Messengers of Peace ASIA-PACIFIC ISSUE No.23 JULY-SEPT 2018 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER Messengers of Peace quarterly newsletter is an initiative of the Asia-Pacific Support Centre of the World Scout Bureau highlighting the projects of National Scout Organizations under MoP Initiative. Three global MoP Heroes from the Asia-Pacific 2 Region Six Scouts recognized as APR Messengers of Peace Heroes 3 for 2018 Scouts and Guides in India extend help 4 for Kerala Rover Scouts in Myanmar WOSM, KAICIID train new batch organise relief efforts of Dialogue for story on page 5 8 Peace facilitators Three global MoP Heroes are from the Asia-Pacific Region Coinciding with the celebration of the 2018 International Day of Peace, the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), in a special recognition ceremony held at the UN Headquarters in New York City, recognised exceptional Scouts, volunteers and professionals for their outstanding work in creating a better world. From the roster of MoP Heroes of 2018, three are from the Asia-Pacific Region. HUMAYRA IBNAT BADHON JUNBERT PABON - PHILIPPINES HIU LAM FUNG - HONG KONG - BANGLADESH Helping young offenders turn Helping those living on the Empowering girls in Bangladesh their lives around. margins of society through Scouting Badhon was a girl guide in her Scout Junbert Pabon has become As the Chairperson of the National school. She always wanted to be a a catalyst in promoting positive Rover Council, she leads the team Scout, but Scouting in her school changes through Scouting in his in setting up a Rover Service was exclusively for boys. When her community in the Philippines. He Team. The team initiates different school principal became a commis- initiated the Holistic Development services towards the community sioner for “Scout Metro”, he en- Program for Children in Conflict and recruit Rover Scouts to plan couraged her to start Scouting for with the Law at the Social Devel- and implement their community girls. Through his support, Badhan opment Center in Bacolod City, service. Each year, the team picks set up the inaugural meetings with central Philippines. Scout Junbert a specific group of people and do parents to convince them to allow Pabon has been instrumental in a project that last for a year. their girls to join her group. transforming law breakers into In the past few years, ethnic peace makers and conducting minority groups were targeted Today, her group grew to 200 Girls peace and empowerment pro- by the service team. in Scouting. At the age of 20, Bad- grams for young offenders in his hon is now the “elder sister” to all city to enable them to develop of the girls, who are excited to get positive outlook and thereby find new opportunities outside of school meaning and direction in life. through Scouting. She also works with her NSO in several capacities, including spreading the Messengers The Messengers of Peace Heroes Award was created in 2012 of Peace network in Bangladesh, and acknowledges the extraordinary service of young people and getting trained in facilitating dialogue for peace. and their contributions towards improving their community, promotion of dialogue and peace, and relief in times of need. 2 Six Scouts named APR Messengers of Peace Heroes for 2018 In recognition of their outstanding contributions in making positive changes in their communities, the Asia-Pacific Region conferred the APR Messengers of Peace Heroes Award 2018 to six outstanding individuals for their invaluable services and commitment to the cause of Scouting and in creating an impact in the lives of others. NAWANG GYALTSHEN – BHUTAN KAUR AMRITPAL – INDIA JYOTI CHARAN – INDIA Since 2015, Nawang made MoP As a unit leader, Kaur is very effective We can do this!” is the mantra of Jyoti, a programmes and projects accessible in preparing young boys and girls for government employee who conceptual- to young people throughout Bhutan, formal schooling. A teacher by profes- ized the Samarth projects. He and his group providing them avenues to heighten sion, she started evening classes for helped run an orphanage funded through awareness about peace, conduct and children below the poverty line, inspir- local donations, inspiring over a hundred oversee community development ing them to value and pursue their Rover Scouts and Rangers to render services projects and services. education. She led 11 children to go such as routine clean-up, refurbishment of the to regular schooling thru scholarships facility, and even organising interactive and from donors. fun games. KAILASH VIMAL PILLAY – FIJI Kailash has built an extensive network AMIR HAMZAH BIN AMAN KARL LYEL B. LIM – PHILIPPINES of leaders who serve as local coordina- – MALAYSIA A teacher by profession, Lyel spearhead- tors to spread the message of peace at Amir began was a Cub Scout who ed a yearly Walk the World project in his grassroots level, spearheaded peace worked through the ranks until he Scout unit. Through their collective efforts, actions in communities that enhanced became Malaysia’s National Commission- they collected slippers and shoes and the image of Scouting in Fiji. At the er for the Better World Framework. He donated them to less fortunate families recent flooding in Fiji, a dedicated ushered the growth of the MoP network and kids in far-flung villages in Rizal prov- pool of leaders rendered commendable in Malaysia and organised various com- ince. His project has since been replicated relief efforts in collaboration munity development projects, including in different parts of the Philippines. with partners. MoP courses in jamborees and trainings. Introduced in 2015, the Asia-Pacific Messengers of Peace Heroes Award is the award provided by the region to the most deserving messengers of peace whose efforts have unquestionably advanced the Better World Framework and has inspired Scouts and non-Scouts to become Messengers of Peace. The awards were given during a special recognition ceremony at the 26th APR Scout Conference on 19 October 2018 in Manila, Philippines. 3 Scouts and Guides in India extend help for Kerala Eleven districts of the state of The flood water receded on the Fund-raising activities were con- Kerala in southern India was af- 21st of August and cleaning efforts ducted to support rehabilitation fected by heavy flooding following went underway which included projects and efforts in the affected unprecedented rains. About 40 cleaning of the affected houses, areas. The National Headquarters million people were affected dur- streets and buildings, removal of of The Bharat Scouts and Guides ing the flooding which prompted dead bodies both of human and of has also issued a nationwide circu- the Indian government to initiate animals, among others. Rehabilita- lar seeking help, aid and contribu- emergency services in areas which tion efforts were supported by the tion in cash or in kind to rebuild were heavily ravaged. Indian armed forces and the HAM affected schools in Kerala. of Bharat Scouts and Guides. Different Scout groups of the Bharat Scouts and Guides in Kerala Kitchen utensils, beddings, and and in nearby states spearheaded used clothes were also collected and participated in several rescue from different parts of the country. and relief operations thru their They were transported to Kerala respective Scout Leaders. Affected using special chartered vehicles. people were rescued and sheltered The Scouts and Guides, along with in relief camps spread across the other volunteers distributed the state. relief goods to the affected region. They collected food, clothing, and Week-long service camps for clean- medicine. The relief goods were ing the houses, schools, hospital delivered to sixty relief camps and markets affected by floods between 15 to 20 August 2018. were also implemented. 4 Rover Scouts in Myanmar organise relief efforts Myanmar Scouts has successfully action, Myanmar Scouts launched some supplies to over 250 families organised a flood relief project for the project called “Rovers in Action” in that village alone. those who were affected by the with forty-four rover volunteers. The flood. The project lasted for fifteen project was initially funded through In recognition of the commendable days, from the 5th to the 19th of cash donations from fund-generat- efforts of Myanmar Scouts in this August 2018 at the Kayin and Mon ing activities organised by several initiative, and despite limited fund- states. Rover Scout groups from different ing, an emergency grant from the schools across the country. Through Messengers of Peace Support Fund Myanmar has been experiencing the funds that were collected, they was awarded to the team in order flooding since July 2018 due to bought, gathered and distributed the to further continue their project and heavy monsoons, coupled by the basic and most needed supplies of implement the same in other commu- overflow in its drainage system. the affected families – drinking wa- nities which were heavily affected. Thousands have already fled their ter, rice, canned goods, medicines homes and others were temporarily and even used clothing. The project was spearheaded by evacuated. Despite the efforts of the Phyo Thura Win, National Disaster government to provide emergency Bulk of the relief efforts focused on Management Co-ordinator of Myan- relief assistance to its citizens, the Kayin Kawt Kyite, a distant village mar Scouts. Similarly, the project resources remain scarce. which barely received any help from was able to render a total of 2,250 the government. The project was service hours in WOSM’s global Recognising the need for immediate able to provide the basic needs and network. 5 International Day of Peace Celebration in the Asia-Pacific Region The International Day of Peace is of Peace at the Canberra Nara Peace 2. Brunei Darussalam. In observed around the world every Park by having a symbolic ringing of Brunei, the Peace day commemo- 21st of September.