inbox@apr September 2004
inbox@apr is published monthly by the Asia Pacific Region of the
World Scout Bureau in Manila.
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AUGUST 2004
KOREA • 25th
Asia Pacific Jamboree
This year’s Asia
Pacific Jamboree marked its 24th time (since 1973) held in
conjunction with Korea Scout Association’s 11th National
Jamboree. Mt Sorak - now a prominent landmark for Scouting, once again became a
city of tents from 5th to 11th August. Over 10,000
participants came from all provinces of Korea and from 25 other countries. Participants consisted of Scouts
– boy and girls – ages 13 to 17 years. Rover Scouts of Korea played major roles in managing the
events and operation of the Jamboree during those seven days of on and off-site
activities.
JAPAN • Asia Pacific Scouts discover more of Japan
All National Scout Organizations
in Asia Pacific were represented at the annual invitation programme of the
Scout Association of Japan. The invitation offered a two-way educational
exchange – for Scouts in Asia Pacific to discover and understand the
Japanese way of life, and for Japanese Scouts to learn from the sharing of
their counterparts from other countries. A venture event was an integral part
of the programme. Getting invited into Japanese homes was an essential
component of the cultural exchange to really get into the heart of Japan. And
to have a global picture of Scouting, participants joined the international
youth forum where they heard about Scouting in the Asia-Pacific Region and in
the world from a talk by Regional Chairman Anthony Thng.
MALAYSIA • Learning Organization Seminar
The national seminar-workshop on Learning
Organization in Kuala Lumpur was the first
seminar initiated by a national Scout association after the regional seminar
was introduced in Hong Kong by the World Scout Bureau/APR. A total of 18 participants from 10
states of Malaysia attended the seminar from 20-24 August in Selangor.
Malaysia’s key leaders fully supported the event.
MALAYSIA • Malaysia reviews strategic plan
In February 2003, the
National Executive Committee of Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia adopted their
national strategic plan. At the recent meeting of twenty key leaders, each priority was reviewed, such as 1)
Organization of the 21st Century 2) Youth Involvement 3) Volunteers
in Scouting 4) Scouting’s Profile 5) Membership Growth. A coordinator for
each priority was appointed to take the lead in implementing the plan. Mr
Prassanna of APR office facilitated the planning exercise.
INDONESIA • First Asia Pacific Air Internet Jamboree
This August, the First
Asia-Pacific Air Internet Jamboree was organized for the region, hosted by
Gerakan Pramuka. Indonesian Minister for Communication and Information
officially opened the Jamboree at the Cibubur Scout Camp, east of Jakarta, on 6
August. The minister highlighted that through the A-P Air Internet Jamboree,
Scouts can build good relationships and better understanding while using the
radio and internet as tools. The minister autographed the special First
Asia-Pacific Air Internet Jamboree commemorative cover, issued by PT Pos
Indonesia (Indonesian Postal Service) in a limited quantity of 3,000 pieces.
Among those Scout associations that participated, Boy Scouts of the Philippines
wrote “it was truly a wonderful experience for our Scouts to join an
activity using the radio and internet.” In Islamabad, Pakistan, two
patrols took part in the Jamboree, and gave this feedback “Internet
Jamboree gives us the opportunity to share ideas and knowledge…thus
promoting the environment of fraternity and tolerance between Scouts of the
world.”
MANILA • Visit
of WOSM Secretary General
The regional office in Manila had the privilege to receive the new
WOSM Secretary General Dr Eduardo Missoni. The visit includes a debriefing on
regional operations stressing more on the challenges and issues encountered
both at region and national levels. Dr Missoni spared time for individual
discussions with all APR executives. Separate meetings were arranged with Boy
Scouts of the Philippines. In all the meetings, Dr Missoni underscored what
Scouting is doing for humanity and the difference it can make to promote peace.
He encouraged all to look at the Scout Movement not only as an international
organization but as a global organization. He recognized the need for a better
networking between the World Scout Bureau offices (Geneva and regions) and with
Scout organizations.
REGIONAL OFFICE • Visit of Internal Auditor
APR office staff welcomed Mr John Neysmith, Internal Auditor of
WOSM, for a weeklong financial and management audit of the regional office and
an opportunity for the executives for individual meetings with the auditor.
This is part of a chain of visits undertaken by Mr Neysmith to all regional
offices of WOSM. The purpose was to review operational procedures in
accounting, finance, material management and HR. The World Scout Committee
created the position of Internal Auditor with the overall objective of an
optimum business operation within and between the regions as well as Geneva.
REGION • Youth
Involvement
A policy on “Youth Involvement in the Asia-Pacific Regional
Scout Committee, including Sub-Committees and Workstreams” was approved
by the Regional Scout Committee and will commence at the 4th APR
Youth Forum in December 2004 in Brunei Darussalam. APR office has circulated
the implementing guidelines. Under this concept, six young people will be
elected at the Youth Forum in Brunei to form the Young Adult Member Group of
the region. This gives them the opportunity to take responsibilities in the
operations of Scouting at region and world level structures. The elected
Chairman of this group will represent the youth of the region at all
appropriate forums.
REGION • Study on
Membership Trend
The question of ups and downs of Scouting membership in the region
is so far expressed only in figures. What lies beyond the trend is what the APR
office aims to determine in an on-going study with all APR countries reflecting
the trend in the last couple of years. APR office coordinates with a research
group, headed by Dr Evelina Vicencio, who are undertaking a more in-depth look
behind the numbers in order to determine the various factors – like
Scouting programme, activities, leadership training, co-education, membership
fees, PR campaigns, external influences – that directly affect
membership. Results of the study will be presented at the upcoming regional
conference in Brunei.
REGION • APR Scout
Foundation Fellowship Meeting
Invitation is extended to all APR Foundation members for the
fellowship meeting on 7 December during the Regional Scout Conference in Brunei
Darussalam. This is the first formal meeting of members since the
Foundation’s inception in 1991. A special programme would be available
for members who are not attending the conference.
TUVALU • New Chief
Commissioner
Reverend Puafitu Faaalo was appointed National
Chief Scout Commissioner at the first Tuvalu National Scout Council held in
June 2004 in Funafuti, the capital of Tuvalu. Other Commissioners have also been appointed to jointly work
on reorganizing and strengthening the Tuvalu Scout Association in accordance
with the newly adopted national organizational structure.
What’s ON
SEPTEMBER 2004
ARAB REGION • 7th International Youth
Gathering
Every
year, the Arab Region extends invitation to Scouts from other countries for a
cultural exchange in Egypt. This is a rare opportunity for young people to
re-discover the world’s ancient civilization and the rich cultural
heritage that Egypt offers. This year, nine Scouts from Bhutan, Maldives,
Philippines, Nepal Sri Lanka and Pakistan are jointly sponsored by the Arab
Regional Office and Asia Pacific Office to attend the gathering from 1st
to 10th September.
Aside from the
International Youth Gathering, this is a good opportunity for Regional Director
Abdullah Rasheed to visit the Arab Scout Office in Cairo to foster
inter-regional cooperation between the Asia-Pacific and the Arab Region.
AFRICA REGION • 12th Africa Scout Conference
National
Scout associations in Africa Region will convene in Mauritius for the Africa
Scout Conference this 6-10 September. To show inter-regional solidarity,
Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed is representing the Asia Pacific Region to
this conference. This conference has the theme “Africa Scouting Reaches
Out Beyond Frontiers” and will highlight, among several others, the
10-year development plan of Africa, and its interventions for peace and
HIV/AIDS.
MACAU • Strategic Planning
The Scout Association of Macau will hold its national strategic
planning workshop on 25-29 September. The workshop is for national
commissioners to be facilitated by the World Scout Bureau Asia Pacific Regional
office. This will be the first time that such workshop is to be held in Macau.
REGIONAL OFFICE • Staff Development Workshop
As
part of the yearly activity for staff development, the regional office is
arranging a workshop for enhancing creativity and memory power for all members
of the staff. This was the topic chosen by the APR staff who are taking part in
the activity on 17-18 September.
OCTOBER 2004
BANGLADESH • 2nd
APR Unit Leaders Roundtable
Unit Leaders
will have another opportunity to gather and discuss the challenges they face as
leaders of young people. Bangladesh Scouts takes the responsibility of hosting
the second APR Unit Leaders Roundtable (the first one was in Hong Kong in 2002)
on 7-11 October at the National Training Centre in Mouchak, Bangladesh.
JAPAN • ICT-Youth
Programme Workshop
Integrating
Youth Programme and ICT is the focus of the workshop to be organized by the
Scout Association of Japan. The aim is to provide practical tools in developing
attractive youth programme utilizing new developments in communications &
information technology. The workshop will take place on 14-18 October at the
National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Tokyo, to be jointly facilitated by
the APR Youth Programme Sub-Committee and ICT Sub-Committee.
Mark these deadlines on your
calendar:
• 30 September
2004
-
submission of entry form for the APR Scout Golf Tournament
-
submission of application for NSO presentation at the APR Scout
Conference
• 31 October
2004
- submission of
reply to the invitation for hosting the 26th APR Scout Jamboree
LT/WSB-APR
02/09/04