2011

We are pleased to announce the publication of the Supporting Growth in Changing Times - Membership Report 2011. As you will be aware, ‘Supporting Growth in Changing Times’ is the overarching theme of the Regional Scout Plan that was adopted by National Scout Organisations during the 20th European Scout Conference in Brussels, Belgium, in July 2010. Therefore we have made analysis of membership data during the last triennium. It is worth noting that extracting membership data from NSOs can be quite challenging. Whilst some have the data readily available, others do not, citing lack of membership management systems or not wishing to provide figures that might contradict.

The Report is available to download from the Library

Sarajevo, 17th December 2011 - This date will certainly be remembered as a very important date among the Scouts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After a very long period of negotiations, the Scouts of Bosnia and Herzegovina are proud to announce that they now have a National Scout Organization, comprised of the three existing Scout Associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Scout Association of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Scout Association of Republica Srpska, Scout Association of Brčko District).

(Geneva/ERO) – An update on progress made and challenges encountered by the five thematic Working Groups and the three supporting Core Groups was a major point on the agenda of the recent meeting of the European Scout Committee at Pax Lodge, the WAGGGS World Centre in London (United Kingdom).

Over 140 participants have enjoyed 5 days of interesting workshops and a lot of fun at the 2011 Academy. The event took place in the inspiring city of Paris from 28 October to 1 November. Participants from all around Europe had the choice of 22 sessions, many related to the overall theme of the event - “Growth through Quality”.

It is our great pleasure to introduce this Annual Report of the European Scout Committee’s work covering the period July 2010 to July 2011.

In the report, you can have a look back at the progress made since the 20th European Scout Conference in Brussels, Belgium, covering both the successes and challenges. As well as providing perspectives from the European Scout Committee, the European Regional Office and the European Scout Foundation, for the first time in the Annual Report of the European Scout Committee we have updates from our five Working Groups and three Core Groups.

It may have been raining in Brussels last week but this didn’t dampen the spirits of the Guide and Scout volunteers taking part in the European Youth Forum Convention on Volunteering, taking place between 7 and 10 September in the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Parliament.

The Honorary Protector for Roverway 2012 is the Prime Minister of Finland, Jyrki Katainen. Last summer, Prime Minister Katainen visited the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Rinkaby, Sweden, with his colleagues Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden and Lars Lökke of Denmark.

For the first time, the Asia Pacific Regional Scout Committee and the Europe Regional Scout Committee members attending the 22nd World Scout Jamboree met informally on 30th July at a breakfast meeting. The meeting initiates a dialogue between the two committees to share views for greater understanding and collaboration.

Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, received a motion for improving the social position of young people throughout the world. Ban-Ki Moon was visiting Pori, Finland on Friday July 15th to attend a seminar on global sustainability. The motion, named “Youth Peace and Security”, was presented to the Secretary-General and Finnish president Tarja Halonen by an 18-year-old Scout, Evalena Böling. The motion was co-signed by the Finnish Youth Cooperation organization Allianssi and the UN Association of Finland.

My name is Alexandru Iambroszki and I have come from Romania to experience working in another European situation as an intern at the Brussels office of WOSM.

On June 11 and 12, 1200 Scouts from all around Croatia gathered in Bistra to draw attention to the contribution made by volunteers to society. The activity was organised by Savez Izvidaca Hrvatske (Scout Association of Croatia), the Municipality of Bistra, as well as the Scout group of Bistra. The activity was under the patronage of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Family, Veterans and Inter-generational Solidarity and the County of Zagreb.

The meeting was held in Algiers from 24 to 28 May, with arrivals from 23 May and some departures on 29 May. In total there were 23 participants from the Arab Region: Algeria, Kuwait, Qatar, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Sudan, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan and from the Regional Committee, Working Groups and Office. From the European Region, there were 21 participants from Sweden, France, Denmark, Portugal, Finland, United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and the Regional Committee, Working Groups and Office. A total of 22 countries.

The 9th Euro-Arab meeting was officially opened in the Algerian capital of Algiers.

Participants from 21 different countries meet to share their ideas about the development of youth empowerment and active citizenship and the important role Scouting can play in this respect. Various presentations, workshops and discussions will help participants to share their views, their own experiences and good practices.
The event is kindly hosted by the Algerian Muslim Scouts.

Scouting Ireland is organising seminar is to share experiences in relation to the development and the implementation of Scouting Ireland's new youth programme for all age Sections (6- 21 year olds) and how the Woodbadge Training Scheme was changed to support the needs of our adult volunteers as they set about implementing this new programme.

The Unguvu Project has now fully entered the implementation stage. Unguvu, which means “strength through unity,” aims to strengthen existing and create new Europe-Africa partnerships. It is the first multilateral project of its kind between the European and African Scout Regions.

The President of the Federal Republic of Austria, H.E. Heinz Fischer, and representatives of the country’s federal and provincial governments recently met with Austrian Scouts and Guides who were amongst a large group of volunteers celebrating the official start of the European Year of Volunteering in Austria.

What kind of messages do we want to spread to external audience about Scouting? What is advocacy and what should we advocate for? Why and how NSOs should look for funding?

These are only few of the several questions which 19 participants from 10 countries tried to answer during a Study Session held from 13 to 18 February at the European Youth Centre of the Council of Europe in Budapest.

Two Conferences, held in Budapest, marked start of the European Year of Volunteering. Many events, exhibitions, live demonstrations and other activities will be taking place throughout Europe during the year. Hungary took over presidency of the European Union, and that was the opportunity to promote this important campaign.

During the first Regional Meeting at the 39th World Scout Conference, the European Scout Committee took the opportunity to update NSOs from across Europe, on the progress made since the 20th European Scout Conference held in July 2010.