Regional News

Cambodia now a member of world organization

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.

Côte d’ivoire: Scouts launch “Operation Youth for Clean Cities”

On Saturday 21 June 2008, the President of FIS, that is, Fédération Ivoirienne du Scoutisme (Federation of Ivorian Scouting), Dr. DOUMBIA Gnamakolo, reiterating the need to live in a healthy environment, officially launched the 'Operation Youth for Clean Cities' which will be implemented in two phases. First, in Abidjan, then in the interior cities. This colourful ceremony took place in Attecoubé, one of the four pilot areas, in the presence of the Director General of youth affairs, Mr. Sery Bially, municipal officials, traditional and religious leaders, and presidents of youth movements and associations.

Ugandans and Kenyans hold a training for trainers forum

The initiative 'Scouting for Solutions' (SFS) conducted a training for trainers forum at the Busia Agricultural Training Centre (Kenya) from 15th to 26th June 2008. 45 trainers from Uganda and 28 from Kenya attended the workshop. 15 facilitators led the discussions.

2011, European Year of Volunteering

On Wednesday 9th April, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), Marian Harkin (IE), Gisela Kallenbach (DE), Emmanouil Angelakas (GR), Mieczyslaw Janowski (PL) and Joel Hasse Ferreira (PT) launched a written declaration in the Parliament to propose 2011 be designated the European Year of Volunteering. If it is adopted it will make a significant contribution to the campaign to have the year designated.

Strengthening of Trainers and Adult Resources

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.

Hong Kong hosts APR Financial Resources Sub-Committee Meeting

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

Scouting beyond physical disabilities: Joytown School

Joytown Secondary School in Thika, Kenya is a different kind of School. It caters for students with physical impairments. Among its co-curricular activities, it boasts of a Scout group with 62 members. The School motto 'Najimudu' (Swahili) – which translates as 'I do my best' - corresponds with the fundamental principles of Scouting. It is little wonder thus Scouting is thriving in the institution.

Roverway meeting

Roverway is an event offered by the Europe Region WAGGGS and the European Scout Region for Rovers and Rangers aged between 16 to 22. It will be held for the third time in 2009 and this time it is organised by the Icelandic Boy and Girl Scout Association. This is a great opportunity for Scouts from all over Europe to come to Iceland, experience a unique country while taking part in a international event.

The WSB-ERO goes green

After many months of work the World Scout Bureau – European Region Office (WSB-ERO) has adopted an environmental action plan. Just as the tag line of WOSM is “creating a better world”, so we must ensure not to cause any unnecessary harm. The WSB-ERO will now seek to do these two things through our work and through our actions.

The office and the staff have committed to a number of personal and collective actions. If you would like to know more you can download the action plan here.

European Scouting Secures EU Funding

For the second year in a row the European Scout Region has secured administrative support from the EU Commission through the Youth in Action. This year we have been awarded the maximum allocation of €35,000.

Africa Scout Committee meets in Nairobi

NAIROBI - From 31 May to 2 June 2008, the Africa Scout Committee met in Nairobi, at the Africa Regional Office. Present at the meeting was Luc Panissod, Acting WOSM Secretary General; Rubina Haroon, Regional Director and most of the committee members, namely: Marcel Blaguet (Chairman), Jeremy Naivasha (Treasurer), Dr Jabulani Allen Muchado, Rodgers Mfunwa Lukhele, Christopher L. Mbanga and Jemima N. Nartey.

WOSM-funded school in Kashmir inaugurated

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.

RSC Chairman leads CNV mission in Pakistan

The second in the series of the on-going Committee NSO Visit (CNV) was held in Pakistan from 15th to 17th May 2008 headed by Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee Chairman Jejomar C Binay along with committee member Mr Prakorb Mukura and Mr Syed Pervez Ali Shah Jillani.

Sri Lanka hosts 1st National Scout Youth Forum

For the first time, Sri Lanka Scouts Association (SLSA) organized the National Scout Youth Forum and elected six young people to represent themselves.

Boy Scouts of the Philippines tree planting campaign kicks off

As their own contribution of saving the environment, Boy scout of the Philippines (BSP) launched a massive tree planting project in partnership with local government and private organizations.

El Salvador camina contra el hambre

El pasado domingo 25 de mayo, 1900 scouts de El Salvador participaron en la Caminata contra el Hambre, organizada por el Programa Mundial de Alimentos (PMA) de Naciones Unidas. La marea azul de los uniformes scouts, encabezados por los miembros del Consejo Scout Nacional, destacaron entre las demás organizaciones y personas que se incorporaron a la caminata por las calles de San Salvador, particularmente por la alegría y entusiasmo que mantuvieron los y las jóvenes durante toda la actividad. Lobatos y lobeznas agregaron a su participación dibujos hechos por ellos, en los que reflejaron sus deseos de erradicación del hambre en el mundo.

Scouts and UN remember victims of disasters in China and Myanmar

NAIROBI - On wednesday 28 May 2008, at the United Nations Headquarters in Africa, a remembrance service was held. The preparation of this event was done by the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), the Africa Scout Regional Office, the Embassy of China and the MCEDO-Beijing School.

WOSM’s 6th Meeting in the European Parliament

On 7th May WOSM held its 6th meeting in the European Parliament on how young people are leading social change in Africa in the framework of EU Africa co-operation. The meeting was hosted by Scout and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Alessandro Battilocchio (IT) and was addressed by Margrete Auken (DK), the Parliament's Vice-President Luisa Morgantini (IT), Anthony Crasner, The European Commission (DG DEV), Julia Ojanen of Plan International/Concord, Giuseppe Porcaro, The European Youth Forum and Babacar Ndiaye CNGEI. Various methods of empowering young people were discussed, as was the need to focus on education and the opportunities provided by youth organisations between the two continents especially between the nearly one million Scouts in Africa and the 1.4 million in Europe.

The EU Council of Ministers recognises the key role of youth organisations in increasing the participation of disadvantaged young people

The Education, Youth and Culture Council of the European Union adopted a resolution on 22nd May on the participation of young people with fewer opportunities. The resolution recognises the role of youth organisations in promoting the inclusion and well-being of disadvantaged young people and the need to secure support from public authorities for these organisations, so that they may continue and expand this work.

Scouts in Ghana pledge to fight against climate change

In accordance with the resolution on Climate Change passed during the 4th Africa Youth Forum in Kigali, Rwanda in 2007, Nikitta Dede Adjirakor, the Secretary of the Africa Scout Youth Forum organized a three day workshop in camp for the youth in Ghana from the 28th - 30th of April, 2008 at the National Scout Training Centre. Twenty two Scouts from various regions of the country attended the event.