She is 23 and she has a passion for urban studies. She is also Canadian. Michelle Hoogland, is a Geography student at UFV (University of the Fraser Valley), in Canada. Between May and August 2008, she served as intern at the Africa Regional Office of the World Scout Bureau, in Nairobi.

Hoogland’s journey to Kenya is a continuation of UFV’s ''child-friendly cities initiative'', an international project that aims to improve the day-to-day living conditions for children. While working for the World Scout Bureau, Hoogland travelled around Kenya, from villages to cities and into businesses, homes and schools.

The ongoing Congo crisis has cost the life of a Congolese Scout leader. Mr. Kakule Jean Léo, was 30 years at the time of his death when a bomb landed on his house and killed him. He was a troop leader in Groupe scout Kirwa Lac, Rubare.

WOSM (World Organization of the Scout Movement)'s Acting Secretary General, Mr. Luc Panissod, has issued a message of solidarity to the affected Scouts and populations. Please find the message below.

MBABANE - The Swaziland Scout Association (SSA) has invited National Scout Organizations around the globe to their international Scout camp to be held next year between 31 July to 11 August 2009. During this event SSA hopes to exhibit her achievements in terms of youth-oriented projects.

ACCRA - A four day workshop has been held in Accra for 12 youth members of the Ghana Scout Association from 6 regions at the National Headquarters to discuss ''How to market the Ghana Scout Association at international level''.

Following the resignation of Ms. Rubina Haroon, the Acting Secretary General World Organization of Scout Movement, Luc Panissod has appointed Mr. Winston Adams as acting Regional Director for the World Scout Bureau - Africa Regional Office with effect from 1st October 2008 until a new director has been appointed for the Regional Office.

KINSHASA - From 18 to 26 October 2008, the Scout Association of D.R. Congo (FESCO) held its long waited National Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kinshasa. This elective AGM was the opportunity to reunite and bring hope for this National Scout Organisation (NSO) which has suffered some serious institutional crisis in the previous years.

KINSHASA - On Saturday 18 and on Sunday 19 October 2008 Cubs and Scouts of the Scout Group of Bishop Bokeleale School, Lisanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo took part in the JOTI-JOTA.
The event took place at the Lisanga School's cyber.

BUJUMBURA - The Food for Life (FFL) project was launched in Burundi on 9 October 2008. The project was launched by a WSB – ARO (World Scout Bureau, Africa Regional office) delegation in a ceremony attended by the top leadership of Burundi Scouts Association (BSA) among them, the Chief Commissioner Dr. Thierry Gahungu and the National council.

ACCRA – Situation: Need for development. Operation: Building a hall, installation of computers. Code-name: ''Project Meridian''. It is within this parameters that between July and August 2008 a joint project involving Ghana and UK Scouts took place.

BUKAVU - On Saturday 20 September 2008, Jean-Jacques Ba MURHANDIKIRE, the South Kivu Provincial Commissioner, in D.R. CONGO, defended a thesis entitled « Scoutisme dans la sous région des grands lacs africains et éducation à la paix » (Scouting and Peace Education in the African Great Lakes Region). The dissertation explores in a scientific way the experience of the Forum of Great Lakes Scouts (CSGL) and its contribution to peace building in the area.