Kudumail Edition 17 EN

February 2013

Kudumail

News from the Africa Scout Region

www.scout.org/africa

40,000 Scouts meet in Nyeri to celebrate Founder’s Day

Inside Highlight

40,000 Scouts meet in Nyeri to celebrate Founder’s Day

Page 1 From NSOs Bike rider with a message of peace Sharing peace on Founder’s Day

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From ARO Food For Life project in Benin and Niger – in depth coverage

Page 3 Community Peace for All, Kenyans for Peace.

Development Page 4 NYERI, KENYA - On February 24, 2013, about 40,000 Scouts attended the commemoration of the birthday of the Founder of Scouting, Baden Powell, in Nyeri, Kenya. Equity Bank CEO Dr. James Mwangi was the chief guest and according to Kenya Scouts Association Chief Commissioner, Mr. Ray Musau, this was one of the most attended in the history of the event.

The event was also graced by the Vice Chairman of the World Scout Committee, Mr. John May, the Regional Director, World Scout Bureau, Africa Regional Office, Mr. Frederic Kama Kama, the Treasurer Africa Scout Committee, Mr. Jeremy Naivasha and all the Regional Staff as well as Scouts from different countries in the world among them Scouts from the United Kingdom.

This special day is also referred to as World Thinking Day as it is the occasion for Scouts and Guides around the world to remember that they are part of worldwide Movements and an opportunity to acknowledge their fellow brother and sister Scouts and Guides without whom the Movements would not exist. It is also the occasion to remember and renew the Promise that every Scout or Guide makes.

A four-day customary pre-camp at the Kabiruini Agricultural Show ground that took place from the 21st - 23rd February with the theme “Scouting for Peace and Coexistence” preceded the Founderee. The event is usually programmed around the nearest weekend to BP's birthday to make it more convenient for Scouts and volunteers alike.

At the event over 200 Scouts who are part of the 3,050 who underwent a financial management course, courtesy of Equity Bank, graduated during the celebrations and were awarded certificates by the Chief Guest.

Dr. Mwangi said children were capable of upholding a united Kenya. "Let us challenge our parents, teachers and other members of our community to call for peace, uphold it and give us a bright and hopeful future, " said Dr. Mwangi. This being an election year in Kenya, he called on the presidential candidates to accept the election results so as to ensure peace and stability prevails.

Mr John May emphasized the importance of all Scouts spreading the message of peace and joining the Messengers of Peace network so as to increase the impact of their work for peace, reaching more people, spreading their work to other communities and regions.

Mr Kama Kama said that he appreciated the partnership between KSA and Equity. He made it known to all that efforts were being made to make Nyeri the heart of Scouting for the world and the Scouting fraternity at large.

Lord Baden Powell spent his last days in Nyeri, Kenya and in his will, chose to be buried there. He died on 8th January 1941. His wife Lady Olave died 36 years later and was buried beside her husband.

Many Scouts make a pilgrimage to Kenya to pay their respects to the father of Scouting during these celebrations.

Events Africa Scout Day 2013 calendar

Southern Africa Zonal Youth Forum and Conference

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February 2013

Kudumail

FOCUS ON NSOs Bike rider with a message of peace

What’s Ronald’s advice to his fellow Scouts?

UGANDA - Musinguzi Ronald Benjamin a final year student at Makerere University and a rover scout has a purpose and a reason to ride with the Scout logo on his jersey for free. According to Ronald his main reason for riding is to spread the message of peace as a messenger of peace while enjoying his passion. He also believes if motor cross riding can change something in the way of thinking of motocross fans and lovers, then it’s a worthwhile reason for riding. He says he rides for Scouting because it has made him what he is today and helped him to make responsible and wise decisions affecting hundreds of young people he leads in scout groups.

To the young scouts, I encourage you to believe in yourself and be a positive contribution to the society. Do a good turn everyday and be a source of happiness to those around you. More still, advocate for a peaceful environment and be a messenger of peace wherever you are. Lastly, find talents you are passionate about develop it and positively represent scouting at all levels. In this you will be raising both yourself and the scouts’ flag high.

To the elder scouts, lead transparently and give the young people a reason to enjoy Scouting. Do not get tired of advising and guiding us through this distinctive kind of practical education with relevant skills. And lastly, be the light of the movement and take scouting to a greater level. Be ‘Messengers of Peace’ in all ways.

Sharing peace on Founder’s Day As the world commemorated Founder’s Day on 22nd of February Scouts in Côte d'Ivoire celebrated by holding their second national congress meeting to discuss major projects. The celebrations were held from 22nd – 24th February where 35 participants were trained on the initiative of Messengers of Peace by the MoP national coordinator, Mary Louise Ycossié.

Ronald started riding when he was young and he owns and rides a Kawasaki 250cc bike, code named Ronald Scout in a category MX 1 due to the engine size of his bike. The name Ronald Scout signifies what he rides for and believes in as well as being his field name.

In his moment of reflection, he earns his pride from knowing that the work that he has done is setting the foundation for youth to become even more accomplished than him.

The new MoP trainees committed themselves to be messengers of peace in their respective communities, work more to spread the message of peace and promote and recruit Scouts to the MoP network. In the same vein, the Girl Scouts of Côte d'Ivoire, university Scouts and messengers of peace networks distributed food to hundreds of prisoners from the Gagnoa prison and correction facility.

After a race, he interacts with a number of youth who find it so amazing that he rides with a Scout’s logo and they ask so many questions about scouting and why he rides for peace yet there is peace in Uganda. To Ronald peace is not only related to war but also having peace of mind in our day to day life and when members of his community live together in harmony, that’s also peace.

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© 2012 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office

February 2013

Kudumail

FROM THE REGIONAL OFFICE Food For Life project in Benin and Niger

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The Food For Life project started in Niger and Benin in 2011 through the support of Finland. Two years down the line, the project has encountered a number of challenges but also a lot of successes and good practices learnt. The project has been able to bring together different stakeholders and has promoted the work of Scouting both in quantity and quality in these two countries.

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The realities of the two countries are diverse and therefore the crops and even the farming techniques are different. In both countries, the project is well supported by the Scout leadership and there has been a smooth integration of the Food For Life project into the Scouting activities in schools.

Important to note too is the welcoming of the project to schools and the support offered by the school administration in terms of providing land, supporting the project activities for the pupils by allocating Scouts time to carry out gardening activities and even helping the pupils come up with a duty roster for watering and taking care of the crops.

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Through the Food For Life project, they have been able to organize camping to exchange experiences between the different regions.

The Scouts of Niger have been able to establish partnerships with Agricole Bank du Niger and JTS Schools support the FFL project and hence support Scouting in schools. The teachers support the students to run the FFL project activities

BENIN Benin is implementing the project in 7 regions. The weather conditions in Benin are not as harsh as in Niger and there is availability of water and the soil is arable.

Where there is no water at the vicinity, they have been able to dig some wells next to the project sites to use the water for irrigating the crops.

Mainly, they grow vegetables, which lasts between 3-6 weeks in the garden depending on the type. This means that they are planting new crops after every few weeks.

NIGER The country is implementing the project in 5 regions namely: Niamey, Tahoua, Tillabery, Maradi and Zinder. The country is very dry and especially in the northern part and therefore it is difficult to grow crops throughout the year.

However, they have acquired a new technique-JTS that allows them to grow crops throughout the year and with a better produce. So far, the technique has been introduced in 3 regions and they hope to extend it to the remaining two regions in 2013.

Like Niger too, they have learnt the technique to make pesticides using some plants. This is an organic technique, which is not poisonous to the crops nor does it damage the soil. In one of the schools, they also rear chicken and some guinea fowls.

Other aspects concerning the project Community involvement

Other aspects concerning the project Community and other stakeholder’s involvement The parents, teachers and school authorities have been very receptive and supportive to the project. The parents allow their children and support them in the implementation of the project. At home, they provided some space for the Scouts to continue with the FFL activities. During the award of the proficiency badges for Scouts, the parents accompanied the Scouts to receive the badges.

Local Authorities and Government During the award of the badges, they invited the Mayor of the town to be the chief guest during this ceremony. They also have a cordial relationship with the Ministry of Youth, which really appreciated this project as it falls into one of the key priorities of the government, “Response to food crisis in Niger.”

Challenges for Niger • The soil is so hard that it is so difficult to dig and some of the equipments break in the process of digging.

• The country is so vast and it is a challenge to continually monitor and evaluate all the regions.

• Lack of capacity of the Adults in Scouting which results in lack of support to the Scouts to accompany them in carrying out their activities.

• Lack of Scout uniforms as priority is to buy food and not uniform • Lack of water Successes and Good practices • The project has already been able to reach 1275 Scout out of the targeted 1500 by the end of 2013.

• Have been able to acquire a new farming technique-JTS (Jardin Tropical Semences), which has already been introduced in 3 regions. The techniques provide better produce at all seasons and the results are certainly better and more compared to the traditional way of farming.

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Parents The parents have supported the Scouts to start the project at home by providing space.

In one of the family’s, a mother has actually taken up the technique with her daughter who is a Scout to produce food for her family and to sell the rest to pay school fees for her.

The vegetable project at home has been very successful and productive. At one of the Scouts’ home, he has established a garden with friends who have not joined the Scouting Movement.

Together, they have planted tomatoes, vegetables and cassava. A different Scout group has gathered Scouts and used a garden away from school and have planted butternuts, cassava and vegetables.

Successes and good practices • Making pesticides from local organic materials to protect the crops from attack by insects • In one of the project sites visited, they explained that they were able to harvest their own salad seeds by allowing the salad to overgrow and produce seeds.

• Promoted Scouting • Project has been supported by stakeholders such as schools administration, parents and teachers • Trained Unit leaders Challenges • Some schools do not have gardens and use other people’s land which sometimes is taken back in the middle of the project • Late disbursement of finances • They feel the need for more expert training as they are still using old techniques.

© 2012 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office

February 2013

Kudumail

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Peace for All, Kenyans for Peace THIKA, KENYA - Saturday, 9th February 2013 was a very important day for the Scouting fraternity in Kiambu County. The Rover Scouts of Mount Kenya University organized a Messengers of Peace event dubbed “Youth for Peace Forum”. The activity brought together other Scouts from different universities and colleges in Thika and beyond under the theme “Peace for All, Kenyans for Peace”. It was also attended by university staff, members of the public, high school students and graced by Dr. Edwin Aketch of Global Peace Foundation, Mr. Samuel Guthua of Peace Ambassadors Kenya, Mr. Albanus Mwololo of Universal Peace Federation Somalia and Mr. Eric Wanjohi from the International Strategy Centre. The National Youth Representatives Nelson Opany and Grace Michuki, were also present to represent the Kenya Scouts Head office and Messengers of Peace Network in Kenya. The chief guest was Prof. Mbula Bahemuka from the University of Nairobi. Other partners that supported the event include Brand Kenya Board, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Picha MtaaniHeal the Nation Initiative, National Cohesion and Integration Commission and the Kenya Forests Service.

With the General Elections due on 4th March, every speaker emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and the critical role that young people have to play in ensuring that Kenyans live in peace before, during and after the electioneering period. Nelson took time to explain to the gathering the Messengers of Peace concept and the position and contribution of Scouting in the work of peace. He urged every Kenyan to do whatever is within their power to preach peace wherever they live. “The achievement of national peace requires the efforts of every one of us. Peace is a personal as well as collective responsibility and each one has a role to play. As we go to cast our votes on March 4th - for those of us registered as voters; let us love one another, respect one another and vote wisely for those leaders who will offer selfless service to the people and promote peace - and not divide Kenyans along ethnic lines.

Even as we do that, let us not forget our unending call to become Messengers of Peace. Lets us shun violence and work together to promote a more unified nation free from tribalism; a nation where each of us can live freely and happily.” he said.

Mr. Guthua said that there was need to inter-relate peace activities with other areas such as health, food security, environment and education. He further noted that there is no way to peace, but peace is the way. Dr. Aketch talked about interfaith action, family unit and the society as critical pillars for the realization of peace. He also identified five fundamental principles for the practice of peace.

These included; we belong to the same creator, we all are moral in nature, the family is a school of love and foundation for peace, breaking the barriers of tribe and religion and the Head-Heart-Hand cycle.

The Chief Guest, Prof. Mbula emphasized on the role of young people in attainment of lasting peace.

She encouraged the youth to give peace a fresh start by embracing a culture that values and sustains peace founded on mutual social responsibility, accountability and reciprocity - being there for one another. “Your name as a young person is Now and Today, not Tomorrow or the Future.

You must develop a strong character that says no to violence and use your strength and intelligence for the good of the nation. You must be men and women of goodwill”, she said.Apart from the speeches and talks given by the guests, the participants also made presentations enhancing the theme of the event.

These included poetry, songs, dances and games. Those who excelled received various awards such as umbrellas from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Messengers of Peace badges, ribbons and scarves among others. The event ended with the planting of commemorative peace trees by all guest present.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Memorable quote “As the Scout movement, peace has always been and will continue to form an integral part of our programmes. We are very conscious in empowering young people to play a constructive role in society with the vision of creating a better world; through a culture of peace.”

Mr. Nelson Opany, Kenya Scouts National Youth Representative, at the Youth for Peace Forum at Mt. Kenya University main campus in Thika, February 2013.

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EVENT

DATES

COUNTRY

Africa Scout Day

10th – 14th March 2013

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Southern Africa Zonal Youth Forum and Conference

9th to 11th and 12th to 14th April 2013, respectively

Gaborone, Botswana

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World Scout Bureau Africa Regional Office P.O. Box 63070 00200, City Square Nairobi, KENYA africa@scout.org www.scout.org/africa Skype: worldscoutbureauafrica Phone 1: (+254 20) 728499553 Phone 2: (+254 20) 245 09 85

© 2012 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office