Parents participate in Ticket to Life project in Leyte

In Leyte province in southern Philippines, a new troop of street children joined the Ticket to Life, making it the 35th troop to be registered under the project, now having 1,200 members in eight countries across the Asia Pacific Region.

Twenty-five children joined the investiture ceremony on 24th October at the Leyte Council. “The absolute discipline of the children during the investiture is remarkable”, said Mr Morante, the Unit Leader. “When the troop started, they were so unruly and I could not imagine how they turned out to be so disciplined in three months”, he added.

Four parents of the children who are volunteering to help the units were also invested. “What makes this unique is that both the children and their parents are so motivated to join the Scouts,” said Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed. Some parents witnessed their children’s investiture while other children had no families as many of them were abandoned. They were reminded, however, that they were being welcomed into the very large and worldwide family of Scouting.

All children in this troop were handpicked from the streets. A council member said, “most of them sleep on rooftops around the business area. We are now happy that some of them will be given proper schooling with the help of the social welfare department”.

Boy Scouts of the Philippines Secretary General JR Pangilinan and Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed officiated the investiture ceremony and gave inspiring words to the children and parents.

Council Executive of Leyte Council Mr Antonio Cinco translated the Scout Law into the local dialect to make it simple and clear for the children to understand. Officials and members of the Leyte Council assured their constant guidance to the children and to continue supporting the project.

World Scout Foundation generously supports the Leyte troop, in addition to supporting other troops in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Mongolia.