SUMMARY REPORT OF THE 9TH EASTERN AFRICA ZONAL SCOUT YOUTH FORUM HELD AT THE NDERA MINOR SEMINARY IN KIGALI, RWANDA FROM 27TH TO 29TH DECEMBER 2014 1. Introduction The 9th Eastern Africa Zonal Scout Youth Forum took place at Ndera Minor Seminary in Kigali, Rwanda from 27th to 29th December 2015. The Forum provides a dual opportunity for young people; to discuss and express their views on issues of interest to them, preparing inputs and reporting to the Zonal Scouts Conference, including recommendations to the National Scout Associations of the zone and to develop the skills necessary to strengthen their capacity to take part in decision- making processes and to actively be involved in their National Scout Associations. 2. Participation The forum brought together a total of fifty seven (57) participants from five NSAs in the zone; which was distributed as follows: Tanzania – 6 Participants Rwanda – 7 Participants Burundi – 8 Participants Uganda – 13 Participants Kenya – 23 Participants Ethiopia and South Sudan did not send any delegates to the forum. Ethiopia was last represented at the forum in 2009 while South Sudan in 2012. 3. Agenda The theme of the forum was “A Brotherhood of Service Beyond Borders” and served to remind us of duty as Rover Scouts and the need to embrace the spirit of togetherness towards furthering greater integration among young people of the zone. The forum agenda covered the following areas: Report of the Zonal Youth Committee (2012-2014) Outcomes of the 12th WSYF and the 40th WSC with a focus on the (Strategy for Scouting-WOSM Vision 2023) U-Report Election of New Zonal Youth Committee (2014-2016) Reproductive Health 4. Election of Zonal Youth Committee (2014-2016) The forum elected a new committee that is composed of the following members: 1. Murtadhwa Rashid – Chairperson (Tanzania) 2. Jude Omongin – English Secretary (Uganda)
3. Christa Idole Ahangame – French Secretary (Burundi) 4. Umuhoza Mediatrice – Rwanda 5. Fabien Akarikumutima – Rwanda 6. Gasore Parfait – Burundi 7. Pauline Kagiri – Kenya 8. Willie Kiplagat – Kenya 9. Anna Emmanuel – Tanzania 10. Tubwita Medrine – Uganda Grace Michuki, the President Africa Scout Youth Forum will also sit in the committee as an ex-officio member until the end of her term in office. The former Chairperson Nelson Opany will also remain available in an advisory capacity to support the committee. 5. Key Highlights These are some of the things that really stood out for us during this year’s forum. The forum expressed need for more involvement of young people with special needs including opportunities for representation within the youth committee A proposal was fronted to have the position of Chairperson of the Zonal youth committee on a rotational basis among the member NSAs There is need to put more emphasis on reproductive health education among young people especially during scout camps as an intervention on keeping scouts safe from harm We observed a great improvement in the organization of the forum and related logistics with regard to the venue, accommodation, sanitary facilities, meals and the general atmosphere as compared to 2013 and 2012. Ineffective communication and last minute change of decisions by the host NSA caused some inconveniences to participation of young people in the forum (especially with reference to demanding increased participation fees without proper prior communication) The forum also notes with great pleasure the increasing impact that this platform continues to make in our various NSAs, based on the success stories shared by the delegates 6. Recommendations Strategy for Scouting (WOSM Vision 2023) NSO should consider the new strategy for scouting passed at the WSC and put in place mechanisms to ensure its full implementation with full involvement and support of young people in order to make scouting a leading global youth education movement by 2023. U-Report Programme By the end of February 2015, all NSAs should take the earliest advantage of the partnership between UNICEF and WOSM and take the necessary steps to roll out the UReport platform in order to give the young people the opportunity to engage in national development efforts in their countries to with the support of the U-Report team from Uganda.
Scouts With Special Needs The conference should encourage all NSAs to increase their efforts and programmes of involving young people living with disabilities and other special needs; including greater representation, in line with the new strategic priority of ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ that seeks to make Scouting accessible to more young people. 7. Resolutions Strategy for Scouting (WOSM Vision 2023) The zonal youth committee will develop youth involvement action plan in consultations with the NSAs in order to provide away for young people to contribute in the implementation of the strategy. U-Report Programme With the support of our NSAs the zonal youth committee will work with the national youth forum leaders and in partnership with other youth organizations in their respective countries to mobilize young people to actively engage in the programme and contribute to monitoring, reporting and initiating action on socio-economic issues affecting our communities. Scouts With Special Needs The zonal youth committee will amongst themselves appoint a member to represent the interests of young people with special needs but will ensure that a substantive position for the same will be created in the 2016 elections; as a way of mainstreaming their involvement in Scouting at the zonal level. Conclusion The Zonal Youth Committee will prepare and circulate the comprehensive report together with the list of participants and other forum documents to all NSAs by 28th February 2015. However, the forum continues to highly encourage the Zonal Conference and the respective NSAs to give attention to voice of the young people as contained in the reports of this and other previous and subsequent forums. For forum to have a more meaningful impact there needs to be a greater will and commitment to following up on the proposals put forward by the young people. Otherwise we a grateful for the continued support and look forward to even more support in order to enable to young people realize the best that the movement has to offer them. Report Compiled by Eastern Africa Zonal Scout Youth Committee Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda 30th December 2014