Heroes of Messengers of Peace Awards 2012

 

Thursday 04 October 2012

The Messengers of Peace global initiative, which started in 2011, has nominated Hero Awards to five people in 2012. The Heroes of Messengers of Peace Awards were presented on Sunday 23rd September 2012 during the National Scout Celebrations of the 82nd Saudi Arabian National Day in the Al Jawf region in north-east Saudi Arabia. This presentation was done by HRH Prince Fahd bin Badr bin Abdulaziz al Saud - Governor of the Al Jawf Region, Mr Luc Panissod - Secretary General, WOSM and Prof Dr Abdullah Al-Fahad - President, Saudi Arabian Scout Association. The awards were given to Scouts and volunteers (in Scouting) who made a real difference in their communities through the Messengers of Peace initiatives.

The first “Heroes of Messengers of Peace Awards” (2012) has been awarded to:
• Donald Michel (Haiti) for his heroic action saving a policeman's life during the earthquake in Haiti;
• Rahmad Hidayat – a Rover Scout from Central Java in Indonesia, who, together with his group, has led wonderful projects to help unemployed young people in his community. Rahmad received the award on behalf of the National Rover Scout Committee of the Indonesian Scouts, Gerakan Pramuka, which has inspired nearly 2 million Scouts to become Messengers of Peace in the first year;
• Eagle Scout Anthony Thomas – the 2,000,000th Eagle Scout in the history of the Boy Scouts of America, who received the award on behalf of the National Eagle Scout Association of the BSA, who annually inspire over 50,000 Eagle Scouts to do amazing things in their communities and thus become Messengers of Peace;
• Abdulaziz Al Qosy – a Rover Scout from Riyadh, who has worked tirelessly in the Hajj Pilgrimage and the Environment Programme, who received the award on behalf of all the Messengers of Peace in Saudi Arabian Scouting; and lastly
• Colm Kavanagh of Ireland who has volunteered for over two years helping to build the MOP network and programs globally. Colm’s tireless efforts have helped to inspire millions of Scouts. Colm accepted the award on behalf of the over 3 million adult leaders who work quietly as volunteers helping young Scouts to excel.

From 2013 the MoP Hero Awards will be awarded annually to Scouts and volunteers who make a real difference in their communities, and whose actions have been reported on www.scoutmessengers.org

Scott Teare is the new Secretary General of World Scouting

 

Saturday 29 September 2012

The World Scout Committee has announced the new Secretary General for the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Scott Teare from the United States of America is the new Secretary General of World Scouting. Scott is currently the Director of the International Division of Boy Scouts of America. He is a tireless advocate for World Scouting and has successfully kept the torch of World Scouting lit within Boy Scouts of America among its Board Members and Officers for many years.

As one of Boy Scouts of America's World Scouting ambassadors, Scott Teare – also recently awarded the Bronze Wolf – has contributed significantly to establishing and applying the Association's international policy. He has established diplomatic contacts, maintained relations and represented Boy Scouts of America with American businesses operating abroad, foreign embassies, key government leaders, heads of states and royal family members in an effort to provide sustained financial support and membership growth for World Scouting.

Scott has negotiated and established beneficial relationships with other National Scout Organizations around the world; and advised and supported Boy Scouts of America officers and leaders who are actively involved in international Scouting commitments, including Regional and World Scout Committees and subcommittees, and Regional and World Scout Foundations. His direct involvement in supporting the Interamerican Scout Region, especially in setting up the new Regional Office in Panama, has been especially noteworthy.

The new Secretary General will take office on 1st January 2013 at the World Scout Bureau Central Office.

Community-based Scouting explored

 

Friday 21 September 2012

Recognizing the importance of extending Scouting outside the school system and bringing Scouting closer to the community, the second Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Community-Based Scouting (CBS) is being held in New Delhi, India from 21st to 24th September 2012.

National coordinators, unit leaders working at district and state levels, and eight executives from Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal, Maldives, Philippines and India have the opportunity to share their experiences and good practices as the workshop looks into the impact of Scouting in communities and how it can facilitate reaching out to new horizons.

Bharat Scouts & Guides National Commissioner Mr. L. M. Jain inaugurated the workshop, with Chief Commissioner Scouts and Workshop Director Mr Shyamal Kumar Biswas and APR Programme Sub-Committee Vice-Chairman Dr. H.P Chhetri.

World Organization of the Scout Movement/Asia-Pacific Region Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed shared his vision for community-based Scouting. Also with him are BS&G Director Mr Rakesh Kumar Sharma and APR Director Mr Syd Castillo as resource persons.

With over 90% of national Scout organizations in the region with school-based Scouting mode, the 2009 Regional Scout Conference held in Malaysia endorsed the focus on CBS. This workshop reinforces the recommendations of the first workshop held in the Philippines, in 2010.

The Bharat Scouts and Guides received the participants with welcome dinner hosted by the Delhi State held at the Vidya Vihar School peppered with colorful cultural performances. Present at the dinner is the Mayor of East Delhi Dr Annapurna Mishra who was a Guide herself.

-- SS Ray, APR Honorary Correspondent (India)