A Worldwide Brotherhood: My International Scouting Experience

A WORLWIDE BROTHERHOOD My International Scouting Experience

By Nelson Ochieng Opany I became a Scout at the age of 10 years when I first made the Scout Promise during my investiture ceremony at Starehe Boys Centre. It has been over fifteen years now and I have never looked backed or regretted one of those first independent decisions I ever made in my life. Intact the journey keeps getting better and better with every new experience.

The many camps, hikes, inter patrol competitions, rover challenges, community service activities, projects, jamborees, rover moots, youth forums, conferences and leadership opportunities among many other things; at local, national, regional and international levels; have all served to provide with me unforgettable lifetime experiences. I have built many friendships, interacted with very diverse groups of people, acquired knowledge and skills to lead and serve, become a messenger of peace and a global citizens, worked for the preservation of nature and towards creating better communities in many different ways.

All these experiences have made me who I am. But, perhaps, the most fortunate thing is that I count myself very privileged enough to have earned numerous opportunities to travel the world, all in the name of Scouting. “Many young men just drift passively along and never reach happiness. With Rovering they would not let slip their golden opportunities. Since it is a brotherhood of wanderers, you can, as a member of it, extend your travels to foreign countries and there make your friendships with brother Rovers from other nationalities. This side of our movement is not only interesting and educative but must make a real step in ensuring the future peace of the world through mutual goodwill.� Baden Powell once said.

This has indeed been very true for me. Scouting has given me the opportunities to explore and discover the world. Through my various engagements in the movement I have landed opportunities to visit various countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and North America. My travels have taken me to at least seventeen countries so far.

Eastern Africa (Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi). My work with the Eastern Africa Zonal Scouts Youth Forum for several years has seen me repeatedly visit these countries with majority of the stays being in Uganda. Other notable memories include a visit to the Genocide Museum in Rwanda, the 6th Africa Scout Youth Forum, Messengers of Peace Community Leaders Training in 2012 and the 8th Eastern Africa Zonal Scout Youth Forum in 2013 in Burundi. The experience of Burundi is quite unique since it’s there that I met some of my greatest Scouting friends in Africa.

Ethiopia: This is probably the single African country that I have been to the most number of times. I first set foot in Addis Ababa in March 2013 during the Africa Scout Day celebrations. I returned in December the same year for the Africa-Europe Partnership (Unguvu II) project planning team meeting. However, in between these two visits I have transited through this fast growing city at least ten times. The most memorable events of my visits will remain at the Habesha 2000 Restaurant; where I enjoyed the traditional “injera” and also found myself on stage dancing to traditional Ethiopian and a Swahili tune. It was awesome!

Arab Republic of Egypt: Whenever I think of this very history-rich nation, indelible flashbacks of wonderful times spent there come to mind. My visit to the Land of the Pharaohs came in 2011 just after the infamous “Egyptian Revolution” when I attended the 14th International Youth Gathering for Cultural Exchange convened by the World Scout Bureau-Arab Regional Office. To this day it remains a very special destination for several reasons. It was my first real international trip during which I also made my maiden flight aboard their national carrier EgyptAir. Apart from that I also got the rare first hand chance of seeing and entering into the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and real Mummies with my very own eyes. The trip really had many firsts and also opened up the gateway to many more travel opportunities.

African Youth Climate Justice Caravan from Nairobi to Durban: Between November and December 2011, I was part of a team of one hundred and sixty one young people drawn from various countries across the world that went on a 41 day overland journey from Nairobi Kenya to Durban, South Africa. Packed in six overland trucks we drove through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and Botswana and into South Africa. Our mission was to mobilize youth voices across Africa to put pressure on government leaders meeting at the Conference of Parties to the 17 th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to reach a fair and legally binding agreement to end the global climate crisis. Through these countries we did many activities and had many experiences that words alone cannot express.

Senegal: I spent two days in Dakar during a stopover on transit to and from Cape Verde. Despite not having much time, I managed to walk around and see a bit of the city. A good friend even took my colleagues and I for shopping at a famous local market.

Cape Verde Islands: This is arguably the most beautiful place I have been to in my life. Its beautiful islands, warm weather, white sandy beaches, very hospital people and touristic lifestyle make it a perfect holiday destination. Out of the ten islands, I managed to visit two; Praia and Mindelo in May 2013. I spent 3 days in Praia and one week in Mindelo during the 9 th Africa-Europe Training Course for Youth Organizations that was organized by the North South Centre of the Council of Europe in collaboration with the Government of Cape Verde. I was nominated for the event by the World Scout Bureau-Africa Regional Office as a representative of the Network of International Youth Organizations in Africa

Turkey: It is the only country outside Africa that I have visited twice. I first landed in Istanbul in June 2013 for the Global Power Shift Summit and returned eight months later in January 2014 for the 1 st World Scout Education Congress Rapporteurs meeting. Istanbul, one of the world’s most populous cities is very interesting; with one part lying in the Asian continent and the other part in Europe. Of the many memories I have of this greatly modernized city, I cannot forget the escapade with my good friend from Zambia, Jim Kastellic, when we went on a discovery mission in Mecidiyekoy. It’s also in Turkey that I first ever saw and touched snow pellets even though very little. Interesting moments indeed they were!

Canada: Aside from being the longest trip I have ever made, Canada is another of the greatest places I have been to. With a stay in Ottawa and Toronto, the 14 th World Scout Moot was my first international Scout event outside Africa. From being met by a former high schoolmate at the airport on arrival, to playing a very key role at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the event, I really had great fun despite being the only Kenya representative at the event.

Belgium: At the time when I was working as the Interim Partnership Officer at the World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office in Nairobi, I got an opportunity to represent the office at the 2 nd meeting of the Africa-Europe Youth Platform in Brussels, Belgium. This was a high profile meeting to discuss youth cooperation between National Youth Councils and international youth organizations in the two continents ahead of the 3rd Africa-Europe Youth Leaders Summit. The clearest thing I can recall about my visit there is that it was my first time to experience temperatures below 8 degrees.

You can imagine how I felt having come form 31 degrees in Mombasa. During this visit I also got to visit the famous Manneken Piss statue and the World Scout Bureau – European Regional Office in Brussels.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: The first thing that struck me when I got to Jeddah, was the very high temperatures. Being hit by heat waves of as high as 41 degrees coming from a 28 or so degrees zone was quite a shock. Despite that, the visit to Saudi was the most seamless and hustle free ever. Having gone on a government invitation as part of the World Organization of the Scout Movement’s delegation to the Saudi National Day celebrations in September 2013, we were treated to great hospitality. This included being hosted by two princes; the Governor of Al Baha Region and the Minister of Education. As if not enough, it was crowned by being awarded, together with six others, the World Scout Messengers of Peace Hero Award; a global recognition by the World Scout Movement given to those who have shown great commitment and leadership towards achieving the mission of Scouting; creating a better world through the Messengers of Peace initiative.

Hong Kong: I went to Hong Kong in November 2013 as a Rapporteur for the 1 st World Scout Education Congress. The Congress was a unique world event organized to offer Educational Methods experts from across World Scouting a platform to share experiences, assess the relevance of the Movement in today’s society, and point a common direction for the future development of Scouting – ultimately repositioning education of young people as the core of Scouting. Getting a very central role to play in this congress, together with the team of rapporteurs and organizers, elevated me to the highest level of engagement ever in World Scouting; an experience I will never forget. I also had many happy moments here reconnecting with old friends as well as meeting new ones; including whois-who is World Scouting.

Working at the World Scout Bureau: I was lucky to have been appointed the Interim Partnership Officer at the Africa Regional Office of the World Scout Bureau; where I served for five months. This period turned out to be my best career moments. In this position my work involved

Apart from the countries listed above, I have also spent several hours on transit through the cities of Bamako in Mali, Frankfurt in Germany and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

I have also been able to represent the Scouting movement at other international events and assignments within the country. These include the 13th World Scout Moot that was hosted by Kenya Scouts Association in 2010, The Youth 21 Building for Change Stakeholders Meeting & the Global Youth Forum on Inclusive Governance hosted at the United Nations Office in Nairobi in 2011, the African Rio+20 Youth Conference organized by the Kenya Youth Climate Network and the East Africa Peace Revolution Retreat by the World Peace Foundation held in Limuru in 2013; just to mention but a few.

13th World Scout Moot

Youth 21 Building for Change Stakeholders Meeting & the Global Youth Forum on Inclusive Governance

African Rio+20 Youth Conference

East Africa Peace Revolution Retreat

In all these countries I have visited various places, learnt many things, interacted with many people and made great friends. Scouting has created avenues for engagement with different people and organizations; both for work and pleasure. I have met, interacted and dined with Kings and Princes, Presidents and Ministers, diplomats, directors, executives and remarkable youth leaders among others; in the sectors of youth development, non formal education, environment and climate change, peace and security and civic leadership. Aside from that, I have gotten invaluable exposure and experience in youth and international development work that has positioned me very well for the future. The networks I have developed also continue to offer me various forms of support both in my personal and professional life.

To my fellow Scouts, Scouting has given us a platform to excel. If we remain faithful and do our best to live up to our promise, then such opportunities are open for everyone of us to utilize. However, it also takes a lot of determination and hardwork at whatever you do. Do not think that luck only can raise you to your dreams. Developing your competencies, building trust and making friendships are essential for any journey to success.

When I think of the far I have come, I can only look back and thank the movement for having adequately prepared me for life. I comfortably and unregretably say that I am who I am today because I am a Scout. Remember, you too can be successful if you mark your life’s course, set free your sails and paddle your canoe aright.

Nelson is the National Youth Representative and Coordinator of the Messengers of Peace Initiative at Kenya Scouts Association. He is also the outgoing Chairperson of the Eastern Africa Zonal Scout Youth Forum