[Euroscoutinfo-en] Euro.Scout.Info - Issue 62 - October 2008
Joy Morton
Introduction
European Scout Committee
The European Scout Committee met at Kandersteg International Scout Centre
from 10-12 October 2008. It met jointly with the Europe Committee WAGGGS
on Saturday afternoon.
Alix Masson, Director of External Relations and Funding and Nicolo
Pranzini, Fundraising and Project Support Officer, were welcomed to the
meeting as part of their induction.
The main items on the agenda included:
- An evaluation of the 38th World Scout Conference and an assessment of
its impact on our work in Europe.
- A mid-term review of the Committee's work as well as its methods of
working.
- Discussion on the progress being made in implementing the Regional Scout
Plan through the various Groups and Units.
An update from the meeting has been sent to NSOs/NSAs and is available via
Europak.
Educational Methods
Agora - Empowering Young People
2-5 April 2009 in KISC, Switzerland
During the previous years, the WOSM European Region has successfully run
two events for Rovers: Dare to Dream in 2007 and Agora in 2008. Rovers
from across Europe have attended these events and have been involved in
keeping the European Rover spirit alive as well as taking a good share of
excitement and knowledge back home with them.
European Agora events are one of the actions implemented to reach the
objective - "focus on the 16 - 22 age range", set by the European Scout
Conference in 2007 to empower Rovers by providing an exciting Rovering
experience with an intercultural and international dimension.
National Scout Associations can expect to benefit from the event in the
form of empowered and skilled young people who are willing to work and
progress towards active citizenship. Agora is also a good venue for
exchanging and gathering best practices regarding Rover programme in
European countries.
The impact of the event will also vary greatly depending on the support
and opportunities provided to the participants by the National Scout
Associations, both before and after the event.
The following objectives have been set for European Agora events:
- Agora is an event by Rovers for Rovers representing the majority of
National Scout Organisations in Europe
- Agora has a strong symbolic framework allowing creativity and fun within
the sessions
- Agora is a successful cultural exchange
- In addition to actively using the Scout method through all the event,
Agora aims to raise awareness of Scouting's values and principles
- Whilst empowering the participant, Agora fosters the commitment to act
locally and nationally, especially within Scouting
- By exchanging and sharing national Rover programmes and opportunities,
Agora creates a deeper understanding of the purpose of Rovering
- By understanding and acting upon the aims of the event, and reflecting
on these, the participants achieve significant personal development
The Youth Programme Core Group of The European Region is committed to
continue this work to provide more European Agora events in the coming
years and is also preparing a toolkit and a "mentor pool" to support
National Scout Associations wishing to run a national Agora event. More
information about this form of support will be available at the 6th Forum
on Youth Programme and Adult Resources in March 2009.
Two Rovers from every Scout Association in Europe are invited to attend
the 2009 Agora. More information about the event will be included in
future Europaks.
If you have any questions or comments about Agora events, please do not
hesitate contact Juho Toivola [ mailto:juho.t...@scout.fi
]juho.t...@scout.fi.
Development and Support
The Growth Network presents best practices from associations: why do young
people join scouting?
The growth network is a place for sharing good practices related to
membership growth. The challenge of growing can be tackled using the
designated growth factors outlined in the Action for Growth resource
published in 2007. This time you can read about best practices that are
related to youth programme and research, evaluation and analysis. One of
the studies introduced here is included in Action for Growth resource, the
outcome of a long-term project. The report consists of text outlining each
growth factor and examples of good practices, some of which are described
in more detail and included as fact sheet attachments. You can download
the report and the factsheets here:
www.scout.org/en/around_the_world/europe/about_scouting/development_support/the_action_for_growth_report_is_now_available_here
The Scout Association in the United Kingdom has conducted a study on why
young people join Scouting. You can see the results in the two tables
below.
The Guides and Scouts of Finland have also looked at the reasons for
joining Scouting, as well as those for leaving us. The results of these
studies look quite similar. In the Finnish study, friends being involved
in Scouting was the most important reason for joining Scouting, the second
being an interest in nature and outdoor life skills. You can read more
about the UK study in the Action for Growth report (see the link above).
To get more information on the Finnish study, contact Eeva-Maria
Kyheràinen eevamaria....@gmail.com.
Join the next Growth Network meeting
5-7 December 2008 in Helsinki, Finland
Results of these and other similar studies lead us to ask whether Scouting
is providing programme that meets the hopes and expectations of newcomers.
This aspect can be the next step when doing research and analysis on
Scouting. Has your association studied the reasons for joining Scouting or
other or are you planning a study? Would you like to share the results or
your ideas about growth?
Join the Growth Network! In the programme of the next network meeting we
will focus on three growth factors; research, evaluation and analysis. The
other two factors are adult resources and external factors. Read the
invitation, download and return the application form from [
http://www.europak-online.net/ukeurop.html
]http://www.europak-online.net/ukeurop.html. For further information
please contact Katrin Tauscher at [ mailto:ktau...@scout.org
]ktau...@scout.org.
Relationships and Funding
Scouts get ready for the European Youth Forum General Assembly
The European Youth Forum, the representative platform of youth
organisations around Europe held its General Assembly in Rotterdam, The
Netherlands on 13-15 October. In the General Assembly the member
organisations of the Forum will define the priorities of the platform for
the coming two years and elect new leadership.
As one of the largest youth organisations in Europe, Scouting has always
played an important role in the Forum. This time, WOSM has nominated Mr.
Tine Radinja (Slovenia) for the Presidency of the Forum. WOSM is also
campaigning to maintain its representation in the Advisory Council of the
Council of Europe with the candidature of Ms. Loreta Senkute (Lithuania).
Both Tine and Loreta are active members of the European Policies Support
Group of the European Region. Tine serves currently as a Member of the
Bureau (Board) of the European Youth Forum responsible for Training in the
Youth Field and Development of Youth Work in South East Europe. Loreta
serves currently as WOSM representative in the Council of Europe. Both are
active members of their National Scout Organisations.
The European Region and Europe Region WAGGGS are cooperating closely in
the European Youth Forum. WAGGGS has nominated Ms. Agnija Jansone as a
candidate for Bureau member of the Forum and Ms. Tove Iren Lea as
representative to the Advisory Council of Council of Europe. The Joint
Committee, meeting in Kandersteg from 10-12 October decided to encourage
all NSOs and MOs to use their contacts in the National Youth Councils to
ensure strong support for both WOSM and WAGGGS candidates.
Committee Contacts
Visit to The Scout Association (UK)
13 September 2008, London
The Chairman of the European Scout Committee, Craig Turpie, recently
attended the Annual General Meeting and Council in Conference of The Scout
Association (UK). The Council in Conference met to discuss the next steps
involved in the strategic development of the association as it looks
towards 2018.
Dr Graeme Codrington (Founding Partner of TomorrowToday) presented some
thoughts on generational issues, external trends and influences that the
association should consider as looks to the future. The presentation was
very stimulating and delivered in an engaging manner.
Participants were then split into discussion groups to consider the SWOT
and PESTLE analysis to determine if they identified with the issues raised.
Life of the Movement
KISC welcomes the Eurotransit work party
Autumn is a very special occasion at the Kandersteg International Scout
Centre with the arrival of several Work Parties. The aim of this teams is
to help the Staff of the Centre realise all kinds of projects as well as
to assist us with general work, making it possible to keep us up to date
with offering a better World Scout Centre to all our guests.
This month, together with the classic Dutch Work Party (DWP) and the new
Spanish Work Party (ESWP), KISC warmly welcomes the first Eurotransit Work
Party.
Eurotransit is a Network of volunteers from European Scout and Guide
organisations which builds contacts through active projects and
partnerships, generating an exchange between east-west and developing
inter-cultural learning experiences. This includes participants from
Ireland, UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Romania, Belarus, Ukraine,
Russia and Kazakhstan. The Eurotransit Work Party will join the Centre's
international staff for one week of work and fun in the Swiss Alps, in a
real Jamboree Atmosphere.
The first half of the week there will be all kinds of work, from
maintenance to preparations for the winter season, and also inside our new
building Kander-Lodge, that will offer accommodation and improved indoor
facilities to thousands of Scouts from all over the world in the beginning
of 2009. During the second half of the week, all the participants will
have the chance to take small holidays and enjoy the mighty alpine
environment. Other activities during the week will include a campfire,
games and a International Evening of friendship._
You can also take the chance to join one of our Work Parties and come to
discover Baden-Powell's permanent Mini-Jamboree! More information about
Work Parties can be found in our website: [ http://www.kisc.ch/
]www.kisc.ch
26th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree
28 December 2009 -3 January 2010 in Laguna, Philippines
It is my pleasure to invite you to the forthcoming 26th Asia-Pacific
Regional Scout Jamboree. The APR Scout Jamboree will provide Scouts from
many countries with the opportunity to learn each other's cultures while
experiencing new adventures. Coming from different countries, Scouts will
share their ideas, traditions, and participate together in a wide range of
activities such as jungle survival, emergency preparedness, Global
development village, outdoor challenges, water adventures, cultural
exchanges and community service carefully prepared only for this Regional
Jamboree. The famous Mt. Makiling will be an outdoor school for young
Scouts who go for Ïgreen environmentÓ doing things for nature, not just
commune with it but to learn how to preserve it.
In conjunction with the APR Jamboree, there will also be a RE-UNION of the
10th World Scout Jamboree participants of 1959 to mark the 50th
anniversary of the event, which was held in the same venue as the current
APR jamboree. The possibilities for IST's are also available and details
are already in the APR circular available in the APR web site.
This camp will become a small village of peace. In Jamborees, the reality
of living in a peaceful community is very much possible. More information
can be found on the Jamboree's website: [ http://aprjamboree2009.com/
]http://aprjamboree2009.com/
So once again, I ask Scouts in the Asia-Pacific Region to be together in
this event as we show to the rest of the world that we remain united for
peace and harmony among all cultures and religions of the world.
Abdullah Rasheed
Regional Director
World Scout Bureau/Asia Pacific Region
Reminders and Deadlines
Growth Network Meeting
5-7 December 2008 in Helsinki, Finland
Deadline: 7 November 2008
Training for new members of National Boards
3-7 December 2008 in Riga, Latvia
Extended deadline: 7 November 2008
Long Term Staff Positions at KISC
4 or 7-10 month positions at KISC, Switzerland
Deadline: 1 December 2008
Useful Information
Europak: [ http://www.europak-online.net/ ]http://www.europak-online.net
Stay in contact
World Scout Bureau
European Regional Office
P.O. Box 327
Rue Henri Christin» 5
CH-1211 Geneva 4
Switzerland
Tel: (+41 22) 705 11 00
Fax: (+41 22) 705 11 09
Email: [ mailto:eur...@scout.org ]eur...@scout.org
Web: [ http://www.scout.org/europe ]www.scout.org/europe