European Scouts and Guides engage in refugee support activities: let's tell their stories!

When the Coordinating Group of the European Regions of WAGGGS and WOSM met the other weekend, the current situation of refugees and the manifold support actions by Scouts and Guides as members of their local communities was one of the issues discussed. The Coordinating Group is very conscious of the human tragedy unveiling. While we share and tell the stories of the great work being undertaken by Guiding and Scouting, we should be coordinated and compassionate so as to not exploit those suffering. Long-term community work will be very important to empower people.

It was agreed that a sort of “clearing house” on europak-online.net, the website jointly managed by the two Regions, would be a useful tool to featuring examples of what Scouts and Guides contribute to refugee support activities in their local communities in Europe. Associations already engaged in such activities would have a larger audience for their projects and featured projects might inspire other associations to start their own activity.

This communication platform is now available and we invite all Scout and Guide Associations in the European Regions of WAGGGS and WOSM to share their stories, images and resource kits for the benefit of the two Movements.

Sharing of relevant news (in text and image) and resources
Anyone visiting the joint website europak-online.net will be able to click on a new, prominently placed banner see all relevant content on one single page

Content Management
A simple form has been created to facilitate the editorial managment of proposed stories. Following our regular practice, there will normally be no publication of a story without prior agreement from the concerned association.

Stories published so far
Story 42 - Austria - From a Social-Media post to a limited edition Badge: Supporting Refugee Activities
Story 41 - France - Suddenly, the people were not humans anymore!
Story 40 - Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - The “Heroes in Red” help create a better world for refugees
Story 39 - Greece - This smile and gentle gesture tells us more than a thousand words!
Story 38 - Spain (Catalonia) - Scouting in Catalonia helps local refugee support activities
Story 37 - Greece - Micha (17, a Scout from Damascus): Thank you for your warm welcome on the shores of Europe!
Story 36 - Austria - Pfadfinderdorf Zellhof: Give me love, give me hope, give me shelter!
Story 35 - Greece - A very special International Volunteer Day: Scouts from mainland Greece join local Scouts on Chios to help refugees and migrants
Story 34 - Denmark & European Region - The Scout Movement helps refugees and migrants
Story 33 - The Netherlands - A Scouting Nederlands programme for the refugee camp
Story 32 - Spain - How can we get more active in refugee support activities in our community?
Story 31 - Greece - Martin Schulz visits Galatsi Refugee Camp (GR): Thank you for your valuable service!
Story 30 - Serbia - Scouts of Serbia offer free meals: the impact goes far beyond the bowl of soup!
Story 29 - Finland - Refugee support activities in the Southwest Finland Guide and Scout district
Story 28 - France - “How to Accompany Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants?”
Story 27 - Greece - Greek Guides in “Eleonas Refugee Camp” in Athens
Story 26 - Greece - Lend a hand in South Aegean islands
Story 25 - Slovenia - No matter where you come from we will lend you a hand
Story 24 - Austria - Yes, it’s a goooooaaaaaaaal: both teams leave victorious!
Story 23 - Germany - Refugees Welcome! The Lower Rhine Region is Colourful!
Story 22 - Greece - To help. Because we made a promise. On our Honour.
Story 21 - Germany - How do I make a campfire bread? Come, I’ll show you!
Story 20 - The Netherlands - Okay. Let’s go to the park and play!
Story 19 - Greece - Is there anything unusual in this picture?
Story 18 - Belgium - Swapping pencil and textbook for plaster and paintbrush!
Story 17 - Greece - Scouts cleaning shores of Lesbos: broken rubber dinghies, inflatable tires and life vests of all shapes and sizes
Story 16 - Greece - Ahmed, here is your new scarf: may it remind you of the one you left back home!
Story 15 - Greece - Mutual refugee support in Eidomeni (GR): we provide the tents, you care for the patients
Story 14 - Austria - “will/kommen/an/kommen” – because we are engaged in our local community!
Story 13 - Austria - Creating a better world for unaccompanied refugee children
Story 12 - Germany - Just another volunteer at Dortmund’s main refugee welcome centre
Story 11 - Greece - Scouts of Greece on Lesbos bring back smiles and laughter to children’s faces
Story 10 - Austria - We want to see these children smile and laugh again!
Story 9 - Austria - Let’s invite our new neighbours and meet the refugees!
Story 8 - France - Les Scouts et Guides en France s’engagent pour les réfugiés!
Story 7 - Croatia - Croatian Scouts: ready to help and make available their skills!
Story 6 - Greece - Greek Scouts help fill “A Boat of Medical Supplies for the Refugees”
Story 5 - United Kingdom - From Coxhoe to Calais: toiletry articles, shoes, clothes and other items
Story 4 - Germany - So far, 60000 pieces of clothing sorted and packed in 12 days!
Story 3 - Portugal - Portuguese Scouts get active in new nationwide platform supporting refugees
Story 2 - Austria - Come, let us play a game!
Story 1 - Austria - You have large storage tents, no?

We are looking forward to receiving and subsequently sharing widely many stories featuring examples of what Scouts and Guides contribute to refugee support activities in their local communities in Europe!