Philippine Scouts localise Diversity and Inclusion, pledge support to HeForShe

NAVOTAS CITY, Philippines -- The Boy Scouts of the Philippines - National Capital Region (BSP-NCR) successfully led the first sub-national Workshop on Diversity and Inclusion last 22 to 23 September 2018 at Dagat-Dagatan Elementary School in Navotas City, Philippines. With 38 participants from 13 local councils across Metro Manila, composed of members of the Commissioners Staff for its different sectional programmes, training and adult support, BSP-NCR identified key issues and challenges on diversity and inclusion, with the vision of making Scouting available and accessible to all. The participants also visited the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) Centre of the school where they observed the dynamics of a Muslim class and explored the possibility of integrating Scouting’s youth development programme in this educational setup. The HeforShe Action Kit of the World Organization of the Scout Movement was also launched, which gained the support and commitment of all attendees to conduct grassroots undertakings to promote gender equality. Ms Luz Taray and Mr Kenny Ralph Fernando of the World Scout Bureau Asia-Pacific Support Centre assisted in the conduct of the workshop and the launch of the action kit. The BSP also partnered with a non-government organisation Food for the Hungry Philippines for the workshop. The organisation was represented by Ms Eva Dein who shared the story of their organisation and how they have been engaging with local communities to provide holistic development of marginalised children and young people. For their part, local council representatives formulated their respective action plans on how to boost the capacity of current and potential Scouting implementers in reaching the least, the lost and the last. The workshop was held under the supervision of Mr Eusebio Lee L. Mole, OIC-Regional Scout Director of BSP-NCR together with Mr Rafael A. Agsalon, Regional Program Commissioner, and Mr Kim Robert C. de Leon, Workshop Director. -- With reports from Mr. Kim Robert C. de Leon, Acting Council Scout Executive of Navotas City Council of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines