Kudumail 26 en

November 2013

Kudumail

News from the Africa Scout Region

www.scout.org/africa

Kenya's President conferred as a Patron of Kenya Scouts Association

Inside Highlight

Kenya’s President conferred as a Patron of Kenya Scouts Association

Page 1 From NSOs A beacon of hope for children with special needs

Scout reunion with a purpose

Page 2 From ARO Embracing quality Scouting Unguvu 2 project planning team meets in Addis Ababa !WSB-ARO/FILE

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Community Nelson Mandela Gone Home Development Page 4

KENYA – Every year, a day is set aside to award and confer Honours to those Scouts, Scouters, Commissioners and non-warranted persons for great achievement in Scouting.

On the 1st of December 2013 at the State House Gardens, Kenya Scouts Association National Executive, county commissioners, leaders and more than 2000 Scouts converged to be honoured and to confer His Excellency, President Uhuru Kenyatta as the 4th Patron of Kenya Scouts Association.

Present at the function were cabinet secretaries Ms Ann Waiguru in charge of Devolution and Planning Ministry, as well as Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi in charge of the Education Ministry. Scouting falls under the Devolution and Planning ministry.

The Chief Commissioner, Charles Ray Musau and the Chief Scout Hon Francis Ole Kaparo led the colorful ceremony which saw more than 200 Scouts being honoured with various awards among them, Award for good service which is given for especially good work for the movement made by Scouters or persons holding non – executive or honorary rank, Silver Lion which is an award for services of the most exceptional character and unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout. It’s only granted at the discretion of the Chief Scout.

The decorations and awards are given by the Kenya Scouts Association on recommendations by the Honours and Awards Sub – committee with the approval of the National Executive Committee.

The President directed Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources to work with the Kenya Scouts Association and other conservationists in expanding forest cover in the country. Kenya Scout Associations have already planted 15 million trees since 2007 as part of the Global Scouting centenary celebration under the auspices of Gifts for Peace project.

“Scouting complements the education system and the Government has invested heavily in the education sector by providing free primary education and subsidizing secondary education,” President Kenyatta said.

He also commended the Association for its interventions in the nation’s collective war against HIV/AIDS and the use of illicit drugs.

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Ann Waiguru said the youth agenda in the country has been entrenched in Government programmes. The purpose of the Scouting movement is to mould children to be responsible citizens ready to make moral and ethical choices, she said.

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi stressed the need for every child in the country to become a Scout to benefit from the movement’s teachings.

Events 8th East Africa Zonal Conference & calendar Youth Forum 2013/14 Africa Scout Day 2014 Uganda Scout Association Centenary Celebrations 16th Africa Scout Conference and 7th Youth Forum

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FOCUS ON NSOs A beacon of hope for children with special needs

UGANDA - As the Uganda Scouts Association prepares to celebrate 100 years of its existence in 2015; issues to do with disability have been put at the forefront. According to the Chief Commissioner of the Scouts Mr. Samuel Onep during his speech at the annual review sharing meeting at KAPPDDO Center (Kayunga Action for Persons with Physical Disability Development Organization) in Kayunga District, the association had vowed to embrace their founder’s, Baden Powell’s view, of promoting activities of people with disabilities because they can do better things in society. The Chief Commissioner pointed out that Scouting promotes cadre ship and trains people to have positive attitudes in society. In line with the MDGs, Scouting is involved in promoting health education, HIV/AIDS prevention, Reproductive health, malaria reduction, health and sanitation in school among others.

The Commissioner pointed out that a department of Special Needs in Scouting is now in place and Sheikh Idris Kabali has been appointed the Assistant Chief Commissioner in charge of Special Needs. Sheikh Idris happens to be the chairperson of KAPPDDO and represent people with special needs in Kayunga district council. The Scouts association has embraced the disability policy, has moved in all districts of Uganda creating awareness and sensitizing the communities on disability issues.

Inclusion and active participation of people with disabilities in Scouting has been also advocated for. As the chairman of the East African zone, he promised to promote and encourage member states have PWDs representatives in regional and international engagements.

It is estimated that more than one billion people in the world live with some kind of disability. That is one in every seven people. For too long, the world has been guilty of turning a blind eye to the challenges, discrimination and prejudice that people with disability face every day. In Uganda, over 5 million people have a disability. That is one in every six people. Poverty and disability in Uganda are impossible to separate.

Uganda was one of the first countries to ratify the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. It has been at the forefront in making vital commitments to putting rights of PWDs in the constitution; like recognizing sign language as an official language, setting electoral processes to ensure PWDs are represented from village level to parliament among others.

KAPPDDO is a non-governmental institution which is involved in uplifting the standards of living of PWDs in this area through promoting inclusion, economic empowerment, skills development, creating awareness, sensitizing the community, promotion of accessibility in public places, appropriate referrals, integration and having meaningful and purposeful partnerships with other stakeholders in the disability fraternity.

Hope has come to the parents network for children with special needs; an organized group of parents who are behind the start of Center for Disability and Rehabilitation Uganda. All the good practices from KAPPDDO like, livelihood programs, bee keeping, soap making, pineapple growing, knitting, saving and credit scheme among others will be replicated in their catchment area so that their children with special needs can get better lives.

A memorandum of understanding between CDR-Uganda and KAPPDDO will be signed so that a fruitful and purposeful engagement between the two organizations is realized.

In conclusion, the global partnership, which was emphasized during the major United Nations conferences and summits in September 2000 in New York, has evidently been practiced by KAPPDDO through group formation and starting a savings and credit scheme, embracing special needs education, promoting sanitation and hygiene, fighting for the rights of people with special needs among others.

By Ibrahim Kizito Kizito@ugandascouts.org

Scout Reunion with a purpose

MAURITIUS - The Mauritius Scout Association (MSA ) held its 2013 Gilwell Reunion on the 27th October 2013 at BP House in Trianon. 16 adults who are volunteers in the Movement got their wood badges which were conferred by the Deputy Chief Scout, Gizelle Savournaden, Chief Commissioner, Danielo Ramsamy and Leader Trainer and former Executive Director, Amin Osman.

In his welcome address , the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Gilwell Reunion, Enrico Ramsamy, reiterated the importance of this event in the life of a leader.

"For the Gilwell Reunion we meet all the leaders, with their woodbadges for half a day of fun and interactions. The aim is to promote sharing between leaders from different regions and groups,” added Mr Ramsamy.

For his part, the National Training Commissioner, Rosiane Mirimappadu, praised the course learners who were awarded the woodbadge, a World Scout official certificate recognizing the qualification and the experience of a responsible adult of the Scout Movement. She also emphasized the importance of adult education in the movement and took the opportunity to thank the MSA and trainers for their dedication to the training of leaders and Scouts within the association.

"The training commission has to date trained many Leader Trainers and Assistant Leader Trainers.

Scouting needs you to transmit your knowledge to adult learners and young people. I urgently call for trainers to be proactive in their commitments and to be in-tune with the evolution and change in order to avoid falling into monotony," added the Chief Commissioner, Danielo Ramsamy.

The day ended on a good note with the participants singing the traditional song 'Back to Gilwell' and participating in group games.

Recipients of the wood badge were; Audrey Isabelle, Christine Precious, Cindy Anamunthoo, Damien Pompeii, Elizabeth Serret, James Desmarais, Jean Christophe Pompeii, Julie Etiennette, Kersley Frederick Kursley Ricaud, Luciano Joly, Marieyanna Prosper, Clarisse Nicolas Sebastien Serret, Valerie and Vincent Gangaram Carpin.

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© 2012 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office

November 2013

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FROM THE REGIONAL OFFICE Embracing Quality Scouting

NAIROBI - “Embracing quality Scouting” was the theme that the Nairobi County Scouts rode on during the launch of their County Logo, Scarf, Flag and magazine on 9th of November 2013 at the Nairobi Railways Club. The launch was preceded by a procession of the Scouts along Haile Selassie Avenue, Parliament road and Uhuru Park to enlighten the community on what Scouting entails, the existence of the Scouting Movement in Nairobi County and the recruitment of individuals into the Scouting fraternity.

“The launch is aimed at coagulating the Scouting movement in Nairobi County with a aim of giving our Scouts an identity and platform to air their views” says Mr Ochieng the Nairobi County Program Commissioner. The magazine will highlight among other things what the Scouts on the ground are doing to make a difference in their community, he adds.

During the launch, a stand by Scouts Rover crew Unit was established. This crew is on alert and can be called upon to offer assistance in various areas in cases of emergencies within the County and its environs. Awards for the best in various categories of Scout leaders, Units, Supportive Staff and Parents, and Administrators from the nine districts in the County were awarded. These awards were courtesy of Mr. Killian Nyambu the Chairperson of the Nairobi County Scouts Association.

“The event was a success and we urge other Counties to follow suite and embrace quality Scouting for us to realize the aim of Scouting which is Creating a better world together”, added Mr. Ochieng. In attendance was Mr. George Abuga the P. A to Hon. Omondi the Member of Parliament Embakasi East, who congratulated the Scouts for their continued contribution to the betterment of their community through service to other.

Mr. Josephat Gitonga the National Youth Program Executive at the Kenya Scouts Association graced the occasion and encouraged the Scouts to focus on the aim of Scouting and even as the Nairobi Scouts County is in the process of autonomy and devolution; the Headquarters doors are always opened for guidance and assistance. Also in attendance was the Nairobi County Scouts Commissioner Ms Alice Kihungi who encouraged the Scouts to keep serving humanity as the best way to find oneself is to lose oneself in the service of others as stated by Mahatma Gandhi.

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Unguvu 2 Project Planning Team meets in Addis Ababa

ETHIOPIA - Unguvu is a partnership between National Scout Associations of Europe and Africa in the framework of Euro-Africa Cooperation. The second phase (Unguvu 2) project, which began on 1st October 2013, brings together 14 partner NSO/NSAs equally drawn from Africa and Europe. The specific focus for this project is "Diversity and Inclusion" and it aims to strengthen partnerships between Europe and Africa.

The planning team comprising of Josephine Zana (VCP, Germany), Chris Dunn (TSA, UK), Thibuat Bambara (ASB, Burundi), Marguerite Potard (WSB-ERO), Nelson Opany (WSB-ARO) and Ledet Yosef (ESA, Ethiopia) met last weekend in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to plan the activities of the project.

The project will be organized in 4 main steps: § A full week training in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with 2 participants per country from 24th to 31st March 2014. § Creation of one flexible dissemination tool that will be translated in French, published online and that could be adapted to the context of each partner § Dissemination training in each partner's countries during at least one weekend § Evaluation meeting, with 1 representative of each partner from 5th to 7th September 2014 in Brussels, Belgium By the end of the project, it is expected that new participants will gain a greater understanding of diversity and inclusion and develop or strengthen partnership projects under this topic focussing on work with migrants, different background groups and ensure gender balance in governance to build an inclusive Scouting.

© 2012 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office

November 2013

Kudumail

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Memorable quote

Nelson Mandela Gone Home

“There is a difference between going through an organization and believing in the organization. Scouting develops honest and honorable citizens.”

SOUTH AFRICA - "The Scout Movement is a world leader in educating youth. Scouting inspires patriotism, sound moral values, courage, character building, selfreliance and community awareness. It also motivates our young people to achieve their full potential." Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

Hon Francis Ole Kaparo, Chief Scout, Kenya Scout Association

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

South Africa’s anti apartheid icon, Nobel Prize laureate and a great supporter of Scouting, Nelson Mandela - passed away on 06 December 2013. Scouts from around the world have received this news with great sadness.

EVENT

DATES

COUNTRY

8th East Africa Zonal Conference and Youth Forum

29th December 2013 – 2nd January 2014

Burundi

Africa Scout Day

13th March 2014

Swaziland

Uganda Scout Association Centenary Celebrations

2015

Uganda

2015

Mauritius

16th Africa Scout Conference and 7th Youth Forum

STAY IN TOUCH!

Known dearly as Madiba, Nelson Mandela was the Patron of South Africa Scout Association.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scouting-in-the-AfricaRegion/163797806967899?sk=wall World Scout Bureau Africa Regional Office P.O. Box 63070 00200, City Square Nairobi, KENYA

Scott Teare, the Secretary General of WOSM said: “He is and will remain a great inspiration for all Scouts around the world.

Today, over 40 million Scouts join the rest of the world in mourning for this great loss and we pray for his soul to rest in peace.”

http://twitter.com/#!/ScoutingAfrica

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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