No. 9•JULY 2011
The year was 1900 and British troops faced the inhabitants of that region of Africa, of Dutch origin, called Boers. The small town of Mafeking, which was the British Colonel Robert Baden-Powell was besieged by Boer forces. Colonel Baden-Powell then took on the task of resisting the enemy's site. He had only one regiment of 700 soldiers, newly organized and armed, while the Boers besieged the city with 8000 men. In this situation, when all men were needed to defend the city, Baden-Powell organized a cadet corps to which uniform and assigned the tasks of carrying messages and orders, doing sentry duty and assist in food distribution and medicine. In this way managed to occupy on the front the men who were responsible for these tasks. In command of this corps of cadets was a young officer named Goodyear. These young people demonstrated a Baden-Powell and his city when they are trusted, they can assume greater responsibilities and fulfill them efficiently. The important role played by these young volunteers as messengers and spies, among other things, later inspired Robert Baden-Powell in 1907 to create Scouting. Since then the development of responsibility is a fundamental element of the program of Scouting. Many activities carried out contribute in turning children and young scouts responsibles of their own growth ,first, and then responsibles to their community, their country, their world. We could not expect anyone seeking to reach the greatness without paying the price of responsibility. Assume responsibility and fully comply with them is the greatest achievement for women and the men who wants and aims to be a full life. It seems that become responsible is an arduous and difficult, but it is not. Sufficient, as demonstrated by Baden-Powell at Mafeking, in trusting someone else to perform the designated task and trust that he or she will give the best results.
Raúl Sánchez Vaca Regional Director World Scout Bureau-Interamerican Region
O. SUB . UMBRA . FLORE