APR Bulletin No. 10

ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL

SCOUT FOUNDATION JANUARY 2015

Bhutan Scouts introduce mushroom cultivation training to Shaba community (see page 6)

VOLUME 10

Message Greetings!

Dr Chao, Shou-Po Chairman, APR Scout Committee

To Scouts and leaders in the AsiaPacific Region, I send my personal greetings to all for a great year in 2015! Specially, I express appreciation to the generous contributions of many individuals who support the APR Scout Foundation.

I also had opportunities to attend the World Scout Committee meetings held in Slovenia, USA and Malaysia.

I am very happy to inform you that I am always proud to report to the World Scout Committee about the great success and achievements of National Scout Organizations within the region.

As Chairman of the APR Scout Committee, I had visited many countries in 2014 such as Korea, Maldives, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, etc. I have seen many projects and good deeds

by Scouts and leaders who continue to make this world a better place.

Please join me to continue supporting our APR Scout Foundation. The Regional Scout Committee, the Regional Office, and the APR Scout Foundation will work hand in hand to provide better Scouting to more young people.

Let us always remember that our investment in Scouting is equal to our investment for the future.

Foundation Events

Sri Lanka hosts Fundraising Dinner The APR Scout Foundation Fundraising dinner held on 28 April 2014 at the Grand Ballroom, Goldi Sands Hotel, Negombo, Sri Lanka was a great success. The net amount raised was US$2,900.

New members were also recruited during the event.

The Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee, and

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many leaders in world Scouting attended the dinner. The evening turned out to be grand event with colorful cultural performances.

Appreciation is given to the host, Sri Lanka Scout Association, International Commissioner Mr. Janaprith Fernando and his team for coordinating the magnificent Foundation Dinner.

Message Over time, we envisioned the continuous growth of the APR Scout Foundation to further strengthen capacity building in National Scout Organizations and to support other Scouting activities in the region.

I am pleased to inform you that during my term as President of the APR Foundation, significant goals have been met. Foremost, our partnership with the World Scout Foundation yielded better returns on investments, and our collaboration with NSOs is creating wider visibility on the ground.

Simon Hang Bock Rhee President, APR Scout Foundation

We recognized that we needed committed and able partners, globally and within the region, to help us carry out our work in an effective and sustainable manner -- partners who are familiar with the needs, framework and history of our region, or whose expertise could create larger impact in the lives of Scouts in many countries.

In 2014, I confess that we could have done better, and the next 10 months is crucial. Our target is to reach US$2 million by October 2015, which means raising US$150,000 in a few monthsʼ’ time. To achieve this, we would like to engage the commitment of the Regional Scout Committee and Foundation Management Committee to play a very active role.

I appeal to all NSOs and members of the Foundation to upgrade their membership status, so that Foundation can support more members. Setting by example, I am upgrading my membership from Silver to Gold.

Together, we can make a greater impact than if we stand alone.

Cheers for 2015!

APR Foundation Fundraising Dinner at a glance 3

Foundation Projects

Mongolia opens Scout shop in Ulaanbaatar The opening of the Scout shop in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia was a big boost to Scouting in the community. Scout Association of Mongolia (SAM) designed this project not only to generate income but more so to provide better services to their members.

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With Scout merit badges available at the Scout shop, Scouts are more inspired to learn new skills and to update their knowledge as they work hard to earn the badges. In this way, Scouts become more engaged as they prepare to advance to the next Scout section.

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Scouts introduce mushroom cultivation to Shaba community Bhutan Scouts Association (BSA) introduced mushroom cultivation to the Shaba community with the support of the APR Scout Foundation.

The Shaba community, beneďŹ ciary of the project, is situated in Paro, southwest of Bhutan.

Initial stage of the work was the construction of mushroom shed involving the Scouts and the people of Shaba community, especially the housewives, and personnel of Royal Bhutan Army.

A two-day training followed at the National Mushroom Center from 9-10 August 2014 where participants used

straw mushroom (oyster). Before the training, the project coordinator gave a brief introduction on how the APR Scout Foundation provides support to the community through a Scouting project.

Participants learned the different stages of mushroom cultivation: Cutting the straw, soaking in cold water, steam cooking, sowing seed and packing, staking and storage of the plastic bags, watering and harvest.

Participants expressed how happy they were to learn the techniques of mushroom cultivation and how this could help their families. They consid-

ered it as their best demo community development project so far.

The Community-Based Scouting (CBS) coordinator will develop an operating mechanism to ensure the accountability and sustainability of the project.

BSA will regularly visit the mushroom shed for monitoring and impact assessment.

Similar training using log (oak) was conducted in November 2014 at the same venue, recommended by the National Mushroom Center officials.

-- Dorji Wangchuk, Project Focal, Bhutan Scouts Association

Cutting of straw Women in the community and Scouts cutting the straw for oyster mushroom (locally called Naki shamu). Straw should be cut about a length of 3-4 centimeters to soak water in adequate amount. It is also convenient for workers while putting the steamed straw inside a plastic sheet during the ďŹ nal stage.

Mushroom shed

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APR Scout Foundation Management Committee President Mr. Simon Hangbock Rhee, Korea Vice-President Dr. William George Wells, Australia Treasurer Mr. Paul Wai-Chi Ho, Hongkong Members Mr. Mohammad Habibul Alam, Bangladesh Mr. Yasuhiko Paul Miki, Japan Mr. Mohammed Ali Khalid, India Dr. Mohammed Mukhyuddin Bin Sirwani Malaysia Mr. Joseph Yee Leung Lau, Hongkong Dr. George Huang Po-Cheng, Scouts of China Secretary Mr. J. Rizal C. Pangilinan, Philippines Regional Director, WOSM/APR

Foundation Focus The APR Scout Foundation provided assistance to 11 National Scout Organizations in the region through projects and hosting of regional events.

A grant of US$39,000 was extended to the World Scout Bureau/ Asia-Pacific Regional Office to assist NSOs in undertaking the projects.

Foundation New members

Japan 1. Mr. Yoshikatu Anzai 2. Ms. Mari Nakano

Malaysia 3. Johor International Jamboree 4. Kalaimani Supramaniam Maldives 5. Hussain Abdullah 6. Ahmed Nasheed Sri Lanka 7. Janaprith Fernando India 8. Shri Rajesh Agrawal United States 9. Dan Ownby Bangladesh 10. Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Khan

How to be a Member?

Application form is available upon request from the World Scout Bureau/ Asia-­Pacific

Regional

Office.

Payment can be made by cheque, telegraphic transfer and credit card.

For cheque payments, please prepare a

cheque

payable

to

“Asia-­Pacific

Regional Scout Foundation/ The Scout Association of Hong Kong.”

For telegraphic transfer: Account Name WORLD SCOUT BUREAU/APR Account Number: 10-12000-40188 Bank Name: BANCO DE ORO Herrera Branch V. Sotto St., cor Herrera St., Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229 PHILIPPINES

Help us to reach out more communities! if not yet a member, SIGN UP now! if already a member, GO for UPGRADE!

email us: asia-pacific@scout.org

For further information Mr J. Rizal C. Pangilinan Regional Director World Scout Bureau/APR Tel Nos. +63 2 818 0984 E-­mail:

asia-­pacific@scout.org

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