MoP activities popular at New Zealand Jamboree
The Messengers of Peace continues to use right promotional approach in different Scouting events.
Most recent was the New Zealand Jamboree, held on 28 December to 6 January 2014, where the MoP base got an excellent location, close to the main camping area, situated high up in one of the stadiums. It shared the area with the National Scout Museum and the Australian Contingent HQ.
Making it more visible, SCOUTS New Zealand International Commissioner George Fairbairn set up large tarpaulins and posters of Scouting images around the area, and placed a large TV screen where Scouts can view Messengers of Peace videos.
SCOUTS New Zealand Regional Development Manager Rob Robilliard said that the promotional activities was hugely successful and the most effective way of reaching thousands of young people, who otherwise, would not have known about the Messengers of Peace initiative.
“Many of them have undertaken to embark on a service project when they return to their Troops and hopefully we will see the evidence of this on the Messengers of Peace website,” he said.
Additional attraction of the Jamboree was Patrols available at the WOSM website where Scouts registered their hours of service provided at the Jamboree. The service project involved clearing large tracts of land, in the town of Feilding, of invasive plants and replanting it with native plants. This project was identified by the town council of Feilding. In total, 2,601 Scouts and leaders logged 4,223 service hours. Scouts was also able to make MoP button badge with the wording “I am a Messenger of Peace.” The badge was actually a hit to the young people that more than 2,000 badges were made for eight days alone.
Another side of Jamboree was training of nine leaders from Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands and the Cook Islands for the Wood Badge. Rob took part in some training sessions about fundamental principles, and leadership. Participants completed the course in a special Gilwell Reunion held at the Jamboree.
