Annual Report 2010 0.Pdf
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When world leaders finally sit down to show mankind that peace is possible … those world leaders will first have met as Scouts at a World Jamboree. Bob Mazzuca Chief Scout Executive Boy Scouts of America “An investment worth making!” In August 2011, over thirty thousand The international Scout experience these pages seems clear: although Scouts from 161 countries will meet is not, as some may imagine, a they span many decades, these at the World Jamboree in Sweden. random youth tourist outing. It is a experiences open the minds of the Our Annual Report this year well-planned and well organized Scouts involved, breaking down examines the role of these camps in dialogue between cultures, barriers of fear, prejudice and the modern era. facilitated by skilled, trained, mistrust. They affect not only the leaders. Maybe for the first time, Scouts involved, but go on to touch Many Scouting activities have a a Scout discovers that their small many others they meet, afterwards. profound influence on people local group is one of a million such in their formative years. Yet one The spirit that these Scouts walk groups in a vast global network. of the most significant of these away with cannot be bought, but, His small community service, must be when a Scout leaves the by investing in Scouting, you have added together with the others he certainty of his or her community helped to provide more young discovers, truly change the world. for the first time and is confronted, people with this kind of life- His fellow Scouts, may be from in an unfamiliar place - a small changing experience. You have different corners of the world, are inter-group camp, or a big world helped to open young minds, and actually “Just like me”. It all makes jamboree - by strangers with inspired countless “Messengers of sense now! different ethos, values, principles, Peace”. Now that’s an investment languages and beliefs. The common message from all the of which you can be proud! Thank personal stories we have chosen for you! Mike Bosman, Chairman, World Scout Foundation 1 Disappearing boundaries You cannot help but be moved, are in uniform and identifiable by a water buffalo slide. Uniforms no impressed and inspired by the those uniforms. From Albania to longer match a Scout to a country. opening ceremony at a World Zimbabwe, in the arena unfolds At the closing ceremony, a mystical Jamboree. Spectators watch as a patchwork of national hues change has occurred. Countries still Scouts and Scouters from every and tints, and a cross-stitching of occupy assigned spots and stand corner of our world, each dressed cultures and countries. in designated locations. But, the in a uniform of his/her country, patchwork quilt has gone, dissolved Over the next ten days borders proudly assemble in the main arena, in a sea of confetti not American disappear. Boundaries, keeping all anxious to begin the “Mondial”. Scouts or Canadian Scouts; not Israeli people from people, and nation French red, Swedish blue, American Scouts nor Jordanian Scouts, it is from nation, dissolve. Historic, khaki, Scout by Scout and nation impossible to tell who is from where. time-entrenched animosities by nation, the central arena Some are smiling, some crying but dissipate. Sub-camps cease being transforms into a color-coded most are sad that the end has come, campsites and turn into world directory of international scope. though each and every one has sites. Children meet other children, been uplifted, touched and changed World Jamborees officially begin smiles greet smiles and fingers lock by the power and the promise of with the opening ceremonies together, not to make fists but to those ten days. Even so, they remain and conclude with closing make friends through a handshake. Scouts; just young people, but now ceremonies. At the opening of the Uniforms are swapped. A Dutch girl no longer islands.Perhaps here lies jamboree, everything is delineated Scout proudly wears an American the secret and mystery, the hope and and compartmentalized. Every “Class A” shirt, a Japanese Scout the challenge of a Jamboree. For a participant has a place; each sports a kilt, a Ugandan Scout moment there are no boundaries and country occupies an assigned shows off the Brazilian jacket he the world truly is united. spot; every nation stands in a exchanged for a gazelle horn and specific location. All participants Rabbi Peter Hyman is a life-long member of the Boy Scouts of America and is Past-Chairman of the BSA’s Jewish Committee on Scouting. 2 We are all just Scouts! Over 14,000 Scouts and their One of the adult leaders who the Mayor of Makati of our very own leaders spilled out of every appeared from time to time in the Manila here in the Philippines!” available camping space at the camp showed a special interest in This man who passed himself off as Mount Makiling Scout Camp in the interaction between the different a humble Scout leader - with no airs the Philippines for the 26th Asia groups. To the Scouts, he appeared and graces - just his simple Scout Pacific Jamboree. It was January, as “just another leader” - he talked uniform … holds one of the most the weather was perfect for casually with Scouts from different respected positions in the country. camping and the Scouts from the countries and he made sure they He also serves as President of the 25 countries didn’t mind that the were comfortable. And then he’d Boy Scouts of the Philippines and site was actually designed for a disappear from the site. Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Region fraction of those numbers. They Antonio, one of the street Scouts Committee. Ask a busy man to help queued up for meals, they queued noticed Binay, the new leader as he in Scouting and they always say up for programmes … but rather moved through his sub camp. His “yes!” than grumbling, they used their time own troop leaders seemed to trust in line to meet Scouts from other Imagine how Binay’s presence Binay and listened carefully when countries and even other regions. altered dreams and inspired Antonio he spoke. “But he listened more to Street kids from the inner-city of and his troop. And wonder how the Scouts than other leaders he Manila mixed with Scouts from many embryonic, future leaders met. He asked us lots of questions. the leafy suburbs of Australia and were born at Makiling because, in He wanted our opinions - about lots the USA. Japanese Scouts traded his uniform, Binay was a Scout, just of things … Imagine my surprise their local dances with peers from like them! when I found out who Binay really Melaka in Indonesia - and that was is … you’ll never believe it … He’s only in one sub camp! For Binay, being involved in the Jamboree was both natural and a top priority … and it gave him a chance to meet and hear the opinions of some of the most important citizens of the Philippines - the young people! Incidentially, shortly after the Jamboree, Binay was elected Vice President of the Philippines! 4 Don’t forget they’re Scouts Sometimes, things aren’t quite what Scouts away from the safety of Musa, one of the Saudi leaders, they seem … home-base and get them to interact arrived on site, and quickly noticed more with their peers from the USA that, of course, they hadn’t left! All At the BSA Jamboree in July, a troop and elsewhere. their kit had been neatly unpacked of 40 Scouts from Saudi Arabia and laid out in their tents … but unloaded their gear from the vans, Roger, Dan and Kent listened to the where were the boys? were divided into four patrols, and host team and worked through the made their way to the assigned programme of the camp, looking Kent, who had walked on towards camp sites. Each patrol separated for opportunities to motivate their what seemed like a photo shoot from the others. visitors … - such was the number of camera flashes going off - called the others The Scouts - many of whom had Together, the six leaders strolled ... “Over here, guys - look!” only basic English - sat around in back to the site. The sun had set and their tents on arrival, and to their Roger had offered to buy pizza for To their delight, here was a circle American hosts, it seemed they everyone to celebrate their arrival. of American, Mexican and Saudi might not budge. Faced with the Approaching the camp, Joe, one of Scouts - with Abdulrahman from prospect of a sullen and reticent the host leaders, set off running - Mecca dancing on his hands … ten days like this, US host leaders “Oh Dear, what are we going to do “I don’t think Pizza will be needed”, left the site. They made their way - they’ve all gone! Maybe they have said Musa, “I think the boys will to the BSA’s international team left the site and tried to go home! fit in pretty well without it! They’re headquarters to see if they had any What will their parents think?” Scouts after all … we just forgot tricks that might prise these “shy” that!” Abdullah Al Fahad, CEO of Saudi Scouting, has worked closely with the Leaders of the Boy Scouts of America, to bring their Scouts together to build mutual understanding; the results have been outstanding! 6 Thomas’ story Scout exchanges can be big or small. worries or fears. The adventure had And we knew we really had made it Thomas from France explains ..