2008

Giving importance to the effective delivery of leader training, Gerakan Pramuka Indonesia (GPI) hosted the Course for Leader Trainers (CLT) as a good start to reinforce the role of adults in Scouting.

At the evaluation and planning workshop of the Asia-Pacific Region's Ticket to Life (TTL) project, which aims to educate street children through Scouting, The Honorable Gopal Man Shakya, Minister of Youth and Sports of Nepal, expressed his appreciation to the work of Scouts and their role in building communities and assured Nepal Scouts of his continued support to Scouting.

Through a strong partnership forged between the Scout Association of Mongolia (SAM) and YMCA-Scouts of Denmark which has been going on for a couple of years now, the efforts to boost Scouting in Khovd province, at the western part of Mongolia have been made.

Acting Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Luc Panissod headed the Board of Directors meeting held in Geneva from 27th to 31st October 2008, attended by the Regional Directors of the six regions: Africa, Arab, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Eurasia and Inter-america, together with Executive Directors of the central office.

For the first time, the Scout Association of Macau (SAM) hosted two major regional events: the Regional Scout Committee meeting and the Committee NSO Visit. Both meetings were held at the national headquarters situated in Fortaleza de Taipa, a historical place in Macau overlooking China.

With 1,600 Scouts from nine countries in Southeast Asia, Indonesian President H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened the ASEAN Scout Jamboree 2008 at the Cibubur Scout Camping Ground, east of Jakarta, in the afternoon of 19 October 2008.

At the inauguration ceremony of the 6th South Asia Foundation Scout Friendship Camp, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser of the Government of the Republic of Bangladesh urged Scouts to work together in promoting peace and prosperity in the SAARC Region.

The 2nd ASEAN Scout Association for Regional Cooperation (ASARC) officially opened on Thursday, 16th October 2008 at the National Scout Training Centre in Cibubur, east of Jakarta having Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Dr Adhyaksa Dault as its keynote speaker.

The first National Workshop on Building Financial Capabilities hosted by the Bharat Scouts and Guides of India has gathered 28 participants from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka at the national headquarters in New Delhi, India from 19th to 22nd September 2008.

Being the latest national Scout organization joining the Ticket to Life project, the Scout Association of Mongolia is now running a street children Scout group in Ulanbaataar starting August this year.

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and the Council of the South Pacific Scout Associations (CSPSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to mutually recognise each other and work together in educating and involving the young people in the South Pacific.

Strategic Planning sets the direction of an organization making it as one of the most crucial processes that a Scout association must exercise thoroughly.

The Regional Scout Committee, the one behind the Committee NSO Visit program, continues to meet key leaders of National Scout Organizations in the region and together look into the ways of enhancing the quality of Scouting.

The 47th Asia-Pacific Region Basic Management Course for Professional Scout Executives at the Cibubur Scout Camp in Jakarta, Indonesia from 27th August to 10th September 2008 gathered over 36 professional Scout executives from nine countries (India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Sri Lanka) getting the latest management techniques that will bring about impact and effectiveness in their professional responsibilities.

In an atmosphere of peace and friendship, Scouts from several countries gathered together in Malaysia from 18th to 24th August 2008 for the 3rd International Peace Jamboree.

Indonesian President H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono conferred the Lencana Melati Award on Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee Chairman Jejomar C Binay during the Indonesian Scout Day at the National Scout Training Centre, Cibubur, east of Jakarta, on 14th of August 2008.

Continuing the Committee NSO Visit in the Asia-Pacific Region, a high-level of delegation headed by Regional Scout Committee Chairman Jejomar C Binay visited Brunei Darussalam from 19th to 20th August 2008.

The Kiribati Scout Association (KSA) organized its first-ever Multi-Purpose Workshop with the Asia-Pacific Regional Office from 9th to 11th of August 2008 with the participation of 25 Leaders and Commissioners.

Just right after the CSPSA meeting, forum participants were joined by the leaders of Polynesia Scouts Council and took part in the four-day management workshop from 29th July to 1st August 2008.

Seven members of the Council of South Pacific Scout Associations (CSPSA) gathered on 28th July 2008 at the Radisson Hotel, in Papeete, French Polynesia and discussed ways on how to further improve Scouting in their respective countries.

Faced with the reality that global warming is the most important environmental issue today, Scouts across the world gathered at the International Environment Youth Forum from 20th to 21st July 2008 in Tokyo, Japan to address the issue. Scouts Association of Japan hosted the forum.

An Indonesian Rover Scout Pungkas Tri Baruno, 20, showed an enormous display of courage as he bravely reached the summit of Mount McKinley at a height of approximately 20,320 feet in Alaska, USA on 7th July 2008, and minutes after his sweet victory, he breathed his last.

Boy Scouts of the Philippines welcomed 58 participants from 12 countries for the regional communications workshop held from 24 to 27 June 2008 in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

The first Brunei Darussalam Cubboree held from 15th to 19th June 2008 at the Scouts Training and Activities Centre was fun and learning for young people ages 7 to 11 years old.

The National Association of Cambodian Scouts (NACS) is now a full member of World Scouting family as the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) announced its admission on 1st July 2008.

Designed to strengthen the regional cooperation among Training Commissioners and Adult Leaders and to review the importance of their role in managing adult resources at all levels, the Scouts of China hosted the Gathering of National Training Commissioners from 8th to 9th June 2008 and APR Seminar on Adult Resources Management from 10th to 13th on the same month in Taipei, Taiwan.

Members of the APR Financial Resources Sub-Committee met together in Hong Kong on 14th June 2008, hosted by the Hong Kong Scout Association.

The second school built and funded by the Tsunami Scout Aid Fund (TSAF) was inaugurated on 27 May 2008 in the presence of Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed after it was hugely destroyed by the strong earthquake that hit Pakistan in October 2005.