APR NewsInfo February-March 2019 issues

NEWS NFO SCOUTING IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019

VOLUME 51, ISSUE NOS.2 & 3

National Thailand Moot 2019

Fresh experiences and new beginnings story on page 2

Earth Hour 2019: Scouts working together to protect nature

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Lights spark joy for kids in the South Pacific after Scouts team up with SolarBuddy

Malaysia reviews national strategic plan, gears up for change

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COVER STORY National Thailand Moot 2019

Fresh experiences and new beginnings Mohammad Naufal B Othman | Member, APR Young Adult Members Group and APR Communications & Partnership Sub-Committee

In commemoration of the 100 Years of Rover Scouting (Rovers Centenary), the National Scout Organization of Thailand conducted its National Thailand Moot 2019 on 20-25 January 2019. It was held at Vajiravudh National Scout Camp in Chon Buri Province, about 100 kilometres southeast of Bangkok. With the theme, “Service for a Better World”, around 12,500 Scouts, both local and international participants, gathered for five days of communion with nature, international solidarity and community development projects.

The opening ceremony was officiated by the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, General Chatchai Sarikalaya, along with Ambassador Ahmad Rusdi, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee.

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In his message, Secretary General Prasert Boonruang of the National Scout Organization of Thailand emphasised that Scouts should take advantage of the wonderful opportunities during the Moot. “The Moot is the best platform for Scouts to get involved and participate in interesting activities in a brotherhood of open air and service. It is also an opportunity to foster friendship and international solidarity,” he said.

The opening ceremony ended with the “San Sun Sin Rak Tin Thai” show, a beautiful cultural performance with a combination of singing, dancing and music.

It was very inspiring that so many countries got involved in the Moot and sent large contingents to Thailand, giv-

ing even more young people the opportunity to foster friendship beyond borders.

Activities during the event included the traditional campfire, pioneering and Scout craft, cultural exchanges, community development projects, exhibition and Scout tournaments. Scouts had the opportunity to build and erect pioneering marvels during the activity which were used in other events as well.

Apart from that, the Moot also included a walking field trip to “Koh Loy Sriracha” located 500 metres away from the Sriracha coast. At night, campfires were held in every sub-camp and Scouts had the opportunity to showcase their talents and share their national culture to the participants.

The moot emphasised on the key components of the Better World Framework –

There was certainly no WiFi at the campsite, but we sure found a better connection nonetheless.

the Messengers of Peace Programme, the Scouts of the World Award Programme, and the World Scout Environment Programme. This part was timely and relevant. The Scouts were oriented with the basic framework about the programmes and were taught of the various opportunities that they could do to contribute in creating a better world.

One of the most important features during the Moot was the conduct of the Scout Youth Forum were Rover Scouts from Thailand elected the members of the country’s first National Rovers Council.

“The Scout Youth Forum was a big leap for the National Scout Organization of Thailand as they move towards enhancing its youth programme by way of engaging, empowering and involving more young people,” said Lim Wei Yung,

Chairman of the APR Young Adults Members Group.

Together with Lim Wei Yung, we facilitated the Scout Youth Forum of about 400 young Scouts to further enhance their understanding about the Sustainable Development Goals and how young people can contribute to decision-making at the level of their National Scout Organization.

The members of the newly constituted National Rovers Council were officially recognised and presented during the closing ceremony of the Moot.

During the closing ceremony, Ruhi Rusaba, one of the international participants from Bangladesh said, “The fact that most of the programmes involved outdoor activities which most

of us enjoyed despite the scorching heat and language difficulties, only proves how effective and well-planned it was.

The international village made us feel like we were just home. What is more inspiring about this is that I got to be a part of the process of initiating the creation of Thailand’s first ever National Rovers Council.”

The Thailand National Moot 2019 provided an excellent opportunity for young people from several countries in the Asia-Pacific to come together, work together and enjoy together – all under the common cause of Scouting. It isn’t Scouting if it isn’t fun.

We all left Thailand happy and inspired – inspired to further involve ourselves in our local communities and the global community as a whole. There was certainly no WiFi at the campsite, but we sure found a better connection nonetheless.

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OUR REGION APR Scout Committee conducts consultancy visit to Nepal, meets with Prime Minister With reports from S Prassanna Shrivastava, World Scout Bureau Asia-Pacific Support Centre “We do not have the luxury to wait for development.

We need to expedite training, promote the business and the service sectors to ensure a smooth shift from an unproductive culture to a productive one, and all of these can only happen with the education of the young people. And this is the very reason why I give importance to Scouting as it plays a vital role in the holistic development of the young people.”

This was the statement of Prime Minister Khadga

Prasad Sharma Oli of Nepal during the Consultancy Visit of the representatives of the APR Scout Committee and the World Scout Bureau Asia-Pacific Support Centre on 17-19 February 2019, assuring the World Organization of the Scout Movement the full support of the Government of Nepal to Scouting.

The APR leaders also met with the key leaders of Nepal Scouts and initially assisted them in the development of its draft national strategic plan.

“...to ensure a smooth shift from an unproductive culture to a productive one, and all of these can only happen with the education of young people. And this is the very reason why I give importance to Scouting.” -- Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal

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Photo (c) @RealBearGrylls (Official Facebook Page)

“As Chief Ambassador of World Scouting it was such a pleasure to meet The Bharat Scouts & Guides - truly a force for good!”

Bear Grylls visits India “‘No question of rank high or low.’ One of the many great founding principles of Scouting. As Chief Ambassador of World Scouting it was such a pleasure to meet The Bharat Scouts & Guides - truly a force for good! From organising environmental cleanups and relief efforts, to building peaceful and tolerant communities. Scouting is the most powerful youth movements in the world, with over 50 million young people taking local action all in the name of creating a better, more sustainable world.

Thank you for having me along!”

-- Bear Grylls, Chief Ambassador of World Scouting

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17th APR Scout Photo Contest We are pleased to announce that the 17th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Photo Contest (2019) is now officially accepting entries. The theme for this year’s contest is “Scouts for SDGs.”

We are calling Scouts and leaders across the AsiaPacific Region to join the contest by sending photos of Scouts in action to raise awareness about the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

All entries must be endorsed by the National Scout Organization.

17th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Photo Contest

Deadline of submission is on 30 April 2019.

For more details, please visit our website at https://www.scout.org/17thAPRPhotoContest.

You may also get in touch with us at asia-pacific@scout.org.

Deadline of submission is on

30 April 2019

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#ScoutFoundersDay Founder’s Day is a day to celebrate not only the birth of Lord Robert Baden-Powell, but also the founding of the values of Scouting – the very thing that holds Scouting together across 170 National Scout Organizations and 224 countries and territories. For this year, let us take a look at the various activities that Scouts conducted across the Asia-Pacific Region to commemorate this historic occasion.

Photo credit: Korea Scout Association

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Earth Hour 2019: Scouts working t Earth Hour is the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment. It’s an opportunity for each and every Scout to start changing the planet for the better, and for all of us to work together to protect and restore nature.

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On 30 March 2019, world gathered with to connect to earth, off events across th importance of natur

ogether to protect nature

, at exactly 8:30PM, Scouts across the h their respective Scout groups or patrol , and to join series of simultaneous switchhe world to build mass awareness on the re.

Photo (c): Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan and Philippines

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PARTNERSHIP STORY Lights spark joy for kids in the South Pacific

after Scouts team up with SolarBuddy SolarBuddy and Scouts Australia ACT Branch (Kate Lehane)

Dozens of children in Vanuatu are thrilled with their bright and shiny life-changing packages after the first delivery of solar lights made by compassionate Scouts from Australia through an exciting new collaboration with charity SolarBuddy.

icated Leaders and Scouts, including fundraising so the challenge could take place. A further 500 lights will be assembled over coming months, with the remaining packages being distributed across the South Pacific throughout 2019 by SolarBuddy.

Scouts assembled 1,500 lights at the 25th Australian Scout Jamboree in Tailem Bend, South Australia, in January as part of the SolarBuddy and Scouts Australia Solar Light Challenge. The first 50 were delivered the same month to children and teenagers in two villages on Vanuatu’s main island Efate by Russell Gauld, SolarBuddy Program Coordinator, and Bobby Hale, National Manager of adventure tour company On Track Expeditions.

With each light estimated to help at least five people, thousands of lives will be brightened by this solar solution.

“The children, aged between 5 and 15, were absolutely delighted to hear that their lights were made by Scouts, boys and girls of a similar age to themselves,” said Mr Gauld.

“They couldn’t stop beaming as they read their personal letters from their new friends, the Scouts, sent with the lights.”

“These solar lights will give the children a sustainable source of light to use right throughout their education.”

In Vanuatu, young people depend on dangerous and expensive kerosene lamps or open fire in their daily lives.

The lack of access to modern, safe and reliable electricity has a dire impact on health and education.

The work of Scouts at the Jamboree was the culmination of a over 4,000 hours of effort over months by the ded-

In addition to lighting up the lives of children affected by energy poverty, the Scouts were delighted to learn about renewable energy, and help contribute towards the achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, through the challenge.

Various groups, including the Scouts, contributed donations, both financially and in-kind, so the project could become a reality. One 17-year-old Venturer Scout from Victoria who is a keen environmentalist raised $400 by tirelessly collecting and recycling old car batteries, while Scouts in the Australian Capital Territory also made major contributions. Other key donations came from On Track Expeditions, the Telstra Kids Fund and SERVICE ONE Alliance Bank.

SolarBuddy is an Australian charity working internationally to educate and empower the next generation to change the lives of children living in energy poverty through its innovative school education and corporate engagement programmes.

SolarBuddy is an Australian charity working internationally to educate and empower the next generation to change the lives of children living in energy poverty through its innovative school educationand corporate engagement programmes.

e are pleased to announce that the International Catholic Committee on Scouting of the Asia-Pacific Region will hold its 12th ICCS-APR Conference 2019 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on 3-6 October 2019. The theme for the conference is “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).�

The conference will offer special insights on challenges for young people in Catholic Scouting.

Application for participation is already open and will last until 31 May 2019, Friday. For more details, please visit http://www.cics.org. You may also get in touch with any of the following: Anthonius Daud (anthoniusdaud@gmail.com) or Caroline Zenia (caroline_zenia@hotmail.com).

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OUR NSO

The Scout Trek was launched by a group of Scouts from St. John’s Island on 28 January 2019 to commemorate the landing of Sir Stamford Raffles in Singapore some 200 years ago.

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Over 4,000 Scouts join trek to mark the Singapore Bicentennial Valerie Lim | Assistant Manager for Communications and Relations, The Singapore Scout Association

More than 4,000 Scouts of various ages participated in the final leg of the Scout Trek from Raffles Institution to Bishan Stadium to mark the Singapore Bicentennial. Officials from The Singapore Scout Association were also present during the trek, including Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Trade and Industry. Mr. Chan was himself an active Scout during his school days.

The Scout Trek was launched by a group of Scouts from St. John’s Island on 28 January 2019 to commemorate the landing of Sir Stamford Raffles in Singapore some 200 years ago. A special programmed mobile

phone application was activated to stimulate virtual touch and carried over 200 kilometres all over Singapore in relays led by four (4) Scout Area Commissioners over the past few weeks. The relays included activities such as drone flying, kayaking, scuba diving and trekking.

The trek capped at the Bishan Stadium where participants attended a flag raising ceremony and rededicated themselves to the Scout Promise and Law. The trek was followed by a carnival of Scout craft, traditional games and outdoor games. The outdoor games segment was supported by event partner, ActiveSG.

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Malaysia reviews national strat

gears up for

“If we can give our young people interesting, exciting and relevant Scouting programmes, then we can say that we have done our job,” said Prof Dato’ Dr. Mohd Zin Bidin, National Chief Scout Commissioner of Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia (PPM), as he addressed the National Strategic Planning Review Workshop happening on 24-28 March 2019 in Kuala Lumpur.

The National Chief Scout Commissioner further said that although PPM has many Scouting activities and events happening on the ground, the current National Plan

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2018-2023 which was created in 2017 still needs to be refined in order to make it more relevant to the present needs of the young people in Malaysia. He also placed emphasis on aligning the national plan with the regional and global plans.

Malaysia’s current triennial plan has six strategic priorities - Youth Programme, Adults in Scouting, Governance, Communications and Relations, Resources, and Growth.

These priorities are seen to position PPM as the leading, modern and self-dependent educational youth organisation in the country.

Out of the 14 main points the

Chief Commissioner shared, he highlighted the areas of strengthening Rover training, paving way for more Rover Scouts to actively take part in the promotion and implementation of various world programmes under the Better World Framework, and initiatives that will contribute towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Today, PPM has over 190,000 Scouts and 38,000 adult leaders.

Over the next five years, PPM is keen in highlighting adult training in order to equip its adult leaders with the necessary and relevant

tegic plan,

r change “If we can give our young people interesting, exciting and relevant Scouting programmes, then we can say that we have done our job.”

-- Prof Dato’ Dr. Mohd Zin Bidin, Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia National Chief Scout Commissioner

technical skills about Scouting, increasing the leaders’ competence and providing them with strong communication skills and establishing good relations with partner agencies. PPM’s senior leadership are working to make the organisation financially stable, make use of their huge tract of land for future training, campsites and even commercial establishments.

The participants of the workshop included all its 17 State Commissioners, who are expected to cascade their national strategic plan to the state and district levels across the country.

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Reconnecting Scouts with natu conducts YUNGA Biodiversity C Karl Lyel B Lim I Boy Scouts of the Philippines

RIZAL, Philippines – The RCI Rodriguez Rover Circle 01 conducted its 1st YUNGA Biodiversity Camp at Pililla, Rizal, Philippines last 26-27 January 2019.

The camp was participated by 23 Rover Scouts.

They successfully completed all activities under the badge curriculum for children and youth between the ages of 5 to 20.

The camp seeks to raise awareness on biodiversity issues among the youth, cultivating every young people’s minds about how they can be an instrument of a must-have change in the community.

“The purpose of the camp is timely and relevant, especially today that our natural resources need to be protected, preserved, and developed. Completing the challenge badge could really help the Scouts expand their knowledge about taking action

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and initiative in strengthening their participation in the improvement of biodiversity,” said Karl Lyel B. Lim, the circle manager.

When asked what inspired him to conduct a biodiversity camp, Lim stressed that there’s a growing need to conduct action-based and goal-oriented camps. “The urge to give Scouts an offer of a structured opportunity that will allow them to stimulate exploration about biological diversity is what inspired me to conduct a YUNGA Biodiversity Camp.

There is a growing need to conduct action-based and goal-oriented camps like this, knowing that YUNGA Biodiversity Camp is actually a unique venue to teach Scouts to know more about what lies beneath the natural world in their community and understand what goes beyond its value to human beings.”

ure, a Scout group Camp The Youth and United Nations Global Alliance (YUNGA) is a partnership between United Nation Agencies, Civil Society Organisations and other entities which develop initiatives, resources and opportunities for children and young people to learn, get involved and make a difference.

YUNGA acts as gateway for Children and the Youth to participate in educational activities and initiatives of the United Nations Youth Award (UNYA) – a global dimension having local impact to the lives of the people in the community.

This relevant undertaking is mainly supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), in cooperation with Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and our very own, the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).

Its goal is to empower children and young people to have a greater role in society, support UN related activities, raise awareness and be active agents of change.

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Photo (c) Bangladesh Scouts

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Street children in Bangladesh join 1st National Ticket to Life Scout Camp Bangladesh Scouts organised the 1st National Ticket to Life Scout Camp at the National Scout Training Centre in Mouchak, Gazipur, Bangladesh on 14-16 February 2019. The camp was participated by several street children across the country. During the camp, they were taught with fundamental Scout skills – knot tying, first aid, bandaging, pioneering and estimation.

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Scouts return to build permanent

bridge for villagers With reports from the Bhutan Scouts Association

“We will come back and replace this temporary bridge that we’ve built with a sturdy, more permanent bridge for the children and the village.” This was the promise made by the community-based Scouts from the Bhutanese district of Tsirang when they first came to the highly forested village of Barshong in 2015. During that first visit, the Scouts built a temporary bridge made of sand bags. The bridge was especially made for the children in the village to allow them to safely pass through the other side of the Sankosh river and attend their class regularly.

During typhoon season, the villagers had no choice but to let their children stay at home and miss their classes for fear of accidents in the swallowing stream.

This equated to children underperforming in school examinations because of the classes they are missing.

Barshong is a small village located in the western part of Tsirang in Bhutan and is known for its gentle slopes and mild climate. It is about 700 to 1,500 metres above sea level with 53% of its land area under forest cover, mainly of broad-leafy trees.

Four years after the first visit, the community-based

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Scouts of Tsirang went back to the village to replace the temporary bridge with a more permanent structure – a concrete bridge made of hard-wearing logs, stones and sand bags.

To realise the project, the team, co-ordinated by school teacher Kinley Dorji, sourced out donations from community members and volunteers to defray the expenses for construction materials. Manpower came from a pool of volunteers composed of Scouts, members of the community, and some teachers from nearby schools.

After a few days of work, the bridge finally became operational, and was immediately used by the villagers to reach the other side of the river.

Parents are no longer wary for the safety of their children.

“The project will surely improve the social well-being of the community by way of ensuring their safety,” said Kinley Dorji who co-ordinated all efforts to complete the project. “With this hitch out of the way, we expect an increase in the daily attendance of school children and a better academic performance.”

SAANSO, The Bharat Scouts & Guides hosts

very first Adventure Camp The South Asian Associations of National Scout Organization conducted its very first Adventure Camp at the National Adventure Institute of the Bharat Scouts & Guides in Panchmarhi, India on 2-8 February 2019.

The event was hosted by the Bharat Scouts & Guides.

The camp was attended by 528 Scouts from four countries – Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, with the special participation of Saudi Arabia.

The camp also coincided by conduct of the 21st International Adventure Programme.

SAANSO Official Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/mvsaanso/

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UPCOMING EVENTS 13th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Moot

We are pleased to share with you the invitation from Scouts Australia for the upcoming 13th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Moot / 21st Australian Rover Moot scheduled from 30 December 2019 to 10 January 2020 at Canberra, Australia.

to experience local attraction and traditions, as well as core Scouting skills.

The Rover Moot will include a wide and varied programme showcasing the theme “Creating Better Rovers”. The programme will include five days of an expedition phase, as well as seven dats of the participant’s choice of onsite and offsite activities. Activities will provide a chance

Applications are already open and will close on 30 June 2019 for all international participants. For more information, visit the event’s website, www.cbrmoot. scouts.com.au or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CBRmoot. You may also get in touch with the Moot Secretariat at info@cbrmoot.scouts.com.au.

24th World Scout Jamboree

22 July - 2 August 2019

The theme for the 24th World Scout Jamboree is Unlock a New World and was developed by the youth bid team, also known as the Dream Team. This theme speaks to the new adventures, cultures, and friendships that will be shared by Scouts from around the world during the 12-day event in North America, a continent often referenced as a “New World.”

THE VENUE

The Summit Bechtel Reserve is located in West Virginia, USA, and is comprised of more than 14,000 acres (5,667 ha) of beautiful forested mountains adjacent to more than 70,000 acres (28,328 ha) of national park in the scenic New River Gorge area of West Virginia.

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GEAR UP FOR THE WEATHER!

The month of July is characterized by warm weather, with daily high temperatures around 79 degrees F/ 26.1 degrees C and daily low temperatures around 62 degrees F/16.6 degrees C, and moderate to high humidity. The site typically experiences partly cloudy conditions during the month with the possibility of thunderstorms and rainshowers.

SCOUTING IN ASIA-PACIFIC

NEWSiNFO EDITORIAL and DESIGN TEAM

J. Rizal C. Pangilinan Regional Director Luz Taray Director, Communications and Partnerships Theresa E. Quine Assistant, Communications and Partnerships Neil Christian C. Bolandrina Assistant, Communication and Information Services Kenny Ralph S. Fernando Special Project Officer, Communications COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS

APRIL WSC and WSF Meeting 4-7 April, Korea

APR Scout Foundation Fundraising Event 26 May, Japan

2nd Host Organizing Committee 11 - 1 4 A p r i l , U S A

National Rover Moot (MoP Modules) 31 May - 4 June, Nepal

MoP Team Afghanistan Gathering 17-21 April

JUNE APR Management Meeting APR Adults in Scouting Workshop 19-20 June 21-24 April, Hong Kong Educational Methods Thematic APR Adults in Scouting Team Meeting Sub-Committee Meeting 10-16 June 25 April, Hong Kong JULY APR Scout Bazaar Management 24th World Scout Jamboree Committee 22 July-2 August, USA 26-28 April, Philippines AUGUST MAY International Scarf Day MoP Thematic Team Meeting 1 August 9-12 May, Germany International Youth Day RSC Meeting 12 August 25-26 May, Japan 23rd European Scout Conference APR Scout Foundation 24-28 August, Croatia Management Committee SEPTEMBER 29th Arab Scout Regional Conference 8-14 September, Sharm El Sheik

International Day of Peace 21 September, Worldwide World Scout Committee Meeting 27-29 September, Egypt National Youth Involvement Workshop 20-25 September, Pakistan OCTOBER APR Consultants Pool Training 8-12 October, Thailand JOTA/JOTI 18-20 October Regional Scout Committee Meeting 18-20 October NOVEMBER World Children’s Day DECEMBER International Volunteer’s Day 5 December 3rd World Scout Education Congress 7-10 December, Brazil 13th APR Rover Moot/21st Australian Rover Moot 30 Dec-10 Jan 2020, Australia

(+63 2) 818-0984 asia-pacific@scout.org

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