In an effort to participate in activities for Haiti support and be a part of the world initiatives, Korea Scout Association (KSA) held a charity bazaar and conducted a fundraising campaign.

The bazaar was held during the annual general meeting on 22nd February, Baden Powell's birthday and was titled “Scout Law 3. A SCOUT IS HELPFUL”. A great many items were arranged from scout souvenirs to daily necessities such as scarves, woggles, camping equipment and rice. Hundreds of scouts and leaders were gathered at the National Training Center of KSA to participate in the event.

The fundraising campaign was launched on 15th January with the setting up of 2 collection boxes in the lobby of KSA and National Training Centre. KSA also advised 20 local councils to promote the campaign to each province in order to make it a nationwide event. It also got the utmost out of the online system by delivering a promotional e-mail to 330,000 scouts and leaders and triggering a pop-up window on the KSA website during the event.

The event ended in great success with the collection of KRW 17,683,340 (about USD 15,500) thanks to the deep interest and contribution from the participants, especially the president of KSA, Kang Young-Joong, who donated USD 9,100 for the benefit of the suffering population of Haiti.

IOM (International Migration Organisation) and USAID (United States Agency for International Development), which are in charge of the distribution of non-dietary relief, have informed Haitian Organizations that there is a grave need for a Regional Association.The association would serve as a focal point for coordination, to help improve the efficiency, of providing the aid and support needed by the Haitian population . On the same note, the scouts plan to join some of these regional communication centers, which are yet to be determined and fully collaborated upon. They will for example, be in charge of organizing the food line-ups operated by the US Army in Port-au-Prince. As part of it's -Education- unit, UNESCO has asked the Haitian Scouts to integrate the assessment teams, in order to launch a scholastic census programme.

The Haitian Scouts have facilitated communication between the Dominican and Haitian Ministries of Youth, by maintaining the already established liaisons with the Dominican Scouts. Soon, a Scout conference is expected to take place in St. Domingo so as to outline, the efforts deployed for the reconstruction of Haiti and the various training tools that will be required. The greater objective of this conference, which is highly anticipated by the Haitian Scouts, is to put in place a network of Youth Associations in Haiti.

Immediately after his return to France, Fédéric Amiel, a logistcian sent to Haiti by the Scouts et Guides de France, was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to present the results and outcome of his mission.
World Scouting Bureau.

You might expect to see Wilner Ulysse helping a little old lady cross the street. That’s the classic image of a dutiful Scout. But Wilner, age 23, has a much more important good deed for today.

He is one of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides of Léogane, a hard-hit town near the epicenter of last week’s deadly earthquake. Their town was all but destroyed -- most people here have lost homes or family members, and funerals have become a tragically frequent occurrence. But despite their own trauma and loss, the young people of Léogane are rallying to the aid of their fellow citizens.

Wilner and his fellow Scouts have joined the CARE team delivering urgent help near the center of Léogane. The telecommunications office, idle since phone service was knocked out by the quake, is serving as a temporary town hall and humanitarian aid center. Here, the CARE staff set up operations to deliver vital aid to the traumatized survivors, above all women.

The job of the Scouts is to provide security and comfort. The boys, tall and brave, stand guard at the entrance of the compound. The girls walk side-by-side with the women, softly touching the occasional arm or shoulder, as they walk to the distribution point. The women look exhausted, but a few smiles break out as they receive a precious gift – hygiene kits including soap, toothpaste, towels, and sanitary napkins, all packed in a five-gallon bucket that can be used to collect and purify water. Still, the faces at the CARE truck are tired, lined, and sweaty.

The bright young Scouts look serious – most have suffered grievous losses of their own – but their faces are full of compassion for the mothers and grandmothers they gently guide.

“We can only imagine how traumatized and heartbroken these women feel,” said Sophie Perez, CARE Haiti country director. “As much as material aid, they need to know that the world cares about them, and that they are not alone. To have these lovely young people literally standing by their side is a great comfort at this terrible time.”

Many of the women at Wednesday’s distribution have lost their homes and are living in the open, in tents makeshift shelters. Even those whose houses were left standing are often afraid to go inside, because of a series of terrifying aftershocks.

“To lose one’s home, loved ones, and then still to feel constantly afraid – it’s more than anyone should have to bear,” says Sophie. “We are committed to work very hard so that they do not continue to suffer needlessly.”

And so is Wilner. In seven years as a Scout, it’s certainly the most important thing he’s accomplished.

Is there an Earthquake Merit Badge?

Text prepared from article by Rick Perera, CARE Communications Coordinator in Haiti.

For more information please visit CARE Website at the following address: www.careinternational.org.uk

To contribute to CARE's donations please follow this link

Day in and day out, the members of the National Association of the Scouts of Haiti (NASH) prepare themselves in Port-au-Prince as well as in several other important locations. The complications with transportation and communication make it difficult to reach the outer provinces struck by the quake. This nonetheless, does not prevent the Scouts from being of assistance to all those who may be in need of their help.

Yesterday, a team of 8 scouts proficient in French, English and Creole started working as translators in the hospitals of Port-au-Prince. A free international calling centre also benefits from translators to help manage the sudden surge of people. The Scouts of Marchand Dessalines are in charge of a refugee camp in Artibonite, and NASH is collaborating with the French Embassy for the set up of the Champs-de-Mars camp in Port-au-Prince.

Today, the Scouts will help Haiti's civil Protection to put up a refugee camp. Twenty scouts will join the Brazilian Embassy to help the Brazilians with their action. The number of allocated Scouts involved with relief efforts in the regions affected by the earthquake were of 250 in Port-au-Prince, 150 in Jacmel, 150 in Peit Goave and 150 in Léogane. An indefinite number is active, however no census has been taken. Many NASH members are involved in the reception of refugees in the Provinces.

Today, during the opening of the 26th Arab Regional Scout Conference, World Scout Committee Vice-Chairman Mario Diaz started the first official speech of the Conference as follows:

"Mr Chairman of the Arab Scout Committee, dear Brothers and Sisters in Scouting, just a few days ago, a terrible earthquake devastated Haiti, leaving behind an unprecedented number of casualties. In God is the best consolation against every catastrophe, a substitute for every loss, and a replacement for anything that is missed. Let’s trust God, seek His aid, and be hopeful of His mercy. May God increase our reward, and grant us the best of consolation."

Some 200 Scout Leaders representing 19 Arab National Scout Organizations then stood up and observed a minute of silence to honour all victims of this natural disaster, and specially our beloved Haitian Scout brothers and sisters."

The international mission arrived last night as planned, at the Port-au-Prince airport in the Red Cross convoy and with dominican escorts. After a brief visit to the French embassy, the mission reunited with Haitian scouts at the scout base, where the bestowal of the transported equipment took place. The equipment consists mainly of tools that help facilitate the logistical organization and communication of the Scout Movement: two solar panels with two undulator to generate electricity, thirty dynamo torch-lights, two laptops with extended battery life, A VHF base with antenna and 5 portable transmitters. The Mission also provided, canned food, bread, milk and water. This provision was made possible thanks to the generosity of our first benefactors.

Upon arrival, Joseph-Emmanuel Saint-Amour, the president of the National Association of the Scouts of Haiti (NASH), was accompanied by Lyonel Laviolette, General Secretary, who is in charge of the organization of the HQs and by Gerard-Marie Tardieu, Assistant General Commissioner in charge of the management of stocks.

Thanks to NASH, the Scout delegation and its Dominican representatives were able to meet the Haitian Minister of Youth and Sports. They discussed the re-launch of youth programs and activity, with the prospective support of the Dominican Government.

In the present situation, the NASH is coordinating to entities: a crisis management unit that was put in place by the Western department, immediately after the earthquake, and the National Bureau. A meeting between the different troop leaders should take place today in order to improve the field coordination. Since the 12th of January, like many other Haitians, Scouts are also sleeping outside and are roused early in order to get to work. Alone, within a group or together with humanitarian NGOs they do not miss an opportunity to be useful. The NASH is positioning itself to be a facilitator between the population and the humanitarian entities. Being close to the population, Scouts are capable of identifying the needs and to communicate these to the humanitarian agencies, whilst also passing down hygiene and security instructions in the neighborhoods. The French Embassy has proposed to the Scouts that they participate in the reception of refugees in Inche (central plateau).

A list of emergency needs is being drafted under the supervision of the General Commissioner, Nicolas Clervil. The list will be quickly transmitted to the International Scout Aid coordination. The day's agenda also foresees another meeting with the French Embassy and a visit of the United Nations headquarters.

The reconnaissance mission sent by the Scouts et Guides de France, supported by World Scouting, left Santo Domingo at 6:00am (local time) this morning. It is part of the International Federation of the Red Cross convoy. The convoy will meet up with the representatives of MINUSTAH (UN) at the border. Their arrival at the Port-au-Prince airport is expected at around 17:00pm. The mission's transportation is assured by a vehicle that has been by the Youth Ministry of the Dominican Republic, who has also sent a special envoy with them,who will serve as the link with the haitian Youth Ministry.

Upon arrival, the mission will link up with the representatives of Haitian Scouting and proceed to confirm partnerships with the UN agencies on site. The MINUSTAH representative in Jacmel has stated that “Scouts are the only efficient youth association that they can work with. This efficiency will be bolstered by the logistical materials being brought by the French Scout mission, the initial support being put at the disposal of the Haitian Scouts thanks to the donations received after one week. It is to be noted that the French Scout association has decided to cover the expenses for this particular mission, in order not to affect the integrity of the donations. On the same note, a secure means of transferring funds, is being put into place with the re-establishment of the Haitian banking system.

In the coming hours, the analysis of the immediate emergency needs will be confirmed and circulated to the National Scout Organizations, who have expressed the desire to assist in the collection of the necessary materials. In the next few days, the Scout coordination will also perform a post emergency analysis of the needs so as to establish an action plan for the reconstruction efforts.

During the last 2 days, the Dominican Scout Association has been working on the preparation of this mission, in direct relation with the Scouts et Guides de France and the World Scout Bureau. Its high level contacts with state officials and the United Nations system has allowed the objectives of the mission to be assured.

In Geneva, WOSM works to provide support through the natural partners of the Movement that are the United Nations agencies (OCHA, UNICEF,UNHCR) and the Red Cross, as well as continuing the international call for donations.

The two members of the Reconnaissance Mission arrived in Santo Domingo last night, where they were greeted by representatives of the Dominican Scout. Upon arrival, a meeting took place with the representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Youth Ministry and the French Embassy. The session established the support of the various participating parties.

The Education Minister, has arranged for a chauffeur and a car to be at the disposition of the Mission and to escort them to Haitian territory. The Mission includes, a logistician working with les Scouts et Guides de France, a journalist from french magazine, La Vie ( collaborator of the operation), a representative of the Dominican Scouts, department head for Education and department head for Youth of the Dominican Ministries. The vehicle will most probably team up with a Red Cross Convoy which will be going to Haiti on, Thursday January 21st.

The objectives of the mission were re-assessed and have now accounted for the assistance of the various partners and the immediate crisis at hand. Coordinating with the Ministries of Education and Youth of Haiti will be of high priority, so as to re-establish their education program in affiliation with the United Nations educational cluster.

The dominican scouts have offered their national office to function as the logistics base for the collection and transferal of equipment to Port-au-Prince. Apart from helping the Reconnaissance Mission, they will lay out the program designed for the youth and implement it in the refugee camps situated by the border.

This morning two members of the Reconaissance Mission for the International Scout Aid, left Paris, assisted by the Scouts et Guides de France. They will be welcomed this evening at 8:00pm local time by a team from the National Association of the Dominican Scouts, who were in contact yesterday with Luc Panissod, Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

Upon their arrival in Santo Domingo the logisitics advisor Fréderic Amiel and the journalist Laurent Grzybowski, will have their first meeting with the Dominican Scouts, representatives from the French Embassy, UNICEF, and the Minister of Education of the Dominican Republic. The latter will probably put a vehicle at their disposal to ensure transportation of the team to Port-au-Prince. The contribution of the Dominican Scouts is of importance as their country will serve as a secondary base for the coordination of the international relief efforts. The team is also assisted by Rafael Julia, Spanish citizen residing in the country who works for the United Nations system in the Dominican Republic.

The objective of the mission, sent at the behest of the Haiti Scouts Association who have had a long tradition of cooperation with the French Scouts, is to evaluate the needs for the emergency aid, support the Haitian Scouts in their collaboration with the international humanitarian agencies, especially those belonging to United Nations system and to prepare the action plan for the next reconstruction phase.

An initial sum of 10'000 euros has been released. They come from donations that have been collected in the last few days. It will serve to answer the immediate needs of the Scouts of Haiti. Communication and first aid matierial will also be bought on the island, especially a water purifier, a radio communication system and motobikes to facilitate the transportation of the Scout leaders coordinating the efforts.