Exciting Scouts of the World Project - Project Orion IV

Singapore Scouts of the World Award Descovery in Malaysia

Project Orion IV (Rovering with Turtles) is the fourth project in the series of annual project collaborations with the host organization, World Wide Fund for Nature – Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia). It was held from 23rd June 2013 to 7th July 2013 in Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia. Project Orion I, II and III were completed in June 2009, June 2010 and June 2011 respectively.
The Setiu Wetlands, where the project took place, is located in the northeast of Peninsula Malaysia, in the state of Terengganu. For Terengganu, approximately 51.6% or 670,000 ha of the state still remains under forest cover. Of this, 5,168 ha are designated as plantation.

The aims of their project was to:
• Create awareness on the importance of Wildlife Conservation among the participants and Scouting community in Singapore.
• Provide opportunities to Youths to increase their self and global awareness based on the Service Learning Methodology and Scout Method.
• Provide a platform for Youths to be trained to be future leaders in similar projects.
• Impart the values of service learning to Youths.

The major activity for the project was night beach patrolling. Together with the WWF Rangers, they had to patrol the beach area in Setiu where the turtles come on shore to lay their eggs. In that area, there are many poachers who steal the eggs that will be sold to the public in the markets. All the eggs collected by WWF are then taken to the Hatchery where the turtles stay until they are released back into the wild the day that they hatch. Once they are back in the sea they are left alone to feed and defend themselves again in nature.

Another major activity that the team got involved was the mangrove plantation. It is one of the initiations done by the Pewanis Group. They have a lot of activities that promote mangrove plantation and create the awareness of the importance of mangrove plantation. Some corporate organizations will link up with the Pewanis Group to do mangrove plantation. Students in Setiu are also engaged to do mangrove plantation. It is an opportunity to engage with the community about the importance of having mangroves.

This is just one of the thousands of fantastic Scouts of the World Voluntary Service that is run every year. If you have a project to share with the SW Network email a brief report and a few photos to cwood@scout.org and you may see your project featured here.