Kudumail Edition 20 EN

May 2013

Kudumail

News from the Africa Scout Region

www.scout.org/africa

South Sudan joins World Scouting family

Inside Highlight

South Sudan joins World Scouting family

Page 1 From NSOs Testimonies of some MoP participants in Cote d’Ivoire Madagascar MoP testimony

Page 2  WSB-ARO LIBRARY

From ARO Youth involvement in decisionmaking: An African possibility

Scouts from Africa at the 9th AfricaEurope training course for youth organizations

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SOUTH SUDAN - The World Organization of the Scout Movement welcomes South Sudan as its latest member. The membership became official on 1 May 2013.

The National Scout Organization, South Sudan Scout Association, will be ceremonially welcomed at the 40th World Scout Conference in Slovenia (2014). WOSM is one of the first global youth organisations to accept the full membership of South Sudan.

Scouting was active since the 50s as part of Sudanese Scouting. After independence of South Sudan on 9 July 2011, 7 groups out of 10 states met and held elections of a constitutive Board to establish the new National Scout Organization recognised by the national authorities and submit an application to become a member of WOSM.

Community Ethiopia Scout Association In accordance with the requirements of the Development celebrates Animal’s Day Constitution of WOSM, the World Scout Page 4 Committee considered this application at its formal meeting on 28 September–1 October 2012, and Events 14th World Scout Moot recommended that it be accepted following due calendar constitutional procedures.

1st World Scout Education Congress South Sudan Scout Association is already in partnership with its neighbour NSOs – Uganda and Kenya to get more exposure and has attended wood badge training organized by Kenya Scouts Association.

In becoming a Member of WOSM, South Sudan Scout Association has become, as it desired, a member of the Africa Scout Region and will also be supported by the Arab Scout Region due to the linguistic reality of the country.

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May 2013

Kudumail

FOCUS ON NSOs Kenya Scouts Host the 2nd National Roveree NAIROBI - For the 2nd year running, Rover Scouts from Kenya gathered at Rowallan Scouts Camp for the National Roveree from 15th to 19th May 2013. A Roveree is a gathering of rover scouts in a camp to learn, share experiences, make friendships and have fun with a purpose. It also gives them an opportunity to understand and partake in the Rover Scout programme towards earning the badges and awards in their progressive scheme. The theme for this year’s Roveree was, “Skills for Peace, Service and Development”.

Testimonies of some MoP participants in Côte d'Ivoire In the ongoing quest to spread the word about how the Messengers of Peace project is changing lives of Scouts, in this edition of Kudumail we profile two Scouts from Cote d’Ivore and Madagascar who tell us their story.

CÔTE D'IVOIRE - I discovered the initiative of Messengers of Peace at the National Rover Convention. I think this initiative will provide full opportunities for the Bouaké region that has suffered from the effects of war and is in full reconstruction and recovery. Being committed to peace and being involved in reconstruction projects for the community is a factor of development in Ivory Coast and Africa at large. It is important to continue the vision of the MoP initiative to create a better world!

By Dr Muna EKANE regional commissioner of the Bouaké region

The MoP project has been pivotal in our country and specifically our region here because our country is coming out of a crisis. As members of the National Youth Scout Committee of Ivory Coast, we have enjoyed the training and exposure MoP has offered.

The camp began with induction training for Youth Representatives from different counties and districts of Kenya. Participants also went through various elements of the Rover Scout Programme, informative workshops on Messengers of Peace, HIV Free Generation among others, and a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities including team building, hiking and community service.

I love the MOP and scouting in Ivory Coast!

Thank you!

By Eny Yao ASSAMOUApresident of national youth scout committee of Ivory Coast

An opportunity was also availed for those who had not been invested to undergo pre investiture tests, vigil and investiture. A total of 38 new rover scouts were invested. Another highlight included a visit to the World Scout Bureau Africa Regional Office where the participants interacted with the Regional Director, Mr. Frederic Kama-Kama and other members of staff.

Ultimately, the Roveree served to rekindle the spirit of Rovering in Kenya through interesting and challenging activities. It also assisted in finding new ways of making the practice of Rovering more attractive, engaging and meaningful.

Moving on, Kenya Scouts Association is looking towards making the event annual with participation open to rovers from East Africa zone, the rest of Africa and the world in the spirit of the jolly brotherhood of Scouting.

Madagascar MoP testimony MADAGASCAR - The tropical cyclone Haruna that had destructive effects in the southern part of Madagascar on the 23rd of February 2013, affected over 17,100 victims.

Winds and floods brought lots of damage to the plantation fields and infrastructure: schools, hospitals, bureaus, and electricity facilities. Most of the local residents have been deprived of electricity and fresh water.

The deputy District Commissioner of AtsimoAndrefana said, “Scouts really played an important role for the good organization and helping local authorities and victims. They were good Messengers of Peace”. The National Scout Team came to distribute some school kits, clothes and candles because they lost quite everything during the cyclone including their uniforms.

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© 2012 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office

May 2013

Kudumail

FROM THE REGIONAL OFFICE Youth Involvement in Decision-making: An African possibility? - By Jonathan Omondi – WSB-ARO NAIROBI - Baden Powell famously made this powerful statement “Ask the boy”.

Looking back, we should not only marvel at the power of this statement, but more fundamentally also actualise it at the different levels of our NSOs. Youth involvement is a process that ensures youth have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. It creates volunteer opportunities for youth to be a part of the changes and decisions being made in their communities.

In essence, there are three main levels in which youth involvement takes place. These are: at the unit level, at institutional level within Scouting and within the community.

Youth thus need to be encouraged, motivated and nurtured to participate in a balanced manner at all these three levels.

Scouts from Africa at the 9th Africa-Europe Training Course for Youth Organizations MINDELO, CAPE VERDE - From 3rd to 10th May 2013 youth leaders from Africa and Europe met in the Cape Verdean city of Mindelo on Sao Vicente Island for the 9th Africa-Europe Training Course for Youth Organizations. Held under the Joint Management Agreement between EuropeAid and the NorthSouth Centre of the Council of Europe, the course took place in the framework of the 5th African University on Youth and Development. The training is held in partnership with Cape Verdean Youth Federation, the Pan-African Youth Union and the Network of International Youth Organizations in Africa.WOSM Africa is part of this initiaive and was represented by Nelson Ochieng Opany from Kenya Scouts Association. There were also other Scouts in attendance from Cape Verde, Portugal, Angola and Guinea Bissau.

The course was aimed at promoting personal development through training as well as capacity building and coordination of youth organizations in global youth work; thus enhancing visibility and sustainability of partnerships between African and European youth. It also created a space to exchange competences and good practices in youth work as well as providing an opportunity for the participants to contribute to the advocacy processes to meet the thematic priorities of the AfricaEurope Youth Platform of MDGs and Post 2015 Development Agenda and Youth Unemployment. The joint theme for the university was ”Democratic Citizenship”.

Among the dignitaries who graced the training were the President of Cape Verde, His Excellency Jorge Carlos Fonseca, the Prime Minister, Hon. Jose Maria Neves and the Mayor of Sao Vicente, Hon. Agusto Neves among others. They challenged participants to translate the lessons into actions that can influence policies and support advocacy for the improvement of youth work. They called for a transfer of knowledge and competencies amongst a wider audience of young people to build capacities for further engagements towards a more democratic world.

The power of the Scout method well applied should enable the youth coming into Scouting not just to increase their personal commitment but additionally through shared activities and experiences to gain a deeper understanding and adherence to the Scout law, gain moral autonomy and ultimately acquire life skills and values that enable them practice responsible citizenry.

Youth involvement requires the commitment of all Adults in Scouting, as it cannot take place in a context in which genuine youth adult relationship does not thrive. Adult leaders are thus encouraged to employ a cooperative approach when engaging youth in Scouting activities. Though frameworks may be directive in their nature, content should be non-directive to ensure that the voice of the youth is not only heard, but also taken into account. As a good practice, Adults should respect young people’s views and needs and target the right level of participation. In return, the youth should also respect the adults’ view and strive to learn from their experience.

National Scout Organizations need to incorporate a youth participation strategy into their mission and vision statements and appropriate policies and procedures, and into all stages of a project, from planning to evaluation. After all, empowering the youth should not be a matter of choice or selective privilege but a matter of necessity and priority as the youth are the “owners” of the Scout movement. NSOs should embrace the concept of customer focus and the youth are ultimately our primary customers. Right?

NB: What are some of the good practices, experiences and challenges of youth involvement in your NSO? Please share with us this feedback on africa@scout.org with the title “Youth Involvement experiences of <name of your NSO>” Some of these experiences may be published in our next editions to inspire other NSOs.

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The Africa-Europe Youth Cooperation provides an important platform for global and intercultural dialogue for the promotion of a stronger global youth partnership for development. Supported by the Africa-Europe Youth Cooperation online resource centre (www.aeyco.com), the cooperation presents immense opportunity not only for Africa and Europe but also for the entire world.

© 2012 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office

May 2013

Kudumail

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Memorable quote The wonder to me of all wonders is how some teachers have neglected Nature study, this easy and unfailing means of education, and have struggled to impose Biblical instruction as the first step towards getting a restless, full-spirited boy to think of higher things.

Ethiopia Scout Association celebrates Animal’s Day ETHIOPIA – 220 Scouts drawn from different age groups of the Ethiopian Scout Association celebrated the Animal’s day on 10th May 2013 with the theme, “Let’s respect and give care to the animals domesticated and wild.” This celebration was organized in cooperation with the Addis Ababa university veterinary science faculty and programs that give support to animals namely the donkey Sanctuary and the SPANA projects.

Lord Baden-Powell, Founder of Scouting

PLEASE EMAIL US A PROVERB OR SAYING FROM YOUR COUNTRY. WE WILL PUBLISH THE BEST IN THE NEXT ISSUE! (africa@scout.org)

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Chief Scout, Dr. Costantinos Berhe and the Chief Commissioner, Dr. W. A. Davis opened the event by pointing out that one of the laws of Scouting states that, “A Scout protects life and nature”, so proper implementation of the law asks us to give care to the animals and to contribute for the betterment of the environment. In this regard the participants had to commit to contribute their level best in protection of the animals and nature.

The event was also attended by representatives of the university community. After the opening ceremony, different trainings and awareness campaign presentations were made to the participants.

The representatives from the donkey sanctuary and the SPANA project gave detailed trainings on how to protect animals from harm and harmful practices to avoid.

The other point that was raised on the program was that every domesticated and wild animal is beneficial to the balance of the ecosystem and for the betterment of the environment.

EVENT

DATES

COUNTRY

14th World Scout Moot

8th – 18th August 2013

Canada

1st World Scout Education Congress

22nd – 24th November 2013

Hong Kong

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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

Finally training was given on diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans and how to protect us from exposure to these diseases and to identify signs of infection in human and symptoms in animals. The event and training contributed in increasing the awareness of the participating

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© 2012 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office