Supporting the Growth and Development of Scouting in Congo

A delegation from Scouting in Africa visited the Republic of Congo to deliver post-admission capacity building and support to Scoutisme Congolais who officially joined the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in August 2023. The mission focused on assessing the status of Scouting in the country and exploring how to better support the growth and development of the movement while ensuring compliance with WOSM standards for member National Scout Organizations.

Since being recognized as a member of WOSM, the national leadership of the movement has made efforts to consolidate the gains made and unite the movement in the country. There’s still a great need for enhancing capacity of the leadership at different levels to build strong teams, structures and procedures that will ensure the sustainability of the movement in the country. 

Compliance with WOSM Standards on Good Governance and Quality Management 

Led by a WOSM Consultant and the Regional Director, the four-day workshop offered the leadership of Scoutisme Congolais to increase their knowledge, enhance their skills and develop the right attitudes to deliver efficient and effective leadership to the movement. 

Some of the key focus areas of engagement included good governance practices based on the Global Support Assessment Tool (GSAT) framework, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, safe from harm, youth programme, adult volunteer development, financial and project management, communications and external relations, aside from visiting some local Scout groups to experience the movement at the grassroots.

Beyond capacity strengthening, the training yielded a set of resolutions that will form a self-directed action plan to be implemented by Scoutisme Congolais in advancing the lessons learned from the workshop. 

Working with Local Partners to Reach more Young People

One of the objectives of the visit was to explore partnerships with local actors to support the growth and development of the movement in the country. Hon. Hugues Ngouelondele, bore a committment by the Government to enhanced support and collaboration with Scouts to empower more young people through non-formal education, shape national youth policies, and help realize the government's aspirations for young people in the country. 

Drawing from the success of previous collaborations with Scouting in other countries, the team also met with UNICEF delegation in the country to explore possible collaboration in areas. With the Deputy Representative, an agreement was reached to collaborate with Scoutisme Congolais in the areas of environment and climate change, empowerment of girls, child and youth protection, and advocacy and community engagement on different issues affecting children, adolescents, and young people in the country. 

Other partnerships explored include with Rotary Club of Brazzaville with a focus on community service, and Congo-Techno Village des Enfants that seeks to bridge the scientific and technological divide by investing massively in science education for children. This would offer Scoutisme Congolais opportunities to expand its programme into the areas of Skills for Life with special focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM); food security and environmental protection.

Scouting in Local Communities

A visit to two Scouts groups, Groupe Salomon at Église Évangélique du Congo in Moukoundzi Ngouaka, Makélékélé and Groupe Eva Burrows at Église de l'Armée du Salut, Moungali in Brazzaville, gave a positive impression of the need for and the power of Scouting in educationg young people to become useful to themselves and their communities. 

We asked some Scouts What they lovel the most about Scouting and here’s what they had to say:

“What I enjoy doing most in Scouting is attending camps because we are trained on lots of things. My most memorable moment so far was when I made my promise for the first time. I was very happy!” 
- Ntondo Tom Maëlla, Cub Scout, Groupe Salomon 

“What attracted me to the Scout movement is that it allows us to not be limited. In society currently, we limit ourselves to things, such as at school level where there are things that we are not taught, but the Scout movement bring us so much. When I joined the movement, the members of the group welcomed me warmly, and taught me to be sociable and to exploit my intelligence.”
- Aude, Scout, Groupe Salomon 

“What I like about the movement is the love we have between Scout brothers and sisters. And what I like to do most is service because we are Rover Scouts, which means being ready to serve. You cannot be a Rover Scout and be incapable of providing service. We are taught to be exemplary citizens.”
- Ngoma Ndjanaku Jenny, Scout, Groupe Salomon

“Thanks to Scouting, I became a person who can express myself well in front of people. Scouting has taught me to be brave – not shy. Until today, my most memorable moment is when I first made my Scout promise. I still dream of it.”
- Myriam, Cub Scout, Groupe Eva Burrows 

“I like the Scout movement because I learn a lot – it is all about education. They teach us a lot of things in the workshops and camps, such as making water filters, how to conduct a rescue, how to be a first aider in the event of a bites or injuries. They always help us where we feel we cannot succeed. The movement teaches us to help others in society as our ten laws say and to do the right thing every day. This helps me to behave well in society.”
- Okoutalo Divine, Scout, Groupe Eva Burrows

“Our Scout group works to train young people to be courageous. I'm a lawyer, and thanks to the Scout movement, I take my hearings calmly, without fear. I would advise everyone to join the Scout movement.”
- Jean-Jardin Djakouka, Rover Scout, Groupe Eva Burrows 

Besides their usual weekly group meetings, the Scouts participate in activities such as blood donations, and reforestation which allows the country to have a more green spaces and clean air. They also make different items like badges and scarves to sell to raise money for their Scout group activities. The Scouts of Groupe Salomon have a tailoring workshop project they intend to start but require sewing machines and trainers to help them get started. 

It was reassuring to see how the collaboration between Scouting and the Church is according opportunity to young people in Congo to acquire skills, develop leadership and contribute to bettering their communities, with the support of adult volunteers, including church leaders, who keep the movement in motion by dedicating their time, skills and even resources for the sake of young people.

Because of the young people, their energy and determination, and the adults that believe in them, there's hope for a better future in Congo.

Utilizing WOSM Services to Propel the NSO Forward 

Moving forward Scoutisme Congolais committed to utilize WOSM Services to seek greater support to take forward its plans to grow and develop the movement in the country. The WOSM Services offers National Scout Organizations access to quality resources, tailored professional support from trained consultants and peer learning through best practices to enhance their capacity to deliver high-quality Scouting activities and programmes to more young people worldwide.