March 2014
Kudumail
News from the Africa Scout Region
www.scout.org/africa
In the midst of war, Scouts bring hope
Inside Highlight
In the midst of war, Scouts bring hope
Page 1 From NSOs Chief Scout appointed peace mediator
25 young leaders promote peace
Page 2 From ARO WOSM project feted Rovering as intended, guidebook launched
Rover’s
!WSB-ARO/FILE
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Community Behind the war lines, comes relief Development Page 4
Events 40th World Scout Conference/12th calendar World Scout Youth Forum SOUTH SUDAN – Amid the violence in South Sudan, Scouts in the country are giving hope to the war ravaged citizens of their country despite the risks involved. The humanitarian crisis is beyond words yet the Scouts choose to spread the Message of Peace. Since the violence broke out, the scouts rushed to Juba Teaching Hospital to help the wounded people, collecting the wounded from the residential areas and take them to the hospital, giving first aid and taking the wounded to the Wards. They also were involved in distributing the food to the sick and keeping the environment of the hospital clean. They were also involved in collecting the dead bodies from the residential areas and take them to the hospital and in turn for mass burial after authorization. Up to this point one troop is still stationed in the hospital. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in July 2011 as the outcome of a 2005 peace deal that ended Africa's longest-running civil war. The young state plunged into crisis in December 2013 amid a power struggle between the president and his deputy whom he had sacked.
Uganda Scout Association Centenary Celebrations 16th Africa Scout Conference and 7th Youth Forum 23rd World Scout Jamboree
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March 2014
Kudumail
FOCUS ON NSOs Chief Scout appointed a Peace Mediator
25 young leaders promote peace
NAIROBI - On 5th February 2014, His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed former Speaker of the National Assembly and Chief Scout of Kenya Hon. Francis Ole Kaparo and Garissa County Senator Yusuf Haji to mediate between warring communities in Marsabit County. The president picked the two men when he hosted leaders from communities in Marsabit County at State House in Nairobi for peace talks to end the crisis.
CÔTE D'IVOIRE – Initiatives to consolidate peace have multiplied over the years in Côte d'Ivoire. In this regard, the Ivorian Scouting Association is committed to involving young people in community efforts to promote peace and reconciliation. To empower young leaders to become agents of peaceful change, Scouts in Côte d'Ivoire, with the support of United Nations Operations Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), decided to invest in future generations of the country, allowing them to have a positive impact their communities.
In his remarks the President asked the leaders to put aside their differences and cultivate peace and security. The Deputy President on the other hand said that “We have to work together in ensuring that peace and stability reigns in our areas of jurisdiction.” The Chief Scout together with his Co-Mediator were tasked to visit the conflict area, identify and understand the underlying issues then facilitate negotiations among the communities in order to find a solution to the crisis and report back to the President. They were shocked by the destruction and humanitarian crisis the fighting had left behind. “This kind of fighting brings poverty and breakdown of society. I can say it was a miserable state of affairs,” said the Chief Scout. Ten days later Hon. Kaparo and Sen. Haji together with the Marsabit leaders agreed on the formation of an oversight team that will implement measures to ensure lasting peace in the area. Some of the issues detailed in the agreement included equal distribution of resources, reconstruction and resettlement of the displaced. Hon. Kaparo said that the negotiations aimed at ending the conflict were successful because all the warring groups had respected a ceasefire, which had been imposed. In an interview, with the National Coordinator of Messengers of Peace in Kenya, Nelson Opany, the Chief Scout thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the country in such a noble task. He attributed a lot of his abilities to the experiences of having served as the Speaker of the National Assembly for a very long time and also to the values and fundamental principles of the Scouting Movement. He called on all Scouts and non-Scouts to become active Messengers of saying that, “There is really no joy in killing. God did not bring us in this world to destroy. According to the Scriptures you are mandated to develop and not to destroy. I urge all Scouts and other citizens to respect human life. We should live together in a state of friendship and always ensure that you don't do anything that hurts your fellow citizen; remembering that we are Messengers of Peace.” The Chief Scout is indeed a true Messenger of Peace and Kenya Scouts Association is proud of the great leadership and example he continues to provide.
Under the theme “Peace begins with you”, 25 young Scouts met to better understand the concept of national reconciliation and healing. This was part of a training seminar organized by the Ivorian Federation of Scouting at its headquarters in Treichville from 7th to 9th February 2014. The training seminar was run by trainer Kousassi Dosso, the Civil Affairs Officer at UNOCI. After the training he planted a tree at the Scouting headquarters as a symbol of purity and humility. Also in attendance was Alain Lath Mel, the National Executive Commissioner of the Côte d' Ivoire Scout Federation. During this seminar, the more than 25 young leaders learned to develop a peace project and adapt their Scout activities to peace education. According to Marie -Louise Ycossié, the MoP National Coordinator, this initiative was aimed to motivate young leaders to take concrete actions to preach peace hence becoming actors of positive change in their communities, thereby promoting cohesion in their country in times of crisis. Marie-Louise said, “Our country needs purification after what we went through during the crisis and it takes a lot of humility from her citizens to achieve genuine national reconciliation and lasting peace.”
Story by Nelson Opany, National Coordinator, Messengers of Peace Kenya
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© 2014 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office
March 2014
Kudumail
FROM THE REGIONAL OFFICE WOSM Project Feted
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BRUSSELS - It was pomp and glamour as the Unguvu project, which is a joint flagship project of the Africa and European Scout Regions, was awarded as one of the three distinguished projects that have exhibited great impact among young people at an interregional level. The award ceremony took place on 1st April at a• gala cocktail hosted by Microsoft. This happened during the 3rd Africa Europe Youth Leaders Summit held from 31st March to 1st April in Brussels.
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Rovering as intended, rover’s guide book launched KENYA - Rovering is a very significant section of Scouting in that it provides the last educational offer that Scouting offers to young People. It provides an ideal platform for preparing the youth in Scouting into becoming Responsible Citizens. To better Rovering in Kenya – and beyond, a new Rover’s Guide Book given the title Rovering As Intended has been developed and launched. The Guidebook, written by Antony Gitonga who is a member of the KSA Secretariat provides practical steps in Rovering useful to Rovers, Scout Leaders, Commissioners and the Trainers.
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Preceding the 4th European Union-Africa Summit meant to take stock of tangible results achieved in the framework of the joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) and provide new impetus to the partnerships in the year to come. The youth summit provided a platform for exchange between Africa and Europe Youth Leaders on the main challenges faced by youth on the two continents and debate on how the• Africa-EU partnership would empower them and their organisations to find lasting• solutions to these challenges. The discussions were held under three thematic areas of leadership development, entrepreneurship/employment and Peace. The ultimate aim was to request the heads of states and governments meeting at the 4th EU-Africa Summit to build on the success of the Africa-Europe Youth work and address the common youth challenges through establishment of an Africa-EU Youth facility targeting joint actions on the three themes. The UNGUVU project aimed to increase the quality of the partnerships between European and African YNGOs in general and the ones partnered in the project in particular. This was to enhance and strengthen the quality of the existing partnerships projects with the direct involvement of young people, through focusing on capacity building, and in particular through the identification of good practices and ways of working in partnerships more efficiently. The capacity development of the participants involved in the workshops enabled them to disseminate the project further in their National Associations. WOSM Africa participated in the summit under the• umbrella of the Network• of International Youth Organisations in Africa (NIYOA), which is a key• partner in the Africa-• Europe Youth Cooperation.
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• • • • • • • • • • • • The guidebook is an interpretation of the original Rovering Intent as conceived by the Founder, Lord Baden Powell in 1918. In addition, it provides a demystified Rover Programme that the Rovers should follow in pursuit of their badges in the Rovering Journey. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The book was launched by the Chief Scout of the Kenya Scouts Association, Hon. Francis ole Kaparo on 28th March 2014 during the General Assembly of the Kenya Scouts Council. In attendance was the World Scout Bureau Africa Regional Director Mr. Fredrick Tutu Kama Kama among other guests and dignitaries.
© 2014 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office
March 2014
Kudumail
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Memorable quote
Behind the war lines, comes relief
"In all of this, it is the spirit that matters. Our Scout law and Promise, when we really put them into practice, take away all occasion for wars and strife among nations".
SOUTH SUDAN – Despite the war and animosity in South Sudan, the Scouts of that country managed to do amazing things to the disadvantaged on Africa Scout Day held on 13th March 2014.
Lord Baden-Powell, Founder of Scouting
During the celebrations that were held at the Union of the Physically Disabled Persons, 24 young Scouts among them physically disabled were recruited as Messengers of Peace.
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 celebration was done under the theme: "Scouting: Striving for inclusion and Free from discrimination in the Society". The occasion was attended by the Director of Social Welfare in the State Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare in charge of Central Equatorial State Juba, Mr Ladu Said Ali Juma, the Chief Commissioner South Sudan Scout Association and Scout Leader from the three Counties of CES.
EVENT
DATES
COUNTRY
Uganda Scout Association Centenary Celebrations
2015
Uganda
40th World Scout Conference/12th World Scout Youth Forum
11th – 14th, 4th – 7th August 2014
Ljubljana, Rogla, Slovenia
23rd World Scout Jamboree
28th July – 8th August 2015
Yamaguchi City, Japan
16th Africa Scout Conference & 7th Youth Forum
2015
Mauritius
While addressing the participants, the Director of Social Welfare, appreciated the Scouts and said, "The philosophy of Scouting is what this country lacks. If South Sudan citizens are to behave like Scouts then there would have been no conflict as we are witnessing today.”
STAY IN TOUCH!
He encouraged the Scout Leadership and the entire Scout fraternity to work in peace, love and harmony. He also appreciated the initiative of the Scout Association for considering and including the people with special needs in Scouting.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scouting-in-the-AfricaRegion/163797806967899?sk=wall
The Chief Commissioner thanked the 24 members of the Physically Disabled Persons for accepting to be part of the Messengers of Peace initiative. He commissioned them and asked them to mobilize more people to join the Messengers of Peace programme.
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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
The Scout Leader for the Physically Disabled Troop, Mr. Sebit Ruman promised to do his best to ensure that more members from the other Counties, Payams and Bomas join Scouting and Messengers of Peace Programme.
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© 2014 World Scout Bureau – Africa Regional Office