Morocco's scouts and guides shelter the homeless from the bitter cold of winter

When night falls and it starts to get dark on a long harsh winter night, searching for a warm shelter often becomes more important than lunch or dinner meals. That was what 30 displaced persons were suffering in Skhirat, in the Kingdom of Morocco where they live on the sidewalks homeless wrapping themselves with old fabrics and plastics. Then, scouts and guides in Skhirat branch of the Moroccan Scouts and Guides Organization gave them a helping hand, in cooperation with the Red Crescent, Assabil Association for Development and Social Solidarity, and Basma Association for Development and Poverty Alleviation.

They set up tents for them, in participation with the local authorities, near the youth center. Food was provided to them in a humanitarian initiative that lasts for 90 days to protect them from the dangers that may threaten their comfort and lives. Dangers, to which they may be exposed, include winter rains, freezing cold, and frost in the long night. This achieves the community participation component of the Scout Method, with an affective commitment to communities, as stipulated in one of the most important principles of the Scout Movement “the duty towards others”. This is also set out in the scout promise to help people at all times, and the scout law, which included that a scout should be helpful.