Messengers of Peace ASIA-PACIFIC The Messengers of Peace quarterly newsletter is an initiative of the Asia-Pacific Support Centre of the World Scout ISSUE NO.32 Bureau highlighting the project, programmes and activities of National Scout Organizations under the MoP Initiative. OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2020 CAMBODIA SCOUTS: RIDING FOR PEACE Afghanistan National Korea Scout Boy Scouts of the Scout Organization: Association: Philippines: Covid-19 Awareness Stronger Network Delivering relief 6 Campaign and Virus 7 in Scout Troops 9 to typhoon victims Prevention stance, there is hope and good, truly reflecting flourish and in ways we would have never Scouts are always there…we are messengers of peace. imagined, as has Messengers of Peace in a year of difference yet a year of enormous Messengers of Peace! While we will long remember 2020 as the year opportunities. of ‘difference, difficulty and challenge’, what has occurred through Messengers of Peace You did make a difference! May you be despite this, has been truly been ‘astounding encouraged to continue to live up to the It never ceases to astound and and amazing’. It never ceases to… I’m sure Promise you made, no matter when or how amaze...when things are not you know what I mean. long ago, continue to do what you do with going well in a community, thoughtfulness, compassion and understand- Scouts are there. Through the various Messengers of Peace ing, and continue to be a Messenger of Peace projects and what has been achieved, signifi- doing what you can to spread the message. cant change has occurred in what we do, how It never ceases to astound and we do it, and we have learned to do what has Best Scouting Wishes! amaze...when a disaster or a to be done in different ways, and using different means, always with a positive end Paul D Parkinson, OAM calamity happens, Scouts are result in mind. Scouting has continued to Member, Regional Decision Committee there. It never ceases to astound and amaze...when hardship and As the year 2021 starts, many of us are National Scout Organizations suffering affects people… hoping that this year will be a better year in our great region delivered Scouts are there. for each one of us, especially in our Scout- ing life. The year 2020 has been a chal- innovative services during the lenging year for everyone, exciting oppor- pandemic and I am proud to It never ceases to astound and tunities and experiences were postponed or cancelled causing us to stay at home. say that our Scouts are always amaze…when a global and Despite the challenges, the perseverance of ready to serve. devastating pandemic like we all made to do our duty to our God, our our NSO Coordinators throughout the year COVID 19 occurs, Scouts are country and our duty to others, and ourselves opened new doors of Scouting opportuni- there. last. There is always that motivation as a hu- ties and initiatives. I would like to thank the man being that says, ‘I need to do something NSOs, NSO MoP Coordinators, core team here…’,’I must help…’, ‘Let me do this…’, and so members, and of course, our Scouts who are the real Messengers of Peace during this un- on. However, for Scouts, this is there any- It never ceases to astound and precedented time. Furthermore, disasters hit amaze…when a need is seen way, but it is a bit different - it is done with some countries in the region and our Scouts a ‘cheerful and sacrificial heart’ despite the had been faithful in doing their duty to serve and something can be done circumstances, living our Promise. their communities. They became frontliners about it…Scouts are there. in providing assistance to the victims. Regardless of what country we live in, where National Scout Organizations in our Well, these things really shouldn’t astound we live or what we do, as a Scout we do what great region delivered innovative servic- and amaze, but what I see (and have expe- we can to support and encourage others as es during the pandemic and I am proud rienced) tells me that’s what Scouts do, and well as do our best to makes things a bit to say that our Scouts are always ready have always done with thoughtfulness, com- better for everyone. That’s what being a to serve. The year 2021 marks the 10th passion and understanding. Scouts just get Messenger of Peace is about. We have that year anniversary of Messengers of Peace. in there and do it because they are a Scout special and unique opportunity to not only ‘do Throughout this decade, thousands of Scouts have come forward to be catalysts and see it needs to be done. something’, but through that ‘doing’ in the in creating a better world. experience, others see, despite what is going Scouts are there despite the difficulties, trou- on around them, there are those who are self- bles, struggles and inconvenience. Perhaps less, responding calmly, carefully and clearly JR C. Pangilinan it has something to do with the Promise that showing that out of the situation or circum- Regional Director 2 3 Wishing you all a happy and fruitful new The pandemic has brought us manpower, food and relief operations and ed their criteria for Blue Scarf to be given year! even providing mental health support. Fur- to leaders who will be the peace ambassa- a lot of challenges, but our ther, Scouts connected with their friends, dors in their community. Trained leaders I would like to say thank you to everyone adapting capability granted relatives, family and colleagues in virtual are rapidly increasing as NSO coordinators who has been with us in 2020. activities. Details of these stories are fea- organized various trainings locally. us an advantage to continue tured in our COVID-19 special publications. The pandemic has brought us a lot of Scouting wherever we are. The team is now working on organizing challenges, but our adapting capabili- The pandemic unexpectedly changed our more storytelling webinars to educate ty granted us an advantage to continue lifestyle and lessened our interaction with young people in project writing and story- Scouting wherever we are. An innovative friends and colleagues. But it also helped us telling. We believe that these webinars are and digitalized platform has been our tool to be more creative and innovative taking vital for us to inspire more young people to keep Scouts active and engage in advantage of technological platforms. Virtual especially with the world connected virtual- activities. I am sure all of us are excited events were organized and most became ly. Most of us know that numerous projects on what this year will bring. Although some active and engaged in creating community are yet to be published in the scout.org countries are still on lockdown, travel bans development projects, capacity strength- platform. The team will focus more on this are still enforced, and physical activities ening trainings and workshops, as well as area to ensure that service hours rendered are still restricted, our Scouting heart is volunteering in emergencies. will be counted and recognized. still looking forward to exciting activities in the open air. I am sure some of us are I am very pleased that MoP teams in NSOs As our way forward for 2021, while the planning to hold activities we can enjoy played a vital role in undertaking relief and scenario is still uncertain, we are working together with friends. community actions during the pandemic. on the commemoration of ten years of Our sincere gratitude to each of them and MoP in conjunction with the International To the MoP team of the region, I am particularly our NSO Coordinators for their Day of Peace. We look forward to bringing excited to see the engaging and purposeful hard work and commitment. The year 2020 the MoP programme to the grassroots. initiatives that you will bring this year. opened doors of various trainings for local Using a decade of vital experience, we leaders, setting the MOP badge criteria and will showcase more projects to pave the A happy and abundant year to all! the blue scarf criteria. New Scouts were way for a new generation of peace mes- registered and more inspiring stories were sengers. shared in scout.org and in social media. 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 S Prassanna Shrivastava their own. More than 50% have also creat- 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 4 5 Afghanistan National Scout Organization Korea Scout Association Covid-19 Awareness Stronger Network Campaign and Virus Prevention in Scout Troops Korea Scout Association started to build the participated in a MoP Local Coordinators fundamental basis of Korean Messengers of Workshop where they were expected to Peace network through the MoP project Local re-echo their learning to local troops with Troop Leaders Implementation Workshop.