We can happily say that there are Scouts in all provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), however we must acknowledge the fact that all provincial scout Associations do not work with the same ease. Even if the challenges which they are facing are more or less similar, they do not confront them equally from the point of view of both their assets and their enthusiasm.

Worse still, since its inception in 1990, FESCO has not had at its disposal a national Youth Programme available across all provincial Associations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The same is to be said of Adult Management within the Scout Movement. Similarly, at Headquarters level, one had to wait until 2008 to see FESCO get a seat, which was also acknowledged by the political and administrative authorities.

Nowadays, a change has occurred and FESCO has a new look and the rhythm of its heartbeat is that of a young heart belonging to an organisation that has received a breath of fresh air and plunged into the waters of youth.

All this has been made possible by two factors. First, following the mission undertaken by the Secretary General of the World Scout Bureau, Mr Luc Panissod, and the Regional Director, Mr Frédéric Tutu Kama-Kama in Kinshasa in May 2011. The visit was indisputably fraternal, while at the same time, allowing them to sound FESCO and take the exact measure of its strengths and weaknesses. Secondly, thanks to this knowledge, and conscious of the role FESCO could play in enhancing the vision and objectives of the Scout Movement in the DRC, they then decided to support FESCO within the Messengers of Peace (MoP) project.

Within the framework of the MoP project, FESCO acquired a Youth Programme on 30 March-6 April 2012. A similar mission took place in Bandundu on 1-6 April 2012. However, the quorum was not reached, and the provincial voting Conference did not take place; it was instead postponed to the month of July 2012, but the capacity building Seminar of young leaders was organised later. A third similar mission will take place in Goma, in North-Kivu on 29 April-1 May 2012.

Thanks to the MoP project, the Scout Method has been put to street children whom the Centre ’’Molende na ngai’’, meaning My Perseverance, had rescued. At present, this Centre shelters 46 Cubs and 22 Scouts. Their enthusiasm is so infectious that we have recorded numerous new requests for membership in this disadvantaged Kinshasa environment.

FESCO will endeavour to recover financially, and in the meantime, thanks to the MoP project, two officials of the national team are paid and the rent arrears owed to the “Stade des Martyrs” have also been settled. The officials are also grateful for a brand new computer, a printer and a high capacity copier.

To the people who encourage the growth and efficiency of the Scout Movement, we can only thank them from the heart and promise them to unite our generosity to theirs.