APR Scout Foundation Bulletin Volume 8

Message from the Regional Chairman Hon. Jejomar C. Binay, Chairman Regional Scout Committee

As we take small but life-changing steps, we reflect on the 19-year journey of the APR Scout Foundation since its creation in 1992. Over those years until today, we are able to fund Scout projects that promote and serve the needs of the community.

One of the significant projects is Ticket to Life, a program designed for street children to learn life skills through Scouting. This project has been implemented in eight countries since 2007, and still growing in strength.

Over the years, other funded projects were community awareness on leprosy eradication (Nepal), peace baton relay around the Asia-Pacific, construction of camping site and commercial building (Mongolia, Nepal and Sri Lanka), environment conservation (Bangladesh) and incomegenerating projects in Maldives, Nepal and Mongolia.

We thank members and National Scout Organizations for continuously supporting the work of the Foundation, that despite the global economic downturn, the Foundation has set new goals to increase its funds.

I am also pleased to convey our gratitude to the Foundation Management Committee and the Investment Team for their dedication to make the Foundation a functional component in life of the region.

Seeing lives improved

story on page 2

Message from the Foundation President Simon Hang Bock Rhee, President Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Foundation

Recognizing the limited resources of the APR Scout Foundation, we dreamt of increasing our funds, driven by one thing – to see positive changes in the community through Scouting. And this is done through the collective generosity of our members.

To fulfill this, a focused approach was needed. The Foundation will remain steadfast in funding more projects that would help generate income and improve conditions in various aspects of operations in National Scout Organizations (NSOs). Whether large or small, we are inspired to work harder!

The Foundation is now making another attempt to be able to fund more NSO projects by allocating a specific amount per year for such community projects.

The very heart of the Foundation is to be able to help when needed and to re-echo the famous words of Lord Baden Powell, “Leave this place better than you found it.”

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Seeing lives improved (Cover page story)

Ticket to Life (TTL) is one of the regional projects that the APR Scout Foundation has continuously supported since 2006. It helps street children improve their lives through Scouting. Today, there are troops in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka enjoying the benefits of the program.

In Manila, Jomar Lucion, now 16, used to roam around the crowded streets with other kids. He was under the care of a Catholic priest who was taking custody of street children around his parish. When the priest chose to enroll the children in the Ticket to Life program, Jomar was fortunate to be one of them. Now fully orphaned (mother died when he was two, and the father died when he was 14), and totally deaf, his strong interest in Scouting paid off. He was sponsored to join the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden through the Operation One World.

Jomar finds “home” in Scouting. He continues to study in High School, and his TTL country coordinator, Ms Sophie Castillo of Boy Scouts of the Philippines, guides him closely like a second parent. She said, “he is energetic and a very responsible student.”

At this stage of TTL, the focus of Country Coordinators is to make the project self-sustaining. One good example is the TTL troop in Davao City, Philippines, which aims to fund itself by 2013.

The Foundation seeks to fund projects that bring life to communities. In the same way, TTL is created to give young people under difficult circumstances better opportunities by equipping them with life skills and a support network to cope with life.

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Foundation spurs growth, development of Pedro Scout Camp Physical improvements of the Pedro Camp in Sri Lanka started with self-financing by Sri Lanka Scout Association (SLSA) and from international funding assistance.

More improvements were made when SLSA obtained a loan from the APR Scout Foundation in 2006. Electrical power supply was installed throughout the camp, enabling the association to host the SAARC Friendship Camp in 2006.

Other facilities were upgraded, such as the construction of six cabins for campers, additional toilet facilities and water supply.

More and more people started to use the campsite, including non-Scouts, getting enough income for SLSA to pay back the quarterly loan installment to the Foundation.

SLSA continued to renovate and rehabilitate the irrigation area and built a new facility called “Scout lodge�. The lodge operated as a separate profit centre and more funds were raised. Since its official opening, demand for accommodation has picked up both by Scouts and non-Scouts.

Family members of Scouts and leaders are frequent visitors of the camp and troops use the camping area for training. All Wood Badge courses are held there.

Moreover, with the reconstruction of C P Jayawardena Hut, visitors have more choices.

Other organizations or institutions are now using the camp for a fee.

Locals in the vicinity are employed for the upkeep and maintenances of facilities.

Looking ahead, with outdoor adventure becoming more popular in Sri Lanka, SLSA plans to install proper equipment for outward bound training. Partners are being eyed for this venture possibly with the local state authorities.

Journey towards self-sufficiency At the heart of Kathmandu, commercial buildings within the Nepal Scouts headquarters compound have been completed and now being rented out.

APR Foundation partly funded this massive project through a soft loan as a way of generating continuous flow of income for Nepal Scouts.

At this early stage, income from the buildings are being used to fund remote districts of the country, and do more Scouting activities there.

The buildings are leased out for 10 years where 5% of the rent will increase every three years, which in the long run, will be a permanent source of income for Nepal Scouts.

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Foundation Management Committee

Partner with us

The APR Scout Foundation Management Committee oversees the affairs of the Foundation and reports to the Regional Scout Committee.

Abdullah Rasheed, Regional Director World Organization of the Scout Movement, Asia-Pacific Region

Members Mohammad Habibul Alam Alexander Wong Yasuhiko Paul Miki Seung-Su Kim Sonny Kuniichi Komachi

President Simon Hang Bock Rhee Vice-President Dr William George Wells Treasurer Wai-Chi Paul Ho

In its 19 years of existence, the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Foundation continues to grow through the effort of the Foundation Management Committee and support of NSOs.

Investment Team William KWAN Cheuk-yin (Coordinator) Si Bum Kim Chin Fa Yeh

Promotion Coordinator Mohammed Ali Khalid

Foundation Fellowship gathering

As a regular feature of Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conferences, the APR Scout Foundation will arrange a “Fellowship Gathering” with special dinner exclusively for all Foundation members on Sunday, 25th November 2012 in Dhaka.

Also on this occasion, the Foundation Management Committee will present its Triennial Report from 2009-2012.

Fellowship Gathering invites all Foundation members – old as well as new – as a way of appreciating and recognizing their support. More details about the event will be announced later.

Invitation to Fundraising Dinner

The APR Scout Foundation will organize a fundraising dinner at the 24th APR Scout Conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday 27th in November 2012. This event is open to all conference participants, Foundation members and local well-wishers. The gala night will go with dinner and special performances.

This is an opportunity where the Foundation raises funds as well as to welcome new members. Details will be published in the conference bulletin and in the following websites: APR website Conference website http://www.scout.org/asiapacific http://www.24aprsc.org

It is inspiring to see how the generosity of others could translate into concrete Scout projects, infrastructure development, income generation and sustainability, and environment education.

The Foundation can expand its work at a larger and wider scale with more partners and donors coming in – whether these are NSOs, individuals, or corporations.

We especially thank Scout Association of Hong Kong for serving as trustee of the Foundation.

Events funded by the Foundation National Programme & Training Commissioners’ Forum Australia (US$1,000) APR Workshop on Partnership and Fundraising Korea (US$1,000) APR Workshop on Effective National Adult Resources Committee & National Training System Japan (US$1,000) APR Workshop on Innovative Leadership and Effective Communication, Sri Lanka (US$1,000)

Be a member

Foundation Progress Report 2.0

Application form is available upon request from the regional office or can be downloaded from our website: www.scout. org/asia-pacific

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Payment can be made by cheque, telegraphic transfer and credit card. For cheque payments, please prepare a cheque payable to “Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Foundation/ The Scout Association of Hong Kong.”

For telegraphic transfer Account Name: WORLD SCOUT BUREAU/APR Account Number: 10-12000-40188 Bank Name: BANCO DE ORO/Herrera Branch V. Sotto St., cor Herrera St., Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229 PHILIPPINES

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Membership Categories Associate Member US$500.00 - up Donor Member US$1,000.00 – up Bronze Palm Member US$3,000.00 - up Silver Palm Member US$5,000.00 - up

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Gold Palm Member US$10,000.00 – up Platinum Palm Member US$25,000.00 - up Diamond Palm Member US$50,000.00 - up

For online payment Log on to http://scout.org/en/about_scouting/fundraising/ donate/donate_now then select “Scouting in Asia-Pacific Region For further information Mr Abdullah Rasheed Regional Director World Scout Bureau/APR P.O Box 4050 1200 Makati City, Philippines Tel Nos. +63 2 818 0984 / 817 1675 Fax No + 63 2 819 0093 E-mail: asia-pacific@scout.org