March 2012
Kudumail
News from the Africa Scout Region www.scout.org/africa
Inside
Angola leads 2012 Africa Scout Day Celebrations Highlight
Angola leads 2012 Africa Scout Day Celebrations Page 1
From NSOs
Focus on Founder’s/Thinking Day Celebrations Mauritius unveils a monument to mark the centenary of Scouting Côte d’Ivoire: Scouts bridging the technological divide Food for Life Project in Benin
© WSB-ARO/FILE
Page 2 From ARO Cost of travel from your NSO to Angola!
ARO welcomes a new staff member
Page 3 Community Africa Development Scout
and Inter America Regions represent WOSM at UNHABITAT
LUANDA - 10 March 2012 – It was pomp and colour as hordes of Scouts assembled at the Dream Stadium, in Luanda, Angola to mark the Africa Scout Day. Over a thousand Scouts participated. Angola led the main celebrations with members of the Africa Scout Committee in attendance. The guest of honour was Angola’s minister of youth and sports Hon.Gonçalves Muandumba, himself a former Scout. The celebrations started on 9 March in Zangu I area in Luanda, with activities such as distribution of mosquito nets, repainting the walls, fencing and painting the perimeter walls of the community dispensary, showcasing Scouting contributions to community development. The event ended on 11 March. Meanwhile, other Scouts across variously marked the ASD throughout the week of 13 March under the banner: "Educate. Transform. Educate." Furthermore, Africa Scout Day gained massive popularity in the social media especially on Twitter and Facebook. For instance, a Facebook post on WOSM page about Africa Scout Day attracted 441 “likes” and 47 comments from followers across the world. This in turn redirected traffic to the Africa Region Facebook page, thereby increasing its popularity. As a strategic achievement for the region more people are now aware of this important day.
In a message to all NSOs on the occasion of this milestone, the Regional Director, Mr Frederic Tutu Kama-Kama said, “It is our responsibility to carry forward the legacy of Scouts and Scout leaders whose honourable actions elicited this glorious acclaim from the African Union. It is our responsibility to ensure that Scouting continues to make a difference in all corners of our continent.” In turn, Ms. Jemima Nartey, the Chair of the Africa Regional Scout Committee delivered a message that focused on the important role of education. She said, “I challenge you to stretch forth a hand to a young one in getting him/her a good and sound education either through guidance, direction or sponsorship. To the young people, you have a challenge to get the best of education knowing that knowledge is power.” Africa Scout Day is held annually on March 13, which is a symbolic date for two reasons. First, On 13th March 1961, in Nigeria, Scout Leaders met for the first time to discuss the organization of the Africa Scout Region. Second, at the 62nd ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the then OAU, (currently African Union) in Addis Ababa in 1995, a resolution was passed that Scouting in Africa must be recognized for its contribution to development and as such March 13 was chosen because of its historical value mentioned above.
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Events calendar
15th Africa Scout Conference. 6th Africa Scout Jamboree. Page 4 Page 4