2010

Over an extended weekend the Lëtzebuerger Guiden a Scouten (LGS) held their first SWA Discovery at the end of November 2009 at their national training centre and Scout of the World Base in Neihaischen. The LGS have a 20 year history with development projects that involve the Rover Scout section, every three to four years many members depart to regions in need of development to work with local Scouts or other youth organizations. This part of the Rover Scout program has now been adapted and integrated into the Scout of the World Program.

The last Scouts of the World Discovery Workshop in 2009 saw new partners and participants for the Singapore base. In order to better accommodate the participants, the workshop was held at a new venue – the National Community Leadership Institute (NACLI) from 17 to 19 October 2009. Apart from five Singapore Rover Scouts, there were five Bangladesh Rover Scouts and two Maldives Rover Scouts. For the first time, two non-Scouts joined the workshop after hearing much from their Scout friends. Mr M M Fazlul Haque Arif, Deputy National Commissioner (International) of Bangladesh Scouts also attended the workshop as an observer.

Scouting has many strong examples of youth-led environment projects from around the world which demonstrate how Scouts are contributing in practical ways to 'Creating a Better World'. Volvo Adventure recognises environmental projects conducted by 13 to 16 year olds from around the world and are opening a special opportunity for Scouts to receive help in preparing and delivering their environment projects. Could you be the next Scouts to make it to the international final in Sweden, competing with groups from around the world for the top prizes?

Geneva, 21 January 2010- 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 offered 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.

Geneva January 19th 2009-- To facilitate the distribution of information to a greater audience, the World Scout Bureau has opened a special blog focusing entirely on international scout aid directed to Haiti. This blog is accessible from the World Scouting homepage. The blog posts will allow you to follow the progress of the Haitian Scout support and to share the information with all those who wish to contribute to the efforts of the Movement.

The blog will also be displayed on Social networks which will allow it to draw the attention of thousands of supporters who are on the move day after day.

You can access the blog at the following address: scout.org/blogs

Geneva, January 18th 2010- throughout the weekend the World Scout Bureau has been on the lookout for any news coming from Haiti and has been successful in contacting the representatives of the National Scouts Association in Haiti. Hundreds of Scouts visited the association's president, Gerard-Marie Tardieu, regularly, either to offer their assistance or to accept rescue missions. Below are a series of the efforts made so far, as reported to us by our brothers and sisters of the Haitian Scouts ( refer to the map).

Geneva, January 14th 2010 – After the violent quake which struck Haiti, World Scouting is mobilising in order to help the 30,000 Scouts of Haïti so that they can come to the aid of the stricken population. In the name of World Scouting, a message of solidarity and compassion, was sent to Haitian Scouts, even though it is very difficult to get into contact with them for the moment. A volunteer cooperation specialist from “Scouts et Guides de France” (Scouts and Guides of France) is on site in Port-aux-Princes, to support the coordination of the international Scout aid.

A precise indication of what the needs are of the stricken families in terms of goods of first necessity, has been made possible thanks to the contacts, although limited, that have been made at this time. In fact, the 30,000 Haitian Scouts are essential relays between the emergency NGOs and the local population. Their action during the hurricane of 2008, has shown their capacity to act efficiently in operations of clearing, cleaning, decontamination and also by taking care of children that have been left to their own devices, as well as by building emergency camps.

The Misaershaff Youth Training Centre has been designated the newest SCENES Centre (Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and Environment) having met all of the key requirements for a SCENES Centre.

This old farm, built in 1833, is situated along the river banks of the Haute-Sûre. It has been the FNEL’s (Fédération Nationale des Éclaireurs et Éclaireuses du Luxembourg) national training centre since 2003. Offering a variety of environmental education programmes, demonstrated environmental management practices and picturesque natural settings to explore, Misaershaff is a great location to experience the natural wonders of the environment.

For more information on Misaershaff and the other SCENES Centres please see the SCENES Section of the World Scouting Website: www.scout.org/scenes

The first Scout of the World Discovery took place at St. Andrew Scout Centre in Athens on the 13-15 November 2009 and was organized by the Scouts of Greece (Soma Hellinon Proskopon). Thirteen (13) young leaders and members of Scout Networks from all around Greece participated. The issue that was explored during the Discovery was “Refugees”. The participants had a chance to meet refugees and their children, discuss with lawyers dealing with the subject, psychologists, social workers, representatives from the police authorities and members of various NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations).