Messengers of Peace ASIA-PACIFIC

Messengers of Peace

ASIA-PACIFIC

ISSUE NO.32
OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2020

The Messengers of Peace quarterly newsletter is an initiative of the Asia-Pacific Support Centre of the World Scout Bureau highlighting the project, programmes and activities of National Scout Organizations under the MoP Initiative.

CAMBODIA SCOUTS:

RIDING FOR PEACE

Afghanistan National

Korea Scout
Boy Scouts of the

Scout Organization:

Association:

Philippines:

Covid-19 Awareness

Stronger Network

Delivering relief

to typhoon victims

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Campaign and Virus Prevention

in Scout Troops

stance, there is hope and good, truly reﬂecting

ﬂourish and in ways we would have never

imagined, as has Messengers of Peace in a year of difference yet a year of enormous opportunities.

Scouts are always there…we are Messengers of Peace!

messengers of peace. While we will long remember 2020 as the year

of ‘difference, difﬁculty and challenge’, what

has occurred through Messengers of Peace despite this, has been truly been ‘astounding and amazing’. It never ceases to… I’m sure you know what I mean.
You did make a difference! May you be encouraged to continue to live up to the Promise you made, no matter when or how long ago, continue to do what you do with thoughtfulness, compassion and understanding, and continue to be a Messenger of Peace doing what you can to spread the message.

It never ceases to astound and amaze...when things are not going well in a community, Scouts are there.

Through the various Messengers of Peace

projects and what has been achieved, signiﬁ-

cant change has occurred in what we do, how we do it, and we have learned to do what has to be done in different ways, and using
Best Scouting Wishes!

It never ceases to astound and amaze...when a disaster or a calamity happens, Scouts are there.

Paul D Parkinson, OAM

Member, Regional Decision Committee different means, always with a positive end result in mind. Scouting has continued to

It never ceases to astound and amaze...when hardship and suffering affects people… Scouts are there.

As the year 2021 starts, many of us are hoping that this year will be a better year for each one of us, especially in our Scouting life. The year 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, exciting opportunities and experiences were postponed or cancelled causing us to stay at home.

National Scout Organizations in our great region delivered innovative services during the pandemic and I am proud to say that our Scouts are always ready to serve.
It never ceases to astound and amaze…when a global and devastating pandemic like COVID 19 occurs, Scouts are there.

Despite the challenges, the perseverance of our NSO Coordinators throughout the year opened new doors of Scouting opportunities and initiatives. I would like to thank the NSOs, NSO MoP Coordinators, core team members, and of course, our Scouts who are the real Messengers of Peace during this unprecedented time. Furthermore, disasters hit some countries in the region and our Scouts had been faithful in doing their duty to serve their communities. They became frontliners in providing assistance to the victims. we all made to do our duty to our God, our country and our duty to others, and ourselves last. There is always that motivation as a human being that says, ‘I need to do something here…’,’I must help…’, ‘Let me do this…’, and so on. However, for Scouts, this is there any-

It never ceases to astound and amaze…when a need is seen and something can be done about it…Scouts are there.

way, but it is a bit different - it is done with

a ‘cheerful and sacriﬁcial heart’ despite the

circumstances, living our Promise. Regardless of what country we live in, where
National Scout Organizations in our

great region delivered innovative services during the pandemic and I am proud to say that our Scouts are always ready to serve. The year 2021 marks the 10th year anniversary of Messengers of Peace. Throughout this decade, thousands of Scouts have come forward to be catalysts in creating a better world.
Well, these things really shouldn’t astound and amaze, but what I see (and have experienced) tells me that’s what Scouts do, and have always done with thoughtfulness, compassion and understanding. Scouts just get in there and do it because they are a Scout and see it needs to be done. we live or what we do, as a Scout we do what we can to support and encourage others as well as do our best to makes things a bit better for everyone. That’s what being a Messenger of Peace is about. We have that special and unique opportunity to not only ‘do something’, but through that ‘doing’ in the experience, others see, despite what is going on around them, there are those who are selfless, responding calmly, carefully and clearly showing that out of the situation or circum-

Scouts are there despite the difﬁculties, trou-

bles, struggles and inconvenience. Perhaps it has something to do with the Promise that

JR C. Pangilinan

Regional Director

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Wishing you all a happy and fruitful new year! manpower, food and relief operations and even providing mental health support. Further, Scouts connected with their friends, relatives, family and colleagues in virtual activities. Details of these stories are fea-

tured in our COVID-19 special publications.

ed their criteria for Blue Scarf to be given to leaders who will be the peace ambassadors in their community. Trained leaders are rapidly increasing as NSO coordinators organized various trainings locally.

The pandemic has brought us a lot of challenges, but our adapting capability granted us an advantage to continue Scouting wherever we are.

I would like to say thank you to everyone who has been with us in 2020.

The pandemic has brought us a lot of challenges, but our adapting capability granted us an advantage to continue Scouting wherever we are. An innovative and digitalized platform has been our tool to keep Scouts active and engage in activities. I am sure all of us are excited on what this year will bring. Although some countries are still on lockdown, travel bans are still enforced, and physical activities are still restricted, our Scouting heart is still looking forward to exciting activities in the open air. I am sure some of us are planning to hold activities we can enjoy together with friends.
The team is now working on organizing more storytelling webinars to educate young people in project writing and storytelling. We believe that these webinars are vital for us to inspire more young people especially with the world connected virtually. Most of us know that numerous projects are yet to be published in the scout.org platform. The team will focus more on this area to ensure that service hours rendered will be counted and recognized.
The pandemic unexpectedly changed our lifestyle and lessened our interaction with friends and colleagues. But it also helped us to be more creative and innovative taking advantage of technological platforms. Virtual events were organized and most became active and engaged in creating community development projects, capacity strengthening trainings and workshops, as well as volunteering in emergencies.

I am very pleased that MoP teams in NSOs played a vital role in undertaking relief and community actions during the pandemic. Our sincere gratitude to each of them and particularly our NSO Coordinators for their hard work and commitment. The year 2020 opened doors of various trainings for local leaders, setting the MOP badge criteria and the blue scarf criteria. New Scouts were registered and more inspiring stories were shared in scout.org and in social media.
As our way forward for 2021, while the scenario is still uncertain, we are working on the commemoration of ten years of MoP in conjunction with the International Day of Peace. We look forward to bringing the MoP programme to the grassroots. Using a decade of vital experience, we will showcase more projects to pave the way for a new generation of peace messengers.
To the MoP team of the region, I am excited to see the engaging and purposeful initiatives that you will bring this year.

A happy and abundant year to all!

Dale Corvera

Wishing everyone a better year 2021.

Member, Regional Decision Committee

Currently, almost 70% of NSOs have creat-

ed their Ring Badge criteria and others are coordinating with the MoP team to set-up their own. More than 50% have also creat-

S Prassanna Shrivastava

Regional Office Coordinator, MoP

MoP teams in NSOs played a vital role in undertaking relief and community actions during the pandemic. Our sincere gratitude to each of them and particularly our NSO Coordinators for their hard work and commitment.

Year 2020 has been a tough year for everyone. While the year started with great enthusiasm and high spirit, the pandemic forced us to postpone or cancel many projects and initiatives. Most of us were unable to venture to outside activities as we stayed at home for safety. Still, Scouts became frontliners in their communities providing support and assistance to the affected. In addition, various initiatives were done such as volunteering in health sector to ensure

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Afghanistan National Scout Organization

Covid-19 Awareness Campaign and Virus Prevention

Korea Scout Association

Stronger Network in Scout Troops

Korea Scout Association started to build the fundamental basis of Korean Messengers of Peace network through the MoP project Local Troop Leaders Implementation Workshop. participated in a MoP Local Coordinators Workshop where they were expected to re-echo their learning to local troops with 20 members per troop. The training resulted in an increase of Scouts who were introduced to the Messengers of Peace Programme.
Afghanistan National Scout Association developed a Covid-19 achievement badge for Scouts which will be awarded to those who will participate in the Covid-19 awareness campaign as well as those who will practice the prevention measures with their families, with women, and their local communities. women underwent four training sessions from the last week of August to the first week of September in Herat and Samangan. In addition, 100 hygiene kits were distributed during the training.
The project aims to have a stronger MoP network by increasing the number of projects and service hours as well as sharing inspiring stories with their local community. To engage more Scouts and introduce them to the Programme, the national team translated MoP materials into the local language. The materials will be available for the Scouts across the country, which include the MoP Guidelines on Programme Network, How to become a Messengers of Peace, MoP Guidelines for Applicants 2017 and Messengers of Peace Identity Guide.
“I participated at the workshop to gain greater understanding about the MoP program and how to engage this program in my community. The workshop has exceeded my expectation and helped me to gain great understanding of what MoP is and the

kind of inﬂuence it can bring. Moreover, the

workshop taught me how to plan step by step and proceed with the project with the community.” said by Yonghwan Koo, a participant from Daejeon Council.
Trained Scouts started their own community outreach program and introduced the Covid-19 prevention measures to women in their own neighborhood. Throughout this project, 164 families were equipped with knowledge on how to protect
The project was designed in two phases: (1) Conducting Covid-19 Awareness training for Afghan Girl Scouts and, (2) Scouts Community Outreach – Practicing the Covid-19 Prevention Measures with women in local communities. A total of 64 Scouts and 100 themselves and their family members from the Covid-19 disease.
In addition, in August 2020, 40 Adult Leaders

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Boy Scouts of the Philippines

Delivering relief to typhoon victims

Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia

Back to Basic Webinar Series

In November 2020, Messengers of Peace Malaysia held a webinar series “Messengers of Peace - Back to Basic” attended by MoP State Coordinators and MoP Ambassadors, the National Training Team and representatives of the National Programme team. This program provided an opportunity for Scout members and leaders to understand and review the content of the MoP initiative using the Zoom platform and Facebook live.
On day 2, the session focused on Storytelling and Uploading Guidelines on scout. org. The session’s objective is to acquaint Scouts and leaders on the proper uploading of stories and images of events organized by Scouts.
Typhooon Ulysses unleashed powerful winds

and heavy rains that destroyed low-lying areas of the Municipality of San Mateo in the Philippines. The most affected places are sectors located in the lower side of two communities in the town. having an Operation Feeding Relief Program in some evacuation areas. For a week in November 2020, the SANGALAB Circle 10 had a feeding and relief operation program in two schools serving as evacuation areas for affected families. SANGALAB Circle 10 gathered and prepared the meals consisting of fried rice, hotdog, and egg. This program served 350 people in the two localities, in addition to 150 relief goods distributed.
The last session discussed the roles and responsibilities of MoP Coordinators and Ambassadors successfully handled by the regional office, Ms. Kate Aranzamendez, who helped enlighten Scout leaders on their pivotal role.

The ﬁrst session Introduction to Messengers of Peace & How to get started! reﬂected the

event title “Back to Basic”, allowing participants to get a general idea and a glimpse of MoP history.
To support and assist the typhoon victims, the San Mateo Rover Scouts Mission, known as SANGALAB Circle 10, quickly responded by
A total of 14,100 people were reached during the 3-day session consisting of Scouts and non-Scouts.

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Typhoon Goni, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Rolly, was an extremely powerful tropical cyclone that made landfall as a category 5–equivalent super typhoon in Catanduanes in the Philippines. It became the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone on record by 1-minute winds, eclipsing the previous record held by Haiyan and Meranti. Many areas in Bicol region got devasted due to an unforgettable disaster brought by the super typhoon, and sadly, many residents lost their property and even loved ones.
Scouts in the Philippines organized the distribution of improvised solar lamps in partnership with Paranaque City Eagle Scouts to cater the needs of the people who were seriously affected by Typhoon Ulysses last November 2020. Joining forces were Paranaque City Eagle Scouts, Brighton Venturers 1012 and SANGALAB Circle 10 to give hope to victims by providing relief goods to residents of Sitio Ibayo in Rizal Province.

somehow difﬁcult because of the need for boat

transport, as well as the pandemic and other challenges, the Scouts carried out their goal and witnessed smiles and renewed hope in the faces of affected residents.
To reach out to the victims of Typhoon Rolly, a group of Scouts – San Mateo Municipal Rover Scouts Mission Circle 10 SANGALAB, Brighton Venturers 1012, Metro Manila East Council Rover Scouts, Rover Circles United

08 of Cabanatuan City Council, and Bagacay Outﬁt 723

Camarines Sur, organized a fundraising program entitled, “SAMBIGKIS: ‘SANG DAKOT NA BIGAS PROJECT FOR BICOL, to provide immediate needs of affected
In Southern Luzon, BSP team headed by Mr. Rodolfo C. Pangilinan, Regional Scout Director, delivered relief services and visited affected councils that were badly hit by typhoons.

Most of those affected reside in low-lying areas of Marikina and Rizal. Acting in the spirit of helping one another, Paranaque City Eagle Scouts and SANGALAB Circle 10 thought of a

Mr. J. Rizal C. Pangilinan, Asia-Paciﬁc Region-

al Director, joined the relief operations and released funds to be utilized for immediate needs of affected families. Local Councils received the cash donations and food packs and managed the distribution. communities. This collaboration was helpful to the people

of Bicol Region as it raised P16,639.28. Bagacay Outﬁt

723 led the repacking and distribution of relief goods where 80 families in Camarines Sur received the goods.

way to assist the communities needing sup

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port. Even though reaching out to them was

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INTERNATIONAL

Bhutan Scout Association: Introducing Mobile Scouting to young people

DAY OF PEACE

ﬁght against COVID-19.

CELEBRATIONS

Mobile Scouting was introduced in four schools for young people to experience Scouting despite the pandemic. All activities observed COVID-19 health protocols.

A number of virtual activities were also organized including IDP webinar via Zoom, online photography and short video contest on the theme Shaping Peace Together in the colleges and schools.

“In the face of this deadly pandemic, the celebration of IDP in September came as a blessing for us in Bhutan as we fervently awaited the moment to really connect virtually with our friends and leaders. Connecting virtually
Giving tribute and gratitude to frontliners was a way of Bhutan Scouts Association to celebrate the International Day of Peace 2020. IDP brochures were released in schools. Scouts expressed thanksgiving messages and organized role playing on eliminating discrimination and hatred. Pledges on placards were made and posted on social media. Moreover, students and teachers rendered a musical tribute to the King and frontliners for leading the in Bhutan is still a huge challenge as not many of us have the means to connect online. Furthermore, availability of good network coverage is daunting and intimidating. Nevertheless, the webinar during the IDP celebrations on 21 September gave me so many insights and learnt so many things. Though we may not be able to do this face to face, we can still dream together,” said by Kinzang Dendup, a Rover Scout from Sherubtse College.

Bangladesh Scouts: Launch Ring Badge online

As a celebration of International Day of Peace 2020, Bangladesh Scouts organized an online Activity Launching and Ring Badge distribution ceremony. The Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts launched the ceremony on16 September 2020 via Zoom.
In celebration of IDP, Cambodia Scouts had a Tree Planting for Environment on 25 September 2020 at Kep province as a way of inspiring others to

Cambodia Scouts: Contributing to save the planet by planting trees

contribute in saving the planet and understanding

the value of peace even during difﬁcult times.

Multiple Scout projects were presented and inaugurated. Further, 200 Scouts and Rover Scouts were recognized and awarded the Messengers of Peace Ring Badge for their projects that made valuable contribution to Scouting. Projects include mask distribution, tree plantation, park cleaning project, Smile Bringers Green Marathon, IZHKHIR and Green Planet.
At a separate event in Siem Reap Province, Scouts organized a Workshop on MoP Awareness and Tree Planting. Before that, around 130 Scouts organized Riding for Peace in the province. NSO leaders and members of the Ministry of Education, Youth

and Sport ofﬁcials joined the events.

activities were completed locally ensuring
More than 500 Scouts participated in the event. Due to the COVID-19, only few projects and proper safety precautions. Most activities were done virtually or at home.

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Gerakan Pramuka: 300 Scouts joined virtual peace run
The Singapore Scouts Association: One Million Tree Movement

To defeat the COVID-19, the government of Indonesia urged its citizens to stay at home and follow health protocols. That did not stop Scouts in Indonesia to celebrate the IDP. Scouts organized a Virtual Peace Run on 27 September 2020 having a total of 300 runners consisting of Rovers, Eagle Scouts and Scout Leaders.
On 23 September 2020, Scout representatives joined the National Parks Board (NParks) in a sharing session on One Million Tree Movement at East Coast Park.

One Million Tree Movement (OMT) is a national project by NParks which key objective is to restore the natural landscape of Singapore through planting young trees across the country. The goal is to have a million new trees planted with the support of the community in the next 10 years.
The virtual peace run used the Endomondo

Application ( a ﬁtness tracker designed for

maximum motivation using the mobile phone’s GPS to precisely record distance, pace and more as the person exercises. The app also connects the person to another user) where participants can enter the race at any location and at any pace. Among the 300 runners, a