucze, Poland, a Belgian delegate famously asked, “What is a birthday without a present?” This led to the establishment of the World Thinking Day Fund, which supports the Movement to this day.

ZHP: 30 Years of Global Impact

For the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, the Host Organisation of the upcoming 26th World Scout Jamboree, this period is doubly significant.

The last three decades have been a time of profound transformation. Following the political changes of 1989-1990, ZHP began the brave process of reclaiming its independent identity and rebuilding connections with the West. This effort culminated in 1996, when ZHP was officially welcomed back as a member of both WOSM and WAGGGS.

Honouring the Past, Building the Future

On 21 February, a jubilee conference was held in Warsaw to honour this 30-year journey. Our international guests travelled back in time to the breakthrough years of the early 90s, analysing how ZHP grew from a local organisation into a leader in the region.

Today, as we prepare to host 50,000 Scouts in Gdańsk in 2027, we stand tall as a proud member of the global family. Our history – from the difficult years of struggle to the joy of reunion – fuels our passion to create an educational experience that will inspire the next generation.