Leading newspapers of the world (see links below) have reported on the death of the national and world hero – Raymond Aubrac – praising his efforts in the French Resistance against the Nazis during World War II. What people may not know is his close connection to Scouting. Recollecting his days as a young Scout and later as a leader with Les Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs de France, Aubrac attributes his successes in the Resistance to what he learnt at Scouting. In tribute, the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy has called him a ‘heroic figure’.

Born as Raymond Samuel, Aubrac was Jewish and had studied Engineering. He and his wife Lucie Aubrac (né Bernard) are household names in France for their heroic exploits during the French Resistance. Aubrac participated in many national and international Scout camps between 1927 and 1933 including a Jamboree in the UK where he met with Baden Powell.

Siranouche has been a Scout for several years and at such a young age held various responsibilities as a volunteer at the national level. Siranouche was the National Commissioner of Development of Scouting in Haiti and has been contributing largely to the expansion of Scouting in Haiti since the devastating earthquake in 2010. Just a week before her death, she was actively supporting a national level training course. She was the founder of a Scout Group of which she was the Group Leader.

Siranouche was engaged to be married in July this year. The sudden and unexpected loss of Siranouche has left everyone shocked. The International Commissioner of the Association Nationale des Scouts d'Haïti, Ms. Mathieu Renide said “Siranouche, or Sisi as we knew her, was a very friendly person. Her sudden death is a very big loss for us”.