Turkish Scouts Support over 100,000 People in Fight Against the Coronavirus Pandemic
As Turkey starts easing down the Coronavirus restrictions across the country, The Turkish Scouts continue offering their support to the community by ensuring a safe return of students and teachers to schools, to wrap up the end-of-year exams.
Ever since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Turkish Scouts have mobilised their volunteer force to ramp up home face mask production. Scout groups across the country set up their own production lines to supply healthcare providers and frontline essential workers with protective masks and face visors amid a soaring shortage.
About 100.000 people have benefited from their actions so far and the number increases by the day.
Scouting prepares young people to be resourceful and organised in extraordinary situations. This is done through a rich youth programme that equips them with the needed skills and attitude to take action and serve the community in times of need.
Süheyla Subaşı, head of the Technical Unit at the Turkish Scouting and Guiding Federation tells us:
We believe in the Scouting values system and the mission of our movement of creating a better world. Now more than ever, we need to step in and support our communities .
At a first glance, the Scouts’ mask production actions appear to be uncoordinated. They started springing up all across towns and villages as masks shortage became to be problematic across the healthcare sector, especially in early March. However, even though a structured project was not set up, all the community-based support actions reflected the same perseverance, determination and selflessness. It has shown the relentless capacity of Scouts to self-organise and bring about timely support to their communities.
Uğur and Talip are two Scout leaders who have made use of the 3D printing technology to produce face visors at a rapid pace.
We have mobilised schools facilities and youth centres and turned them into production hubs. We managed in a relatively short period of time to cover masks supply gaps and provide masks and face visors at a very symbolic price. They said.
“The idea of supporting our local communities filled us with immense joy that made us work even harder. “ They added
Not only did the Turkish Scouts fight against the virus through masks production, but they have also collaborated with the Red Crescent, their historical partner since Scouting appeared in Turkey in 1910. This strategic partnership has boosted the communities’ trust in Scouting.
“Scouting and Guiding Federation of Turkey formalised its partnership with the Red Crescent in 2017.The 400 Scout groups which are affiliated to the Scouting Federation make an active use of this national partnership to ultimately serve their local communities.” Explained Süheyla.
For Scouts, the most powerful advertising method is positive action.
Uğur commented vividly:
“We could not provide and explain our "Scout Serves the Community" motto in any stronger and more impactful manner than stepping in and supporting our communities when they need us the most.”
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, Scouts around the world have been responding to the needs of their communities on an individual and group level from awareness-raising to deliveries of essential items. World Scouting set up a Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund, where you can donate to help Scouts continue supporting their communities in need. All funds will be channelled directly to support National Scout Organizations.