PHILANTHROPY 27 the The Swedish Royal Family is setting a lead in ITS efforts to improve living conditions for children, youth and the elderly, as well as protecting Sweden’s unique environmental Photograph courtesy of: The Royal Court of Sweden Royal and natural heritage. Philanthropy 26 SUMMER 2010 PHILANTHROPY : THE ROYAL PHILANTHROPY 29 ith the aim to improve living conditions for children, youth and elderly people both in Sweden and the world, The Swedish Royal Family has benchmarked itself as one among the sincerely dedicated towards Philanthropy and The Environment. Children and Youth and Princess Madeleine, initiated the World Child and institutions, young mothers and children who have been young people. She also chairs the Queen Silvia Jubilee by expressing the hope that the participants had gained H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf became a cub scout with the Youth Forum – an annual event held on 20 November sexually abused. Fund for research on children and disability. A recent inspiration and knowledge to further strengthen their name Mowgli in 1955 and a scout in 1958. As Crown Prince, every year at the Royal Palace in Stockholm to book entitled “Go for It", published on the Queen's arguments in favour of a better environment. “It is one of his rst ofcial duties was to participate in a scout commemorate the United Nations Rights of the Child Day. H.M. the Queen is an Honorary Member of the initiative, encourages sports and other leisure activities important that participants' knowledge is distributed to camp in Sweden at the age of 10. Since then, H.M. the King International Mentor Foundation, which she set up in for disabled young people. wider circles and taken on board by both decision-makers has often taken part in different types of scouting activities H.M. Queen Silvia has developed a passionate concern 1994. The Foundation focuses on preventing drug abuse and the general public.” both in Sweden and abroad. Currently, H.M. King Carl XVI for improving the lives of deprived children. In 1999, she among young people, using employees at companies to Queen Silvia has studied sign language in order to be Gustaf is Principal Honorary Member of the Swedish Guide founded the World Childhood Foundation, which aspires act as mentors for a year to school pupils in need of able to communicate more effectively with the These are just some of the ways in which Their Majesties and Scout Association and has been Honorary Chairman of to improve living conditions for disadvantaged children all adult support. Besides Sweden, Mentor also operates in hearing-impaired. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia exemplify and the World Scout Foundation since 1977. over the world. The Foundation has supported more than the UK, Germany, Colombia and the US. In the Middle reinforce Sweden’s long-established reputation for helping 500 projects in 15 countries over the past 10 years. Its East, Mentor Arabia serves 22 Arabic countries. Nature and Environment the less fortunate. Undoubtedly, such actions and examples As a Scout, the King has seen how important it is for young work is aimed at the most marginalised children, the ones As an honorary chairman of the Swedish Board of the help instil values of tolerance and social commitment in people to practise and develop leadership based on positive most often ignored and forgotten. The Silvia Home for dementia patients is a result of H.M. World Wide Fund for Nature, H.M. the King has taken an Sweden’s younger generation and the World. values. Value-based Leadership is a training programme for the Queen's initiative and personal commitment to better active interest in how to protect nature and the young leaders in non-governmental organisations supported “I was Patron of the rst World Congress against understanding this distressing disease. The Silviahemmet environment. In 1992, H.M. the King personally instituted “My concern for children by the King Carl XVI Gustaf Foundation for Young Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held in Foundation, which she chairs, promotes scientic the Royal Colloquium, an international environmental who are abused and who are Leadership. Participants are aged between 20 and 25, are Stockholm and hosted by the Swedish government. My research, and provides training courses and care within the symposium held every second year in Sweden. Over suffering and in difficulty was active in a volunteer organisation, have completed their concern for children who are abused and who are suffering eld of dementia. The Silvia home trains nursing staff from twenty scientists from all over the world gathered under deepened when...I realised the basic leadership training and – most importantly – have and in difculty was deepened when, in connection with all over the country and arranges regular nursing seminars. His Majesty's leadership in June 2009 to discuss climate leadership visions and goals of their own. that Congress, I realised the magnitude of the problems and environmental issues such as future energy systems magnitude of the problems involved. I then decided to become personally involved,” H.M. Queen Silvia works actively on behalf of the and guaranteed access to water and food. involved. I then decided to In December 2009, Their Majesties the King and Queen, said H.M. the Queen when Childhood was founded. The disabled. She chairs the Royal Wedding Fund, which become personally involved.” together with Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip main target groups are street children, children living in supports research in sports and athletics for disabled H.M. the King brought the meeting days to a conclusion - Her Majesty Queen Silvia Photographs courtesy of: The Royal Court of Sweden 28 SUMMER 2010.