Let’s not let the hope be extinguished!

“It is our duty as Scouts and human beings to do everything we can to ensure that hope is not extinguished or lost”, wrote Θοδωρής Κεφαλάς, Chief Scout, in his message to members of Ελληνικός Προσκοπισμός (the Scouts of Greece, members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement), in which he invited Rover Scouts and Leaders to join the association’s fifth mission in support of local Scout Groups who are engaged in refugee and migrant support activities in the Greek islands.

This time, the Scouts from all over mainland Greece will sail to Chios (GR). It is all but a leisure cruise looking at the busy programme: joining the Scouts of Chios in different areas of work, like: playing games and running recreational workshops with children and young people, helping in the refugee centre's soup kitchen, sorting and distributing cloths and other items of need, sharing information and raising awareness with local residents and tourists, assisting the team in charge of the entry points for refugees in administrative tasks, and whatever else might be required.

Then, on Sunday, the Scouts, together with their familie and friends, will celebrate the traditional breaking of the New Year’s Bread, when they will look back on activities undertaken and achievements made in the old year. They will also reflect on the challenges the New Year might bring. In particular for the refugees and migrants who continue arriving and transiting through Chios and other Greek islands as well as the mainland having left their war torn qand desaster stricken homes in the hope to find a better future elsewhere.

You can follow the ceremony of the breaking of the New Year’s Bread on 31 January 2016 on the video channel of the Scouts of Greece.