The Association des Scouts Catholiques de Côte d'Ivoire (ASCCI) announces with deep sadness the demise YEBOUA Atta Joseph, a brother and friend, that occurred on tuesday July 1, 2008 in Abidjan.

On Saturday 21 June 2008, the President of FIS, that is, Fédération Ivoirienne du Scoutisme (Federation of Ivorian Scouting), Dr. DOUMBIA Gnamakolo, reiterating the need to live in a healthy environment, officially launched the 'Operation Youth for Clean Cities' which will be implemented in two phases. First, in Abidjan, then in the interior cities. This colourful ceremony took place in Attecoubé, one of the four pilot areas, in the presence of the Director General of youth affairs, Mr. Sery Bially, municipal officials, traditional and religious leaders, and presidents of youth movements and associations.

The initiative 'Scouting for Solutions' (SFS) conducted a training for trainers forum at the Busia Agricultural Training Centre (Kenya) from 15th to 26th June 2008. 45 trainers from Uganda and 28 from Kenya attended the workshop. 15 facilitators led the discussions.

Joytown Secondary School in Thika, Kenya is a different kind of School. It caters for students with physical impairments. Among its co-curricular activities, it boasts of a Scout group with 62 members. The School motto 'Najimudu' (Swahili) – which translates as 'I do my best' - corresponds with the fundamental principles of Scouting. It is little wonder thus Scouting is thriving in the institution.

NAIROBI - From 31 May to 2 June 2008, the Africa Scout Committee met in Nairobi, at the Africa Regional Office. Present at the meeting was Luc Panissod, Acting WOSM Secretary General; Rubina Haroon, Regional Director and most of the committee members, namely: Marcel Blaguet (Chairman), Jeremy Naivasha (Treasurer), Dr Jabulani Allen Muchado, Rodgers Mfunwa Lukhele, Christopher L. Mbanga and Jemima N. Nartey.

NAIROBI - On wednesday 28 May 2008, at the United Nations Headquarters in Africa, a remembrance service was held. The preparation of this event was done by the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), the Africa Scout Regional Office, the Embassy of China and the MCEDO-Beijing School.

In accordance with the resolution on Climate Change passed during the 4th Africa Youth Forum in Kigali, Rwanda in 2007, Nikitta Dede Adjirakor, the Secretary of the Africa Scout Youth Forum organized a three day workshop in camp for the youth in Ghana from the 28th - 30th of April, 2008 at the National Scout Training Centre. Twenty two Scouts from various regions of the country attended the event.

At about 100 kilometres away from the Africa Regional office of World Scouting, in Nairobi, stands PAXTU, the last residence of the Founder of Scouting, Lord Baden Powell. Towards the sunset of his fulfilled life, the Chief Scout of the World had chosen to retire at the foot Mount Kenya, in the area of the Central Highlands Region, in Nyeri.

In April 2008, the Africa Regional Office (ARO) completed a new communication strategy for Scouting in Africa for the 2008 – 2011 triennium. ARO's Communications Unit proposed the 11-Point master plan in a bid to address communication issues in the region.

On Monday 14 April 2008, Uganda's former Chief Scout, Hon. Manuel Pinto passed away at Nsambya Hospital where he was taken after being involved in a car accident. He was a Bronze Wolf holder and served as the Chairman of the Africa Scout Committee. He was born on 25 December 1938. A former Member of Parliament, Manuel Pinto, left parliament to become the Director of the Parliamentary Professional Development Unit. He was a renown debater in parliament who served on various commissions and statutory committees in Uganda.