A talented Derbyshire school student is ‘making’ his way all the way across the world after winning a spot in the globe’s biggest scout camp.
Zade Mee, a year nine pupil at The Long Eaton School on Thoresby Road, is keeping busy in his workshop making chess sets, skull soaps, lights made from cans and a host of other crafts to help pay for his ticket to South Korea – after being chosen as one of 3,240 young people from the UK to take part in the World Scout Jamboree from August 1-12 next year.
Already skilled with his hands at the age of 14, Zade loves to make things using a range of techniques including pyrography and woodworking. He has also been given the opportunity to hone his skills in the workshop at Long Eaton School, where he is a keen member of the Warhammer Club and is going to be taking Design & Technology at GCSE.
To help fund the £2,500 he needs to raise to go to South Korea, he held a sale of home-made crafts at school, as well as standing at local fairs selling his wares and setting up his own page on Etsy.
Mum Philippa said: “The school has been really good at recognising Zade’s talent and they’ve always given him lots of positive encouragement for all the good things he has made and done.”
A member of the Trent Explorers Scout group which meets in Weston-on-Trent, Zade has been selected to go to the World Scout Jamboree as one of six representatives from South Derbyshire.
He will be one of 50,000 young people from almost every nation in the world taking part in the camp, a cultural and adventure festival in which young people will be sharing their skills.
It will be the largest scout camp to be held since pre-Covid.
The World Scout Jamboree offers young people the chance to learn new skills that they can use in other aspects of their live as well as campaign for change on key world issues that matter to them.
Zade, of Shardlow near Derby, said: “It’s a huge opportunity. Not a lot of people get to do something like this at my stage in life.”
“Zade always wanted to go all over the world,” said Philippa. “He’s got the chance to do it really, really young. It will be nice for him to see something completely different.”
Long Eaton School principal Richard Peel said: “We’re so proud of Zade for being chosen to take part in the World Scout Jamboree. It’s a fantastic opportunity for him and we hope he has a great time.”
Between now and July 2023 Zade will attend training camps and team building events preparing for living on the hot and humid site in SaeManGeum, Korea.
UK Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: “Congratulations to Zade and all those who have been selected to go on this amazing adventure! World Scout Jamborees only happen every four years and tens of thousands of Scouts from across the world attend each one. Young people will experience different cultures, languages and cuisine while learning new skills. After two very difficult years, it is so important that these young people have this opportunity. The 2023 Jamboree, hosted by Korea, is set to be one of the biggest and most exciting yet. The theme is “Think big. Dream wild. Act together.” – focusing especially on how we can be trailblazers in creating a sustainable world together.”
To get in touch with Zade and find out more about where he is selling his crafts, contact: roarsomecrafts@gmail.com.
