Better World Village welcomes huge number of visitors The 17th National Jamboree held on 29th December 2016 to 4th January 2017 at Mysuru, Karnataka State opened the Year 2017 echoing the value of unity with the theme “Together for Better Tomorrow”. Known for being vast in many ways, the India Jamboree gathered around 25,000 people comprised of Scouts, Guides and leaders of The Bharat Scouts & Guides (BS&G) including over 1,000 overseas participants and guests who signed up for the adventure. At the opening ceremony, flags of the 17th National Jamboree and the BS&G were raised at the arena signaling the official start of the Jamboree. Honourable President of India Sri Pranab Mukherjee graced the ceremony, joined by Governor of Karnataka state Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala and Chief Minister of Karnataka state Siddaramaiah. In his message sent out to BS&G, World Scout Bureau Asia-Pacific Regional Director J. Rizal C. Pangilinan expressed his hope that young people will be inspired more to live out the values of Scouting. During the Jamboree, one of the busiest areas was the World Scout Village which showcased the WOSM flagship programs: Messengers of Peace (MoP), Scouts of the World Award (SWA), and the World Scout Environment Program
(WSEP). The village was divided into three major areas and the concept was delivered through these following activities: Sharing the Idea – ‘Ale le’ song; What Does Peace Mean to You – Drawing; Patrol System – Networking Game; What is MoP – Life Vest & Platform; Introduction to scout.org; MoP Beat – We are Scouts; Solar Cooking – Solar Cookers; Solar Games – Car, Cockroach, Grasshopper Race; Solar Art – Painting & Sun burning; Solar Gadget - DIY Solar Kits and SWA Tent -- which the participants find them all interesting. Scouts and Guides with their unit leaders enjoyed completing the activities and learning more about solar energy through Scouts Go Solar initiative. Others were excited knowing more about SWA and MoP Initiatives. Atmosphere at the village was jovial as Scouts were in high spirits in completing every task. With visits made by some government leaders at the Jamboree site, leaders hoped that this can create positive results at local level. Moreover, volunteers were happy welcoming non-Scouts and saw it as an opening to introduce Scouting to them. During the first day alone, more than 800 Scouts registered at the World Village, and the number went up from 4,000 to 6,000
Scouts and visitors daily on the succeeding days. It took a lot of combined efforts of 100 volunteers who were helping each other run the village. Thanks to the dedication of these volunteers composed of Rovers, unit leaders and professionals who took turns in supporting the activities, with assistance from Asia-Pacific MoP Coordinator and Director, Development Support & Finance S. Prassanna Shrivastava, country coordinator Ms Lerchanta Ally Seeluangsawat from Thailand, Erwin Samuel Ramli from Indonesia, BS&G MoP coordinator Krishnaswamy Rammorothy, Madhusudan Avala and Pankaj Gupta. Highlight of the closing ceremony was the awarding of the MoP Award presented by Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association International Commissioner Dr. Hamad Abdulrahman H. Alyahya, with S. Prassanna Shrivastava as WOSM representative to BS&G which was received by BS&G Chief National Commissioner Shri. B.I. Nagarale. The award was first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific given to an NSO. Ministers who graced the closing ceremony were Power Minister D K Shivakumar and Minister for Education in Rajasthan Prof. Vasudeva Devanani and several other dignitaries. -- Photo credit: The Bharat Scouts & Guides India
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