Princess Basma′s association with the Scouting Movement began in the early days of her schooling, when she joined as a Brownie and then became a Girl Guide. She headed the parade in the first Boy Scout and Girl Guide festival in Jordan which took place in the late 1960s. Today, she leads the movement in her capacity as President of the Jordanian Association of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides (JABSGG).

The local movement has witnessed impressive growth over the years and with the involvement of the Ministry of Education, membership has reached far into the tens of thousands.

Her Royal Highness’s active involvement has encouraged and supported Jordanian youth to participate in regional and international scouting events. Scouting and Guiding is a worldwide youth movement that together has over 38 million members in 216 countries.

The Boy Scouts and Girl Guide movement in Jordan was introduced in the early 1920’s and the first formal group was formed in 1953 under Her Majesty Queen Zein al Sharaf, the Princess’s late mother, at the Queen Zein Al Sharaf School in Amman.

In 1954 the Jordanian scouts’ movement was officially established with parliament approval, and was recognized by the world movement one year later.

In 1956, Queen Zein Al Sharaf, accepted an invitation to head the Jordanian movement.

Princess Basma assumed her post as President of the JABSGG in 1989.

The JABSGG mission is in line with the international movement, in preparing young boys and girls to become responsible and active citizens in their society and the world at large; by supporting them in their physical, mental and spiritual development.

The Princess is also a member of the Olave Baden-Powell Society, an international body established to support the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

WAGGGS is the largest voluntary organization for girls and young women in the world, and one of the world’s largest international youth organizations. There are approximately 10 million individual members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Its mission is to enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.

In 2005 the Jordanian association proudly hosted the 32nd World Conference of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

During her keynote address at the memorable event, Princess Basma noted that “The Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting Movement unites over 10 million girls and young women from 144 countries in a voluntary commitment. Through its activities such as educational programmes, international exchanges and its support of community projects, it inspires the determination and commitment to face the very real challenges of the present and wonderful opportunities of the future that will help enhance global cooperation and a better quality of life”.